my cat has a bit of hair missing on the back of both heels

three4rd · Jun 16, 2014

Hi,

I found another thread similar to my inquiry, and it was followed by discussions of it possibly being ringworm. We do not think this is ringworm as it is not real red - more like hair worn off and then just a pinkish bald area. It could be described as being mildly scabby at places. Each spot is maybe about 1/4 inch in diameter. Also, it's weird that the two spots are pretty much the same size and at exactly the same place on both back feet. Neither spot fluoresces under ultraviolet, although I realize that this is not always an accurate test.

Any ideas? She does make quite vigorous motions and sounds while in the litter box sometimes and so I'm wondering if she wore off hair from whatever she is doing in there.

Thanks for any ideas. I'll probably keep close tabs on it and run it by my vet.

Thanks,
Keith

stephanietx · Jun 16, 2014

All of mine get this as they age. I think it's normal.

mrsgreenjeens · Jun 17, 2014

stephanietx said:
All of mine get this as they age. I think it's normal.

Mine too

It's not noticeable on the longer haired ones, but VERY noticeable on the short haired cats, especially the black ones.

pangurban · Jun 17, 2014

The 7-year-old DSH we rescued in April has these as well.Our vet checked him out and pretty much said "It happens." The spots aren't too big but he is solid black so they are easily seen. I dont care and am just glad it isnt an infection or something he is doing to himself.

three4rd · Jun 17, 2014

Thanks to all who replied. My vet suggested trying some of the liquid that comes in vitamin E gel capsules, applied topically. Also they suggested trying a litter by the brand name "World's Best" - I'm not familiar with it. I really wonder if my cat rubbed off her hair from litter box activity.

Keith

goholistic · Jun 18, 2014

I'm glad to read that little bald heels seems to be normal with older cats. I noticed Sebastian slowly getting bald heels over time. No redness or anything. It's just the hair coming off his heels a little bit. We have much bigger things to worry about (his chronic pancreatitis), so I kind of brushed this off.

racn1320 · Jun 18, 2014

Weird I just noticed on my 7 year old that her fur is balding on her back legs/heels,same spot on each leg,just a little red,hope its just normal,about an inch,but not fully bald. Seems ok and I have been going threw diffrent brands of litter lately too.

thesighrye · Jun 20, 2014

Hi there!

My cat is black (see picture

) and she developed a bald spot about a year ago. Since she is a tuxedo, it was SO noticeable! It was right between her shoulder blades.

After a while, realizing it wasn't really red or too irritated (such as how you described) mayyyybe a tad dry, we just tried to observe what she did. Lo and behold, she was pushing through the Venetian blinds and having a grand old time looking at the birds....which is fine, but she made her own face hole and broke off the ends that are past the string on the edge...so there was a square where she was squeezing through! Her shoulders touched the top, which was pretty rough, and it scraped off her hair.

Thankfully nothing too serious...and I ended up getting THIS:

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Hartz-Hydrocortisone-Spray-for-Cats-5-oz-Cats/20864324

Only a few bucks at WalMart...It basically moisturizes the affected areas and prevents them from licking it (if they are doing that to the bald areas as well)

Anyway, I hope this was a little help! Good luck! I'm sure kitty will be ok

onomamacat · Oct 10, 2016

hi, my cat had fur loss on the back of her ankles and a little over each eye. it turns out, that she had tapeworm! take some stool to the vet....they will give you medicine that will eradicate them...then, you MUST get a very good FLEA killer...like frontline...do not get the cheap stuff...get it from a vet if you are unsure...this will kill the fleas on her that are infected with tapeworm....tapeworm comes from either the cat eating rodents that are infected, OR, from biting fleas that are infected. tapeworm will not affect humans, unless you eat fleas! so, to eradicate tapeworm, you need to kill the worms inside the cat with special vet medicine, Then, make sure to use a flea killer as directed. the vet will give you a second dose of medicine to give the cat in three months also, as infected fleas in the house may jump on the cat down the road....once we got rid of my cats tapeworms, her fur dramatically filled in.

mingle · Feb 14, 2017

My cat has had the bald spot also, but it wasn't until end of last year (2016). She's still 'young' as she's 2 years old, turning three in August. She got de wormed in January, and does have a bit of fleas, but the spots are exactly as how the op said. Pink with a little bit of dryness, I didn't see any redness on it. I forgot to mention it to my vet last time I went, but definitely will next time I go!

future cat lady · Mar 9, 2017

Mingle said:
My cat has had the bald spot also, but it wasn't until end of last year (2016). She's still 'young' as she's 2 years old, turning three in August. She got de wormed in January, and does have a bit of fleas, but the spots are exactly as how the op said. Pink with a little bit of dryness, I didn't see any redness on it. I forgot to mention it to my vet last time I went, but definitely will next time I go!

HI, I noticed the same thing on my youngest boy cat (he's 2) and I got worried. I'm okay with the eldest having it but my youngest son likes to perch on the book case and then jump off quite a bit. Could that be something?

mingle · Mar 10, 2017

Future Cat Lady said:
HI, I noticed the same thing on my youngest boy cat (he's 2) and I got worried. I'm okay with the eldest having it but my youngest son likes to perch on the book case and then jump off quite a bit. Could that be something?

I recently went to the vet and mentioned it to him, he said they're calluses because of the way she sits! Since they're in the back two legs

PushPurrCatPaws · Mar 10, 2017

There isn't a ton of hair on the back of the cat's ankle (hock).

When a cat uses the litter box, when a cat eats at a dish, when a cat "readies" herself to jump from one location to another (you know how they jiggle back and forth on their back legs before they jump or pounce on a toy), the cat often sits "on its hocks". After time, this rubbing-against-a-surface action can wear down what little amount of hair is on their ankle. They may even develop callouses. It could take years (or a shorter time, if a cat is active enough or repetitive enough with that particular stance).

One thing you do need to be aware of, however, is that a (usually severely) diabetic cat can get hind leg neuropathy, and basically, walk ON their hocks. This is called a plantigrade stance. This will also cause wear on the ankles/hocks. You may want to rule that out as a possibility. (Search-engine "plantigrade stance" under images, and you'll see plenty of photos of what this looks like.)

Nicole Austin · Apr 22, 2017

goholistic said:
I'm glad to read that little bald heels seems to be normal with older cats. I noticed Sebastian slowly getting bald heels over time. No redness or anything. It's just the hair coming off his heels a little bit. We have much bigger things to worry about (his chronic pancreatitis), so I kind of brushed this off.

three4rd said:
Hi,

I found another thread similar to my inquiry, and it was followed by discussions of it possibly being ringworm. We do not think this is ringworm as it is not real red - more like hair worn off and then just a pinkish bald area. It could be described as being mildly scabby at places. Each spot is maybe about 1/4 inch in diameter. Also, it's weird that the two spots are pretty much the same size and at exactly the same place on both back feet. Neither spot fluoresces under ultraviolet, although I realize that this is not always an accurate test.

Any ideas? She does make quite vigorous motions and sounds while in the litter box sometimes and so I'm wondering if she wore off hair from whatever she is doing in there.

Thanks for any ideas. I'll probably keep close tabs on it and run it by my vet.

Thanks,
Keith

I'm glad to hear that lots of cats get this as they age and not just my little Chase. He's 11 soon to be 12 but he's still my baby so I'm glad it doesn't seem to be too serious

PnkGrl1 · May 21, 2017

Very helpful info!
I had a Siamese that had this exact issue, she use to sit in the windowsill all day. Now my 2 year old Lynx Point has it, she also sits in the windowsill a lot.
The spots are very small circles located on her back elbow hocks, they aren't irritated and don't seem to bother her

IndyJones · May 21, 2017

It's just calluses like we get on our heels. Pretty normal.

Shay15 · Feb 26, 2019

three4rd said:
Hi,

I found another thread similar to my inquiry, and it was followed by discussions of it possibly being ringworm. We do not think this is ringworm as it is not real red - more like hair worn off and then just a pinkish bald area. It could be described as being mildly scabby at places. Each spot is maybe about 1/4 inch in diameter. Also, it's weird that the two spots are pretty much the same size and at exactly the same place on both back feet. Neither spot fluoresces under ultraviolet, although I realize that this is not always an accurate test.

Any ideas? She does make quite vigorous motions and sounds while in the litter box sometimes and so I'm wondering if she wore off hair from whatever she is doing in there.

Thanks for any ideas. I'll probably keep close tabs on it and run it by my vet.

Thanks,
Keith

kattykate · Feb 27, 2019

Never heard about this problem, but I know that dogs usually face this problem of alopecia

my cat has a bit of hair missing on the back of both heels

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