Bald Spot on Cat's Back: HELP!

katheba

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Hi, we are the proud kitty parents of three kittens. I am writing because I was petting our little one today and I saw a small bald spot on his back...there is no blood, it looks a little pink, he is not scratching it, and you actually have to look for it to see it (I'll post pictures). He and his older brother play rough all the time. We took them both to the Vet two weeks ago for a physical and they came back with a clean bill of health. We have spent so much money lately on our kitty cats (and the hubby and I are both grad students) so if we could avoid another visit to the vet and 150+ less in our pockets it would be great. I DID make an appointment for him tomorrow, however, any help or comments would be greatly appreciated it. 

He is neutered/inside cat only (all of them are)/ they are on profender and advantage/ and all three kitties have all their vaccines.

cinated.

 
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callista

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If this were a rescue cat I would be talking about stuff like ringworm (skin infection, same thing as athlete's foot), or a flea allergy... But I'm assuming that an indoor-only cat has been long ago treated for those things, and has no fleas to worry about. Ringworm I've only seen on sick cats and young kittens anyway.

Maybe his having a brother he plays with and probably snuggles with might be the explanation. It wouldn't be impossible for one cat or the other to pull out a tuft of fur while they were playing. If his brother were grooming him and got overzealous, that could be the cause too.

IMO this is one of those "keep an eye on it" things. I'm no vet, but if the kitty's healthy and has just a bit of missing fur, it's unlikely to be a major problem.
 
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katheba

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Thank you so much, Callista, for your prompt response (thank you!!).Our little one is a rescue cat. We adopted him when he was 12 weeks old from a local shelter. He'll be 1 year old in a week. Both of our cats are inside cats only...they (NEVER) go outside [except our screen patio but just for a few minutes]. They have all their vaccines and they are on Advantage (flees) and Profender (we just took them to the vet two weeks ago). He is playful, eating and drinking, and using his litter box just fine.
 
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fabfurryfive

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I wouldn't waste money on a vet visit. Looks completely normal hair tuft loss from a wrestle or lickings. He could have gotten a tuft stuck in something and pulled out, it doesn't even look irritated either. Could even be a scar from something you didn't notice before. My youngest kitty we rescued from the side of the road when she was 3 weeks old. She lost almost all her fur due to ringworm and it looks nothing like that. Just keep an eye on it ;) you're a good mama!
 

jcat

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Is that where you applied the Advantage or Profender? If so, I wonder whether it could be a reaction to the chemicals used.
 
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katheba

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Is that where you applied the Advantage or Profender? If so, I wonder whether it could be a reaction to the chemicals used.
Yes, that's where the tech applied the Advantage two weeks ago...he has been on it before and I have never seen a skin reaction. He doesn't like it that's for sure...Thank you!
 
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di and bob

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You are lucky, I have to apply my cat's Profender practically up between their ears and down their neck, they are like contortionists trying to lick it off, once one of them got a lick in when I  applied it for the first time, they foamed at the mouth and scared me to death but are fine.
 

catspaw66

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My brother (who volunteers at a shelter and has probably put on hundreds of doses)  says 'feel for the spot where the skull curves back under and put it there at the lowest'  I noticed Sheba licking Julie right where I put the Advantage Multi several hours after I dosed them all.  She didn't foam at the mouth and actually seemed to like the taste.  I had to shove her away several times before I gave up.
 

callista

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Nice catch, jcat! Reaction to the flea medication.... See, this is why you always always use prescription meds approved for cats--you end up with a cat who's only got a bald patch, rather than one that has to be rushed to the vet mid-seizure. Some of the stuff they sell in stores was formulated for dogs, and it's bad news if a cat licks it off or even just absorbs it through the skin and happens to be particularly sensitive. I guess that means mention it to the vet next time the cat gets a flea treatment so they can use another type.
 
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katheba

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Thank you, Callista, our little one is doing fine and his hair has started to grow. The Vet told us to keep an eye on him for a week and take him only if it gets worse...so far so good!
 
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