Huge Bald Spot on Neck

daintrinity

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Hi, my cat has a huge bald spot directly on the right side of his neck. I can't tell if it's normal colour because there is no websites that show any pictures of normal cat skin (which is really inconvenient). The bald spot is around the size of a quarter. I haven't noticed him itching or scratching particularly more than often. I didn't notice it earlier because he's ridiculously furry and he has a natural mane that hid it. I felt it and it doesn't feel abnormally dry, there's no swelling or any pus underneath it so I really don't know what it might be. 
 
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daintrinity

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Hi, my cat has a huge bald spot directly on the right side of his neck. I can't tell if it's normal colour because there is no websites that show any pictures of normal cat skin (which is really inconvenient). The bald spot is around the size of a quarter. I haven't noticed him itching or scratching particularly more than often. I didn't notice it earlier because he's ridiculously furry and he has a natural mane that hid it. I felt it and it doesn't feel abnormally dry, there's no swelling or any pus underneath it so I really don't know what it might be. 
I just checked a bunch of photos of ringworm and it's definitely not that, his skin is too pink and normal looking to be ringworm. 
 
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daintrinity

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Hate to post a third time but it's hard to tell actually some of the ringworm pictures look just pink so I don't know. 
 

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Hate to post a third time but it's hard to tell actually some of the ringworm pictures look just pink so I don't know. 
Ringworm frequently produces pinkish bald spots. Has your cat been outside, or recently from a shelter, or been in contact with other cats?  Can you take a photo?  A vet can culture it to determine if its RW, there is (generally) no 100% true way to diagnose it visually.
 
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daintrinity

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Actually the more I look at his skin the more white it looks I think it is ringworm. 
 
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daintrinity

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I don't know how he got it though, he's not around any other animals ... He's an indoor cat and I have all the windows shut for air conditioning ... I am not around other animals either. 
 

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I don't know how he got it though, he's not around any other animals ... He's an indoor cat and I have all the windows shut for air conditioning ... I am not around other animals either. 
If he hasn't been around other animals and if you haven't either (you could be a vector) then its likely not RW.  But if you saw a vet's diagnostic handbook for skin issues its about 500 pages long, so very complex.  There are many possible causes.  Take him in to your vet for an exam ok :)
 
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daintrinity

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Yeah I will be doing that for sure, just worst time for that to happen when I don't have any money set aside ... will do it the first thing I can next month 
 

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Yeah I will be doing that for sure, just worst time for that to happen when I don't have any money set aside ... will do it the first thing I can next month 
OK, it shouldn't be expensive to treat, and if it is RW, its going to be easier to treat early rather than later, especially if it spreads.  But it may not be RW.... :)
 
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daintrinity

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OK, it shouldn't be expensive to treat, and if it is RW, its going to be easier to treat early rather than later, especially if it spreads.  But it may not be RW.... :)
Well on a fixed income it's going to cost me a lot of money no matter what ... the cab ride there and the visit alone is going to cost me around at least half of my non-essential (rent and utilities) money for August ... And then I have to move next month too so all those fun costs ... *sigh*
 

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Well on a fixed income it's going to cost me a lot of money no matter what ... the cab ride there and the visit alone is going to cost me around at least half of my non-essential (rent and utilities) money for August ... And then I have to move next month too so all those fun costs ... *sigh*
Ok, well see if your vet would agree to this:  One way we take RW cultures is by taking an unused tooth brush, and gently brushing the bald spot and the hair around it.  One cal also take tweezers and pull out just a few hairs, (say 6 or less, and your cat shouldn't really notice.  If you vet agrees, you could do both of these things, placing the brush in a ziplock bag, and the hair sample in a separate zip lock bag.  I realize there is still a transportation issue, but if you could get the bags to the vet (UPS ground?) and if he agrees to run the culture, you could save on the cost of the exam.  Just a thought, and of course it might be something else.

RW spreads, so if new bald spots crop up, that increases the likelihood of a pos diagnosis.  If that was the case, you could with a vets advice start treating topically with Lotrimin cream which is made and marketed for RW and is sold OTC in drugs stores.
 
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