Why isn't my 3-month-old kitten's fur growing and whiskers breaking?

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Crabcake. I recommend that he sees his veterinarian to ensure the hair loss is not problematic. Ringworm is unfortunately common in kittens. This could be spread to people and other pets in your home. Hopefully this is not the case, but you will want to know. I hope this information helps!

Hello. Unfortunately, your pictures never came through, but this might be something best left to a hands on examination with a veterinarian. Hair loss could be from the burn, but it can also be due to a bacterial infection, mange mites ( demodex ), or even ringworm, which is contagious to people. More than likely, she lost the whiskers also to the burn. I do not think you trimming them caused the disappearance. If the follicle (root) was not damaged, the whiskers should grow back. And the brown discharge in the ears may just be extra ear wax & dirt, or a sign of an infection or even ear mites. So, you have several reasons to take Sofia into a veterinarian. Everything can be sorted out pretty quickly, & if she needs any medications or treatments, the right ones will be sent home. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

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.

I would bring Kitten 4 to the vet for a checkup if you haven't already. Not getting enough nutrition, an underlying illness or metabolic issue, or even something such as parasites/fungal/skin infections could be causing hair loss. Excessive grooming by the kitten or mom may also cause hair loss in the areas where it is scratched or licked too much. If kitten is bothered by it, using an e-collar or tiny t-shirt to prevent scratching and chewing may help until your vet can take a look to determine the cause.

With this breed and the signs I would be worried about ringworm. Persian cats and other long-haired breeds are prone to this type of fungal infection and in fact the mother may have it and be what's called an asymptomatic carrier. I recommend practicing strict hygiene protocols with handling the kittens and discussing with your veterinarian if they feel they should be testing for ringworm. I agree with your veterinarian that this is unlikely to be a side effect of the medication previously given.

Based on your description I would be suspicious of ringworm, which is a fungal infection that commonly affects young animals. If you can find a shampoo with ketoconazole that may be helpful, but she likely needs a prescription of an oral antifungal such as itraconazole. Please practice good hygiene after handling her as ringworm is contagious to people as well. Of course this is not a diagnosis, just an assumption based on your description. Best of luck and I hope she improves soon!

I recommend to have your kitten examined by the veterinarian. The hair loss could be related to ringworm which can spread to humans. Other causes include poor nutrition or heavy internal parasites (some of which can also spread to humans). You veterinarian will treat for any parasites or ringworm and get your new kitten started off on the right foot. Make sure to feed a high quality kitten food such as Royal Canin or Science Diet. I hope this helps.