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Kitty is missing a patch of hair
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 2013-08-27 11:33 AM |
Master  2167    Livonia, MI |  Subject: Kitty is missing a patch of hairI just noticed this past weekend that my cat is missing fur on his front leg into the crease between that leg and his side/belly. It's not a ton of hair, but I can see the red and slightly raw looking skin underneath. It almost looks like it was shaved. I don't see any sores or marks that would infer fleas or other pests. I haven't noticed him over grooming or even licking/messing with that area at all. He seems unfazed by it. I have a vet appointment later this week but it does have me worried. He has kidney disease but it's being managed well and the vet did not know of any links between that and skin disorders when I called to make the appointment. Anyone have any experience with anything similar? |
| 2013-08-27 11:51 AM in reply to: noelle1230 |
Pro 5011 Twin Cities | Subject: RE: Kitty is missing a patch of hair Allergens? Stress? We have two "compulsive groomers" who have removed substantial hair patches, and it looks as if shaved. After working with the vet, we have concluded it is allergies...although to what, we aren't sure. Sometimes, when the allergies get bad, it gets red...and then scabbby. Then we get a cortisone shot, but I try and limit that. For the most part, it's just bald. Here's the thing... I NEVER SEE THEM ACTUALLY LICKING. I mean, I do, but not in those places. |
| 2013-08-27 12:01 PM in reply to: mmrocker13 |
Master 2167 Livonia, MI | Subject: RE: Kitty is missing a patch of hair Originally posted by mmrocker13 Allergens? Stress? We have two "compulsive groomers" who have removed substantial hair patches, and it looks as if shaved. After working with the vet, we have concluded it is allergies...although to what, we aren't sure. Sometimes, when the allergies get bad, it gets red...and then scabbby. Then we get a cortisone shot, but I try and limit that. For the most part, it's just bald. Here's the thing... I NEVER SEE THEM ACTUALLY LICKING. I mean, I do, but not in those places. Interesting....maybe I should nanny-cam him I should've mentioned he's an exclusively indoor cat. We haven't really done anything new around the house or changed his food (he's stuck on the ever so tasty kidney diet food) so I wasn't thinking allergies. But I could be missing something. It could be stress just because the kidney disease does give him tummy troubles despite the fact that he's on an anti-vomiting meds. He's a relaxed little guy for the most part though. |
| 2013-08-27 2:47 PM in reply to: noelle1230 |
Pro 9391 Omaha, NE | Subject: RE: Kitty is missing a patch of hair Originally posted by noelle1230 I just noticed this past weekend that my cat is missing fur on his front leg into the crease between that leg and his side/belly. It's not a ton of hair, but I can see the red and slightly raw looking skin underneath. It almost looks like it was shaved. I don't see any sores or marks that would infer fleas or other pests. I haven't noticed him over grooming or even licking/messing with that area at all. He seems unfazed by it. I have a vet appointment later this week but it does have me worried. He has kidney disease but it's being managed well and the vet did not know of any links between that and skin disorders when I called to make the appointment. Anyone have any experience with anything similar? This just made my stomach drop. We had a cat "Felix" who had the exact same thing. He even had Kidney disease from the old pet food contamination deal several years ago. I was petting him one night and it was as if somebody shaved a patch on his underside. We thought it was kind of funny and didn't think anything of it. Well after a few weeks I started noticing little lumps under his skin on his stomach and we took him to the Vet. He had breast cancer and the Vet said it was very aggressive in male cats and we could try chemo but it would be very expensive and had a low chance of success. We did a lot of research and it seemed to be a lost cause. He lasted about 6 weeks until we lost him. I still miss him a lot. Obviously I'm not a Vet and the hair patches can mean a lot of things from simple OCD cleaning or probably a lot of other things. The Vet said they do have a sense of when things aren't right on the inside and can sometimes lick a spot clean like that trying to "fix it". Good call on going to the Vet, and I truly hope it's nothing serious. |
| 2013-08-27 3:19 PM in reply to: noelle1230 |
Pro 5755 | Subject: RE: Kitty is missing a patch of hair Originally posted by noelle1230 I just noticed this past weekend that my cat is missing fur on his front leg into the crease between that leg and his side/belly. It's not a ton of hair, but I can see the red and slightly raw looking skin underneath. It almost looks like it was shaved. I don't see any sores or marks that would infer fleas or other pests. I haven't noticed him over grooming or even licking/messing with that area at all. He seems unfazed by it. I have a vet appointment later this week but it does have me worried. He has kidney disease but it's being managed well and the vet did not know of any links between that and skin disorders when I called to make the appointment. Anyone have any experience with anything similar? Yes, very similar, about two years ago. It turned out to be allergies and it had reached the point where he had immune system problems, including secondary infections in his ears and blood. He's on a hypoallergenic diet and has had zero issues since. I'm assuming you don't have a second cat, or the cause would be obvious. I have two and even though they are brother and sister they can get into some mean wrestling matches. |
| 2013-08-28 9:11 AM in reply to: tuwood |
Master 2167 Livonia, MI | Subject: RE: Kitty is missing a patch of hair Originally posted by tuwood Originally posted by noelle1230 I just noticed this past weekend that my cat is missing fur on his front leg into the crease between that leg and his side/belly. It's not a ton of hair, but I can see the red and slightly raw looking skin underneath. It almost looks like it was shaved. I don't see any sores or marks that would infer fleas or other pests. I haven't noticed him over grooming or even licking/messing with that area at all. He seems unfazed by it. I have a vet appointment later this week but it does have me worried. He has kidney disease but it's being managed well and the vet did not know of any links between that and skin disorders when I called to make the appointment. Anyone have any experience with anything similar? This just made my stomach drop. We had a cat "Felix" who had the exact same thing. He even had Kidney disease from the old pet food contamination deal several years ago. I was petting him one night and it was as if somebody shaved a patch on his underside. We thought it was kind of funny and didn't think anything of it. Well after a few weeks I started noticing little lumps under his skin on his stomach and we took him to the Vet. He had breast cancer and the Vet said it was very aggressive in male cats and we could try chemo but it would be very expensive and had a low chance of success. We did a lot of research and it seemed to be a lost cause. He lasted about 6 weeks until we lost him. I still miss him a lot. Obviously I'm not a Vet and the hair patches can mean a lot of things from simple OCD cleaning or probably a lot of other things. The Vet said they do have a sense of when things aren't right on the inside and can sometimes lick a spot clean like that trying to "fix it". Good call on going to the Vet, and I truly hope it's nothing serious. Yikes. I'm sorry about your Felix My heart broke when I found out my little guy had kidney disease. I don't know what I'd do if this turns out to be something even worse. |
| 2013-08-28 10:44 AM in reply to: noelle1230 |
Pro 5011 Twin Cities | Subject: RE: Kitty is missing a patch of hair I think your odds are far better that it is allergies or stress <3 Sometimes, just like with people, allergies can pop up at random times. (Both our two with the skin issues are older adults--Maxxie is 12, Frank is 11--and they didn't have the bald spots until the last couple years or so.) Re: CRF/kidney disease: A year ago over Labor Day, we almost lost our 9 year old (then 8) cat Momo to renal failure. He crashed pretty hard, levels were off the charts, and was in-hospital for several days. Even the vet thought we would lose him. We brought him home, and he had lost almost half his body weight, he wouldn't eat, etc. Fast forward a year, his fluid therapy sessions are down to every other day (as opposed to daily), he eats his kidney food (well, and anything else that isn't nailed down), and he's gained back all his weight (probably could have stopped a bit short of all of it, but who's going to complain, right?). It's a crappy disease, but there are lots of little (er, not so little) guys out there living relatively normal lives with it! Hopefully your guy will be the same--blissfully unaware of his kidney issues, and just a little on the secretly itchy side :-) |
| 2013-08-28 11:13 AM in reply to: mmrocker13 |
Master 2167 Livonia, MI | Subject: RE: Kitty is missing a patch of hair Thanks for the story about your kidney cat Rocker Hopefully this skin issue is just allergies and easily treated. I just adore my little man, he's my furry son with whiskers. I now feel compelled to attach a picture..... (Boo on the potty.jpg) Attachments ---------------- Boo on the potty.jpg (45KB - 4 downloads) |
We've been controlling Bamboo's KD with the special KD food and fluids every other week at the vet's office. His blood work a few weeks ago looked really good and he's gaining back most of the weight he lost. His biggest trouble is the vomiting so he's on daily meds for that. Our vet also gave me a holistic supplement. We're lucky, to meet him, you wouldn't even know he's sick.| 2013-08-28 11:38 AM in reply to: 0 |
Pro 5755 | Subject: RE: Kitty is missing a patch of hair Very cute kitten. Did you know that the color pointing you see in your boy is due to a mutation in the tyrosinase gene? I know all cats are odd, but you can legitimately say hes a mutant! Edited by BrianRunsPhilly 2013-08-28 11:38 AM |
| 2013-08-28 11:45 AM in reply to: BrianRunsPhilly |
Master 2167 Livonia, MI | Subject: RE: Kitty is missing a patch of hair Originally posted by BrianRunsPhilly Very cute kitten. Did you know that the color pointing you see in your boy is due to a mutation in the tyrosinase gene? I know all cats are odd, but you can legitimately say hes a mutant! I did not! I guess I'm not familiar with color pointing. What I do know he is one unique character |
| 2013-08-28 11:53 AM in reply to: noelle1230 |
Pro 5755 | Subject: RE: Kitty is missing a patch of hair Originally posted by noelle1230 Originally posted by BrianRunsPhilly Very cute kitten. Did you know that the color pointing you see in your boy is due to a mutation in the tyrosinase gene? I know all cats are odd, but you can legitimately say hes a mutant! I did not! I guess I'm not familiar with color pointing. What I do know he is one unique character Yes, Siamese and I assume Burmese have that mutation. That gene is part of the pathway to produce melanin, which is responsible for the dark color. The mutation makes the enzyme temperature sensitive, which his why you only see the dark colors on the extremities (they are cooler). For some strange reason I know all about cat coat genetics. I have one cat who is also a talker. It's pretty funny, if you talk to her she talks back. If you call her name she makes a particular sound, which I assume means "Yes? Is it dinner time?" |
| 2013-08-28 12:50 PM in reply to: BrianRunsPhilly |
Master 2167 Livonia, MI | Subject: RE: Kitty is missing a patch of hair Originally posted by BrianRunsPhilly Originally posted by noelle1230 Yes, Siamese and I assume Burmese have that mutation. That gene is part of the pathway to produce melanin, which is responsible for the dark color. The mutation makes the enzyme temperature sensitive, which his why you only see the dark colors on the extremities (they are cooler). For some strange reason I know all about cat coat genetics. I have one cat who is also a talker. It's pretty funny, if you talk to her she talks back. If you call her name she makes a particular sound, which I assume means "Yes? Is it dinner time?" Originally posted by BrianRunsPhilly Very cute kitten. Did you know that the color pointing you see in your boy is due to a mutation in the tyrosinase gene? I know all cats are odd, but you can legitimately say hes a mutant! I did not! I guess I'm not familiar with color pointing. What I do know he is one unique character Good info, thanks Brian! Cats who talk are fun....until they're trying to talk to you at 3A |
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