Kitten Lost Hair Around Neck and Tail

yescats

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We have a cat we're waiting to be old enough to pick up from a breeder/friend. He's pure white and ten weeks old. The breeder put collars on all the white ones so she could tell them apart. The cat that we wanted seemed to have a reaction with the collar. It lost the hair around the neck, but also lost hair on the tail and some thinning over the body as well. For the past week it's been growing back but now we're worried if it's something more than a reaction to the collar. None of the other three kittens who also had the same collar (but another color) had any reactions.

We want that cat, but we're concerned that this may be "the writing on the wall" for future problems. I'm worried that if nothing else, it shows that the cat is sensitive or has some sort of potential weakness or genetic defect since none of the other cats reacted. The breeder offered us a different one but we liked this one. Do you think it's a major concern and we should take the other one?
 

donutlove

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I can see how this can be a hard place and a rock for you, I think this is something you have to come to your self. I would not judge you for what you do. A cat with health problems will not be easy if you feel you can not take care of it then don't do it. My cat had a bad reaction to a collar I got her, some of her fur around her neck fell off it is gowning back and I am waiting a month before I get her a new one. I don't know why this cats fur is falling around it neck and tail it could be that she rub her tail on it? What ever you do don't be to hard on your self, I know this is not easy.
 

stephenq

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We have a cat we're waiting to be old enough to pick up from a breeder/friend. He's pure white and ten weeks old. The breeder put collars on all the white ones so she could tell them apart. The cat that we wanted seemed to have a reaction with the collar. It lost the hair around the neck, but also lost hair on the tail and some thinning over the body as well. For the past week it's been growing back but now we're worried if it's something more than a reaction to the collar. None of the other three kittens who also had the same collar (but another color) had any reactions.

We want that cat, but we're concerned that this may be "the writing on the wall" for future problems. I'm worried that if nothing else, it shows that the cat is sensitive or has some sort of potential weakness or genetic defect since none of the other cats reacted. The breeder offered us a different one but we liked this one. Do you think it's a major concern and we should take the other one?
I would insist on a vet visit before I took this cat.  Hair loss on the tail and neck can be a symptom of ringworm, a fungal infection.  If the bald areas are roundish, or are spreading, or pink-ish with scabs RW becomes a strong suspect.  The tail is very telling, and a collar shouldn't have done this on the neck or anywhere else.  If a vet suspects RW, then a culture needs to be done and then there is a 10 day wait.  Sometimes you get a quick positive result with a woodslamp test, but that is fairly rare.
 
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