Why is my cat shedding whiskers? Is it normal or a health concern?

If everything else looks normal in the area, its probably fine to monitor. Sometimes the hair cycle can sync up. As long as the whiskers are regrowing, this is normal. If you see lesions on the skin, this could indicate pathology and DMX should see his veterinarian. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

This is likely an age related change and nothing to worry about. Some animals can develop white hair or whiskers prematurely at a younger age even. Regardless, it is typically something that is not concerning. Maintain her annual exam and get her blood tested each year as a preventive screening. I hope this helps!

If there are no bald spots, red skin or scratching, then this can only be assumed to be normal shedding for your cat. Cats do tend to shed quite a bit, especially longer to medium haired cats. The black tips is likely the hair follicle. I would not be concerned about this at all. You can give your pet daily fish oils (pet formulated from your local pet store) to promote healthy haircoat and skin as a general health tip.

I am sorry to hear about your kitten! From the photos you show, the thinned hair in the areas in front of the ears can be a normal variation. If you notice any redness/bumps/scabs on the area or the hair thins so much that there are bald spots then this would be concerning and we would worry about things such as external parasites, ringworm (a fungal infection), bacterial infection. We may also worry about infection inside the ears from bacteria, yeast, or mites, if the kitten is rubbing/scratching at the ears there thereby rubbing the area in front of the ears as a result causing damage to the skin. If there are other pets or small children in the house I would wonder if the longer whiskers were removed from play with them, or if the kitten goes outdoors. I would, however, recommend an examination if your kitten is acting lethargic. This is a very vague symptoms so there could be a multitude of causes and a physical exam may better help the vet determine the possible cause of lethargy.

Hello, congrats on the new kitty! It is normal to have a small area of thin hair in front of the ears, such as what you're seeing in Brownie, so that is not a concern as long as Brownie isn't acting abnormal by scratching excessively at the ears or showing other signs of discomfort. His hair otherwise looks nice and thick in the photos so I suspect he has normal shedding, which you can help control with regular brushing. However, if there are patches of distinct hair loss, or if he seems itchy, then you should have a vet take a look to make sure he doesn't have a skin condition requiring medication. Hope this helps.

Hi there. All pets have different lengths of hair and different ways in which their hair follicles function, just like people. Oscar's whiskers are normal for him, so nothing to worry about. I hope that helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I am assuming your other cat is grooming Zulu's face when he starts to chew his whiskers. Cats do chew their fur and nails when they groom and mother cats have been known to groom down their kittens whiskers. If Zulu tolerates it there are no health complications that I know of. I would assume she enjoys it! Have a great day~