Sarabi is losing patches of hair!

beckiboo · May 16, 2006

Sarabi is losing patches of hair on her sides, and the top of her tail. The first bald patch occurred after I sent 3 of her 6 kittens to a new foster home. Then a week later, I sent the other 3 to the same foster home, and a few days later Rabi was bald on both sides, and on her tail. I just assumed she was overgrooming due to stress, but now I'm starting to wonder if it could be something else, like ringworm?

How do you tell the difference between overgrooming and ringworm? This is a kitty who was clearly uncomfortable in the house, until the kittens were born. Now that they are gone, she is alone in a room. I believe she was always an outside cat before...not feral, because she is a love-bug. But nervous inside.

I found this link to hair-loss in cats....
http://www.peteducation.com/article....&articleid=195

beckiboo · May 16, 2006

Here are two pics I took...I can't get a good close up...but this shows the uneveness of the patches. They are not round, and the skin is not red. It is a little flaky on two of the spots.

Here is a second shot...I had to scruff her to get a good pic because she is so lovey that she rubs all over me. (Sure hope it isn't ringworm

)

No one else in the house is showing signs, and it is all areas that Rabs can reach to lick.

lionessrampant · May 16, 2006

It looks like psychogenic aloepecia to me. Ringworm has a ring-like rash that goes with it...you can do a google-image search and see what it looks like. She could have separation anxiety from the "loss" of her kittens. Do you use Feliway?

edit: pyschogenic alopecia generally happens in strips down the back, near the tail or on the belly

beckiboo · May 16, 2006

Originally Posted by lionessrampant

It looks like psychogenic aloepecia to me. Ringworm has a ring-like rash that goes with it...you can do a google-image search and see what it looks like. She could have separation anxiety from the "loss" of her kittens. Do you use Feliway?

edit: pyschogenic alopecia generally happens in strips down the back, near the tail or on the belly

I am embarrassed to admit I have a bottle of Feliway, and didn't think to spray it in her room after she lost her kittens!

I just went and sprayed the two chairs in the room. The past few days I started leaving the door open sometimes, so she could see us moving around, but I think it made her more nervous because she felt she had to "protect" her area from Festus and Garfield. But it did get her to jump up on the chairs! I'll keep the door closed, for her comfort, and to keep the kitties apart. And I'll give her room a Feliway spritz to keep it calming.

bengalbabe · May 16, 2006

let me know if you find out what it is. I have a queen that started losing her hair after she had her kittens. She still has a bald patch on her back leg and one on her front leg. No flakyness or rash, just losing hair. I had her tested for all sorts of stuff and tests came out negative. I even had her on antibiotics and that didn't help. I do see her licking. I think it may be her licking out her fur from stress or it could be hormones. I'll try to get pics.

sharky · May 16, 2006

I agree with Allie .... but I also suggest having her anal glads checked... Zoey hasnt agressively licked since hers were just done yesturday( the vet said it would be this quick) in Zoeys case she had a clot in one sac and thus it couldnt fill and be releived causes her to lick to excess

bengalbabe · May 16, 2006

Originally Posted by Beckiboo

Sarabi is losing patches of hair on her sides, and the top of her tail. The first bald patch occurred after I sent 3 of her 6 kittens to a new foster home. Then a week later, I sent the other 3 to the same foster home, and a few days later Rabi was bald on both sides, and on her tail. I just assumed she was overgrooming due to stress, but now I'm starting to wonder if it could be something else, like ringworm?

How do you tell the difference between overgrooming and ringworm? This is a kitty who was clearly uncomfortable in the house, until the kittens were born. Now that they are gone, she is alone in a room. I believe she was always an outside cat before...not feral, because she is a love-bug. But nervous inside.

I found this link to hair-loss in cats....
http://www.peteducation.com/article....&articleid=195

I found something in the link you posted:

Hair loss during pregnancy and nursing ('blowing her coat,' telogen effluvium)

Excess shedding that can also occur in other stressful circumstances such as illness or surgery

Sudden and widespread hair loss History, clinical signs

Treat any underlying condition; hair will grow back

beckiboo · May 16, 2006

Originally Posted by bengalbabe

I found something in the link you posted:

Hair loss during pregnancy and nursing ('blowing her coat,' telogen effluvium)

Excess shedding that can also occur in other stressful circumstances such as illness or surgery

Sudden and widespread hair loss History, clinical signs

Treat any underlying condition; hair will grow back

Yeah, I'm thinking it may be that...the stress combined with the hormones. I will try Feliway, and more attention, and see if she seems to do better. She is such a lovely kitty...I hope she calms down, and grows her fur back. No one will want her if she is half bald!!!

And I'm getting another litter soon...I'll have to put them in one of the kids rooms because I don't want to uproot Sarabi, plus just in case the hair loss is ringworm or something contagious. If the Feliway doesn't seem to help, I may put antifungal cream on it. I don't see how it could hurt.

I did clean the areas with iodine cleanser...as a nurse I just love to cleanse a wound with iodine! I always have it on hand for the horses and dogs! LOL!

beckiboo · May 16, 2006

Originally Posted by sharky

I agree with Allie .... but I also suggest having her anal glads checked... Zoey hasnt agressively licked since hers were just done yesturday( the vet said it would be this quick) in Zoeys case she had a clot in one sac and thus it couldnt fill and be releived causes her to lick to excess

She will be getting spayed next week (most likely), so I will have that checked. She was very skinny after having the kittens, and worms. A dose of Drontal, and canned food twice a day has her putting on weight.

liberty's buddy · May 17, 2006

Originally Posted by bengalbabe

let me know if you find out what it is. I have a queen that started losing her hair after she had her kittens. She still has a bald patch on her back leg and one on her front leg. No flakyness or rash, just losing hair. I had her tested for all sorts of stuff and tests came out negative. I even had her on antibiotics and that didn't help. I do see her licking. I think it may be her licking out her fur from stress or it could be hormones. I'll try to get pics.

Just curious if they checked her for a litter allergy? Liberty is very allergic to litter. The only signs were slightly thin hair on her legs and hair loss on her belly. When I first decide she just might be allergic to it I thought it sounded crazy. However, it is rare allergy cats sometimes get (my vet has about 3 in his large practice). I knew I was not being crazy when 4 days after I had started the switch to Feline Pine her hair started growing back. It actually takes a few weeks to completely switch over to Feline Pine. It took a full month after that for all her hair to grow in. Liberty has always had good litterbox habits. However, after I switched she start going to the litterbox more often. She was really mad when I completely quite using traditional litter for 3 days. Then she was the happiest cat in the world...... -kd

beckiboo · May 17, 2006

She hasn't seen the vet, yet. (Not since I've had her, anyhow.) I will consider a litter allergy, though. I was worming her and the babies, and probably did change the litter to a new bag, and possibly a new brand after the kittens left.

She will see the vet next week, for basic shots and a spay (if she is healthy enough). They will definitely check for ringworm or anything else. And she will have labwork done, to rule out any abnormalities there.

beckiboo · May 17, 2006

Originally Posted by Beckiboo

She hasn't seen the vet, yet. (Not since I've had her, anyhow.) I will consider a litter allergy, though. I was worming her and the babies, and probably did change the litter to a new bag, and possibly a new brand after the kittens left.

She will see the vet next week, for basic shots and a spay (if she is healthy enough). They will definitely check for ringworm or anything else. And she will have labwork done, to rule out any abnormalities there.

I just checked, and sure enough I have been using a cheap clay litter, and I'm sure I started that bag when the first 3 kits left. Then after the others went, I wormed her again, and changed all the litter boxes, leaving her only one-full of cheap clay litter!

So I have dumped it out, and refilled with TidyCats scoopable litter.

She is not missing fur on her tummy or legs, I don't think. It may be a little thin, there. But possibly it is not enough to make the fur fall out, but just enough to itch and make her lick too much.

Also, she didn't eat her canned food today...very strange for her. First I was worried, then realized I bought her fish flavored cat food. I don't think I ever got that before (because I don't like fish!)

Thanks for the advice, kd!

bengalbabe · May 18, 2006

Originally Posted by Liberty's Buddy

Just curious if they checked her for a litter allergy? Liberty is very allergic to litter. The only signs were slightly thin hair on her legs and hair loss on her belly. When I first decide she just might be allergic to it I thought it sounded crazy. However, it is rare allergy cats sometimes get (my vet has about 3 in his large practice). I knew I was not being crazy when 4 days after I had started the switch to Feline Pine her hair started growing back. It actually takes a few weeks to completely switch over to Feline Pine. It took a full month after that for all her hair to grow in. Liberty has always had good litterbox habits. However, after I switched she start going to the litterbox more often. She was really mad when I completely quite using traditional litter for 3 days. Then she was the happiest cat in the world...... -kd

I never thought of that. Yes she was using the clay litter when I had her in the birthing cage and that's when she started losing the hair. It's starting to grow back now that she is out in the enclosed backyard where she can potty in the dirt/sand. Now I had to put her back in the cage though because she's sneezing and stuffy (all the cats and the dog and all of us feel terrible from he bad air in Sacramento). I hope she dosen't start losing what she grew back! I'll switch her to something else as soon as I can!

beckiboo · May 18, 2006

Originally Posted by bengalbabe

I never thought of that. Yes she was using the clay litter when I had her in the birthing cage and that's when she started losing the hair. It's starting to grow back now that she is out in the enclosed backyard where she can potty in the dirt/sand. Now I had to put her back in the cage though because she's sneezing and stuffy (all the cats and the dog and all of us feel terrible from he bad air in Sacramento). I hope she dosen't start losing what she grew back! I'll switch her to something else as soon as I can!

Maybe you can try sand with her for the short term. Although it would be messy, at least it will help you know if it is allergies or stress.

Sarabi is losing patches of hair!

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