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My indoor cat is losing fur on her belly, but seems healthy. Why?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | American Shorthair | Female | spayed | 8 years and 6 months old | 8 lbs

My eight-year-old female indoor cat has a patch of baldness on her belly. She isn’t acting any different than usual from what I can tell. I searched online different causes for fur loss, but I don’t know the cause for her’s yet. I haven’t noticed her licking or scratching herself excessively. She seems happy and content, purring and drooling like usual and when I touch the bald spot she does not react in a way that suggests pain. She is eating and drinking normally. Thank you for your time.

4 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Oneal Bogan, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on November 3rd, 2017

Hi there. A couple things could be going on with Lucky.

Some cats lose hair due to stress and this is usually self resolving.

More commonly cats lose hair due to an allergy. This could be to their food or something in the environment.

I would start by having your vet check her and then do a hypoallergenic food trial for 8 weeks. This usually does the trick, but if not your vet can prescribe medications to help with environmental allergies.

Best wishes to you and Lucky.

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Dr. Davis
Veterinarian
Published on October 3rd, 2017
This is often the result of overgrooming due to stress. Often changes in the household get cats upset and they groom too much and pull out their fur. Since it's growing back she is probably becoming more relaxed. I don't like using cream on it because she will lick it off and it could make her sick. I recommend using Feliway, a pheromone diffuser to help her relax, and if it worsens the usual treatment is a steroid injection from your veterinarian. Keeping up with flea prevention and spending time brushing and playing with Princess are good things to do to stop this from recurring. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Princess.
5Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Jenna Beyer, DVM, MBA, cVMA
Veterinarian, Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist
Published on October 7th, 2020
It looks like feline overgrooming. In some cats, it can be brought on by itching (like fleas or mites or allergies), but in others it can be a sign of disease or stress/anxiety. I would recommend working with your vet to determine the cause so that Spots can start an appropriate treatment plan. Here is an article discussing it more:
https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=4952646
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Dr. Leigh, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on February 10th, 2017
It could be a skin infection, allergic dermatitis, food intolerance, or caused by over-grooming from anxiety/stress. Have her examined by a vet to determine the cause and treat the problem. If your vet thinks it could be a food allergy than he/she can recommend a hypoallergenic diet. If it looks like an infection or allergic dermatitis than your vet can prescribe an antibiotic, anti-histamine, and/or anti-inflammatory to help treat. If it is caused by stress than you could try some Feliway spray/diffuser and/or your vet can prescribe an anti-anxiety medication.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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