Why does my cat have red, shiny marks and hair loss, but no fleas?

Hello and welcome to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Unfortunately it is very hard to see exactly what is going on with the pictures you have posted. It does however look like there are little blood clots present, which suggests small little wounds or scratches present underneath. Possible causes of scratches/wounds on the skin would be fleas, fights with other cats/animals, mange and self-trauma scratching, tick bite craters, etc. I recommend you give her a bath and get it all cleaned up, and see if more are appearing or if they are healing up after a few days. They don't look infected so medications for the wounds themselves are likely not required. I would treat for fleas/mange if you are not already. Best of luck with Freckie!

Without an exam, it would be hard to say what is causing the issue. Parasites such as fleas can cause brown dots on the skin, that usually flake off or turn red when exposed to water. Allergies may cause irritation to the skin and can also cause scratching. Other issues such as skin infections or metabolic issues may also cause the skin to look irritated or changed colors as well. If Figaro seems bothered, the area becomes redder or changes rapidly, or other new symptoms appear, seeking vet care is best.

Hi there! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! There is a variety of reasons that can explain alopecia or hair loss. The causes can easily be differentiated by the clinical signs associated with it and the physical exam findings. If Freckles is only showing some hair loss without scratching or overgrooming then it could conditions such as alopecia areata that can affect cats and usually resolves on its own. If there is evidence of scratching and you start noticing some redness or irritation associated with it, then other conditions such as allergies are possible. If you notice him overgrooming himself in that area then it could be something like psychogenic alopecia which is more of a behavioral issue. I think that since he is not having overt clinical signs and it is mostly hair loss, I think it is possibly transient and could resolve on its own. You can monitor this closely and if it does not resolve or it worsens then have him examined by your veterinarian. Good luck!

This is probably caused by an allergic reaction. first of all make sure you flea Bull regularly every month with a high quality spot on (ex. Advantage) as fleas are by far the most common reason for these reactions. If the fleas are not the problem, it could be an allergic reaction to food or an environmental factor. this is more complicated to treat and will sometimes require medications such as Steroids, anti histamines or cyclosporin in order to stop the allergy.

The most likely cause for water to turn red brown when rinsing off an animal is due to the presence of fleas. Flea poop, also known as flea dirt, turns red brown when it gets wet. Some cats may have an allergic reaction to flea bites causing severe scabbing or crusting of their skin and thinning hair. Given the severity of what you're describing, I would recommend that you have Lucky seen by your veterinarian. Left untreated, flea infestations can cause severe anemia. Your veterinarian may recommend checking Lucky's red blood cell level for anemia. They can also recommend flea treatments for Lucky and for your home to help solve the problem. Please keep in mind that many over-the-counter flea treatments are not safe for cats. Please make sure to read all packaging carefully.

I am sorry to hear about Jack! I would be concerned these could be a bacterial or fungal infection of the skin, and possibly a condition in cats called eosinophilic plaques or eosinophilic granuloma syndrome, which can be incited due to an allergy and usually resolves with steroid treatment. I would recommend bringing Jack in to his vet for an examination of the area.

Hi and thanks for your post! It is hard to say exactly what the cause of Onyx's skin condition may be without examining Onyx first, but red hairless lesions around the face and head are suspicious of a fungal infection or perhaps mites. Your veterinarian can diagnose these potential conditions with a few simple tests of Onyx's skin and hair. I would recommend Onyx visit his vet soon to have the possibilities above ruled out. Best to you and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!