Sinusitis

Psychogenic alopecia in cats. How to deal with hair loss in a cat

Cat hair is very different from human hair. It is very unusual for a cat to lose all its fur (we, of course, do not take into account “hairless” breeds). Cats, unlike people, do not go bald with age. If you find bald spots on your pet, then you need to determine the cause of hair loss.

Steps

Identifying and treating diseases that lead to hair loss

The first step is to identify the disease. In such cases, it is necessary to treat the disease itself, because hair loss will not be the only symptom.

For example, if it is a skin infection (bacterial folliculitis, demodicosis or ringworm), then the cat will be itchy, and if it is Cushing's disease, then it will be thirsty.

Symptoms of bacterial folliculitis. With this disease, the skin will be infected with bacteria that spread throughout the hair, down to the root, and can cause a lot of damage. Damaged hair falls out when the cat licks and cleans itself.
- Treatment involves washing the cat with a medicated shampoo, which will reduce the amount of bacteria on the surface of the skin (a sedative may be required). In addition, oral antibiotics can be used (course: 4-6 weeks). Broad-spectrum antibiotics (amoxicillin) are usually prescribed.
Know that baldness can be caused by stress. Then the hair falls out immediately and symmetrically. This can be caused by pregnancy, lactation, serious illness, surgery and other stressful situations. Hair loss occurs about a month after stress.

Recognition and treatment of Itsenko-Cushing's disease. Hyperadrenocorticism, also known as Cushing's disease, is rare in cats. This occurs when a cat's body produces too much natural cortisol. The disease causes hunger and thirst, as well as physical changes (the belly grows, the skin becomes thin, hair falls out).
- Treatment involves taking a capsule daily containing trilostane, which inhibits the glands that produce cortisol.
Treatment of allergies that lead to baldness
1. Cats can lose their fur due to allergies. Allergies can develop due to external irritants and food. It leads to itchy skin and sometimes diarrhea and vomiting. Itching promotes excessive licking, which damages the hair; It looks like the cat is losing hair in different areas of its body.
  
  Watch out for hair loss. If the itching or hair loss is seasonal, your cat is likely allergic to certain grasses or pollens. She can only lose her fur in the summer, when there is this or that pollen in the air.
  - If you notice that your cat does have seasonal allergies, talk to your veterinarian and he can prescribe a course of steroids. They will reduce itching and allow the coat to recover.
2. Place your cat on a temporary hypoallergenic diet. If the problem is food, then steroids will not help. It is necessary to exclude the allergen from the diet. Place your cat on a special food (Hills ZD or Purina HA) and do not feed anything else.
  - The diet can last up to 8 weeks to cleanse the cat’s body of the allergen.
  - If the hair loss was caused by a food allergy, then after 8 weeks of a hypoallergenic diet, the hair should begin to grow back and the cat should feel better.
Treatment of pain that leads to baldness
1. Arthritis can cause hair loss. If your cat suffers from arthritis, she may lick the joint that hurts a lot. Painkillers should help. Talk to your veterinarian if you think your pet may be suffering from arthritis.
2. About meloxicam. Meloxicam belongs to the family of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. It works by inhibiting the COX-2 enzyme, which causes the release of prostaglandins, which in turn limit the inflammation that causes pain and fever. This medication may help relieve your cat's joint pain.
  - Consult your veterinarian before giving this medication.
3. Do not give your cat meloxicam if she is dehydrated. Meloxicam should only be given to well-hydrated animals. Dehydrated animals have impaired kidney function and the additional stress on the kidneys due to the drug may cause kidney failure.
  - Meloxicam should be taken with or after meals.
  - Do not give your cat meloxicam if she is already taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or steroids.

Alopecia in cats is baldness, that is, hair loss. There can be many reasons for this condition in a pet - from skin infections and diseases of internal organs to stress or depression.

Most often, alopecia in cats is caused by various skin infections and internal diseases. Among skin infectious pathologies, the most common causes of hair loss are:

bacterial folliculitis;
ringworm;
demodicosis

Of the internal diseases that cause baldness, veterinarians most often diagnose the following:

hyperadrenocorticism, or Itsenko-Cushing pathology;
allergic reactions;
disturbances in immune and hormonal processes;
special conditions of the body;
arthritis.

Special conditions of the body should be understood as pregnancy, old age, the recovery period after long-term treatment or feeding kittens.

Psychogenic alopecia in cats is similar to nervous hair loss in humans. That is, the hair begins to fall out due to experiences, stress, both long-term and short-term, but strong.

For example, a person often experiences hair loss after experiencing the death of loved ones, watching car accidents or fires, as a result of a parachute jump or visiting “free fall” attractions. This is a state of short-term stress, that is, a bright and strong emotion, fear, compassion or some other feeling. A characteristic feature of this condition is a very strong shake-up of the nervous system, followed by a kind of rollback. That is, after a while, consequences of the experience arise, among which baldness is often found.

A cat may feel the same way. If your pet is very frightened, upset or impressed by something, then some time after this event hair loss may begin.

Long-term stress is a condition in which an animal experiences discomfort and negative emotions for many days, and sometimes even years. Unfortunately, the most common source of long-term stress in animals is their owners. For example, a cat may begin to lose hair because its owners are constantly dissatisfied with it, drive it off the couch or don’t let it go anywhere, scold it, or don’t pay attention.

Many people, in principle, do not think about what kind of attitude they show to their own pet. Not all animals and people are psychologically compatible. For example, an independent cat that does not tolerate familiarity will not care if its owner ignores it, as long as food appears in the bowl on time. But for a sociable, affectionate animal, bored by a whole day of loneliness within the walls of an apartment, the indifference of a person returning from work can cause deep psychological trauma.

Of course, in addition to human behavior and attitude, other factors may be the source of the development of such a condition as alopecia nervosa in cats. For example, vibration from an audio speaker or the presence of an aviary with birds in the apartment. Sources of long-term stress can lurk at every turn. They are always individual, each animal reacts in its own way to what surrounds it.

How does psychogenic alopecia in a pet differ from human alopecia?

Psychogenic alopecia in cats, the treatment of this pathology and its manifestations, of course, differ from nervous alopecia in humans. In addition to the various medications and external care products used in therapy, there is a difference between cat and human hair loss in the reasons for the development of alopecia.

It lies in the fact that a cat is capable of acquiring a conditioned reflex to scratching, licking and, accordingly, depriving itself of hair. This usually occurs after a skin infection or internal disease has been experienced and cured. Often, a cat that has been deprived of kittens begins to lick itself, and does it with such frenzy that it tears out the fur. In humans, such a reflex is not formed.

There are also frequent cases when reflex psychogenic alopecia in cats becomes a consequence of itself. That is, in cases where a cat has experienced hair loss caused by stress, it can also continue to reflexively itch and lick itself, preventing the fur from growing back.

What are the main causes of psychogenic feline alopecia?

As with any disease, in the case of a diagnosis of alopecia in cats, treatment begins with identifying the causes of this condition and eliminating them.

The most common causes of hair loss caused by psychogenic factors are:

long-term and short-term stress;
experienced skin infections and diseases;
pregnancy and childbirth.

Eliminating the cause of alopecia is an important part of therapy. If the factor that causes hair loss in a cat remains in its life, then no treatment will be able to prevent hair loss.

How is this alopecia located?

Symmetrical alopecia in cats usually accompanies mental trauma, stress or other psychogenic factors that cause hair loss.

The most common manifestation of psychogenic hair loss is hair loss on the ears. In some animals, they can become naked literally overnight, and when the source of disturbance is eliminated, they can just as quickly become overgrown.

Psychogenic alopecia can develop on any part of the body; slight asymmetry in its location is also possible in cases where the disease has a reflex type of development.

Which cats are prone to psychogenic alopecia?

Any cat can go bald due to stress or due to other reasons related to nervous activity.

But some breeds are much more prone to psychogenic hair loss. These cats include:

Siamese;
Burmese;
Anatolian;
Abyssinian;
lop-eared;
Bengali;
Bombay;
American Shorthair;
British shorthair and blue.

Endocrine alopecia in cats is also more common among representatives of these breeds than in other animals.

Are there cats resistant to alopecia?

There are no animals that are absolutely resistant to nervous shock and stress. However, there are breeds for which hair loss due to psychogenic factors is rare.

These cats include:

classic Persian and exotic;
Norwegian forest;
longhaired American bobtails;
European Shorthairs;
meikuns.

Of course, these animals are also capable of getting sick due to nervousness, but representatives of such breeds are less prone to strong emotions than others.

Does psychogenic alopecia have symptoms?

The only symptom of psychogenic alopecia is the loss of hair by a cat without any objective reason for this. That is, if fleas, ticks, internal diseases, endocrine and hormonal disorders are detected, there can be no talk about the psychogenic nature of hair loss.

When alopecia develops for nervous reasons, the hair falls out unevenly. On some days the amount of fur lost may be greater than on others. If a cat demonstrates behavior that is unusual for it before, then it is urgent to fully examine the animal, since with psychogenic alopecia the pet’s habits do not change.

How is this type of alopecia treated?

The main thing in the treatment of all psychogenic disorders of animals, including alopecia, is the elimination of the factor that negatively affects the pet’s condition. This is precisely the main difficulty of therapy.

No special medications are required to treat these disorders. As a rule, medications are limited to sedatives, vitamins and immunomodulators. In addition, special care is recommended using external agents that stimulate hair growth.

Many cats shed hair continuously through a natural process (shedding) as part of normal cellular turnover. This happens to adjust to the changing seasons. This is a completely normal process and there is no cause for concern. However, excessive shedding, hair loss to the point of receding hairline or bare skin, or loss of entire tufts of hair is not normal and may indicate a problem.

What is alopecia (baldness) in cats?

Alopecia, or baldness, is the term used to describe the loss of hair or fur in animals, which can occur due to many different reasons. Cats tend to shed the most heavily in the spring and fall, and of course long-haired cats shed noticeably more than short-haired cats. If you think your cat is shedding too much, sometimes simple extra care and grooming can help. Grooming your cat's fur will keep it clear of old fur and encourage the growth of new, healthy fur, which will help keep it in good condition, giving you the opportunity to check both your pet's coat and skin.

If you notice that your cat's fur is actually sparse and thin, especially in areas where dandruff is present, or there appears to be skin irritation or soreness, then your cat may have a problem that you will need to address.

Main causes of hair loss in cats

There are over a hundred different reasons why your cat could potentially be losing hair, and your veterinarian may decide to take a sample of your cat's skin to examine under a microscope.

The most common causes of hair loss in cats are:

Flea infestation

Severe cases of flea infestation often lead to hair loss in cats, as saliva from flea bites is a strong irritant that can cause skin inflammation and subsequent hair loss. If you suspect your cat has alopecia, make sure she (and your home) are free of fleas.

Skin allergies

As with flea bite allergies, there are other irritants that can cause allergic reactions in cats on the skin. Allergies can be caused by additives, certain foods, household chemicals, and even pollen.

Thyroid disease

Hyperthyroidism (an overactive thyroid gland) and other thyroid problems can lead to hair loss in cats. Hyperthyroidism is diagnosed with extensive blood tests and can be controlled with veterinary medications containing thyroid hormones. Once treatment is started, hair loss associated with the thyroid gland usually stops.

Ringworm or dermatophytosis

Ringworm is a skin fungus that spreads in circular patches, the hair on which soon falls out. Ringworm is usually fairly easy to diagnose and can be treated with antifungal medications.

psychogenic dermatitis

Dermatitis is a general term for skin problems that in turn lead to hair loss. Psychogenic dermatitis is the term used for dermatitis that occurs due to excessive grooming by a cat: licking, biting or scratching the skin and fur to the point that the hair thins and falls out. This type of dermatitis is not caused by any problem with the skin itself, but refers to psychological factors that can be stressful for the cat and cause compulsive behavior in it. Environment and any other cause of stress such as house change, change of ownership, bullying by other pets can change your cat's condition and lead to psychogenic dermatitis.

As mentioned, it can be quite difficult for a cat owner to understand and determine the cause of his pet's hair loss. So even if you're sure of the cause of your hair loss, it's always a good idea to talk to your veterinarian about it to make sure you're properly diagnosed and following the right treatment for the problem at hand.

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Throughout the year, cats shed a small amount of hair; many shed consistently twice a year: in autumn and spring. But if you notice patchy hair loss in a cat in the head, neck, groin, sides, stomach, or paws, most likely this is alopecia, and the animal needs to be examined.

Symptoms of alopecia in cats

It is not difficult to distinguish alopecia from seasonal hair loss, which is normal for all cats. As a rule, alopecia is completely hairless or covered with very sparse hair areas on the cat's body.

Alopecia is often accompanied by peeling of the skin, redness, crusting, and itching. There is symmetrical alopecia on both sides, near the ears or on other parts of the body, as well as complete baldness of individual areas of the skin (abdomen, groin, limbs, etc.).

If a cat often licks itself, scratches the same place, or bites areas of skin, this is a reason for a thorough examination. It is possible that the animal will develop diseases.

Let's look at the 10 main reasons why alopecia occurs. Remember that this disease requires consultation with a specialist.

Causes of hair loss in cats and treatment

1) Hypotrichosis is a genetic disorder that is inherited. Most often it begins to appear at an early age: the kitten loses fur, then grows it again. This pathology is extremely rare, does not threaten the health of the animal, but, unfortunately, has practically no treatment. It is recommended to exclude such animals from breeding.

2) Obesity is associated with skin diseases such as inflammation of the sebaceous glands, dermatitis and alopecia. The inability of obese cats to properly groom their coat can lead to hair loss. In this case, the cat should be switched to, which promotes weight loss.

3) Vitamin A deficiency, which cats are not able to synthesize on their own and require its presence in food. A cat with a deficiency of vitamin A worsens the condition of the skin and coat, develops alopecia and generalized peeling of the skin.

Your veterinarian will help you choose the right diet with a sufficient amount of vitamin A: it is not recommended to introduce it into your cat’s diet on your own, since hypervitaminosis also causes intoxication in cats.

4) Food intolerance or allergies often manifest themselves in cats as skin reactions, causing the animal to injure itself. Additionally, food allergies can manifest as respiratory and digestive disorders (diarrhea), eosinophilic granuloma, and the appearance of areas of alopecia. After consultation with a specialist, an elimination diet or transfer to.

5) Psychogenic alopecia occurs in a cat experiencing stress. Such an animal begins to lick itself excessively in order to calm itself. Psychogenic alopecia is not very common and is treated with drug behavior modification therapy.

Many animals suspected of having psychogenic alopecia actually suffer (not only from food, but also from allergies to flea bites, cosmetics and other inhaled allergens), which causes the animal to itch. This diagnosis can be verified using an elimination diet.

6) A reaction to medications may manifest itself in the form of alopecia. In this case, it is necessary to discontinue or replace the drug after consultation with a veterinarian.

7) Endocrine alopecia is a hormonal imbalance in an animal. This can happen after sterilization, due to improper functioning of the thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism), hyperfunction of the adrenal glands, as well. With endocrine alopecia, bare areas on the cat's body are most often symmetrical and located on the sides.

10) Mechanical alopecia is the most easily eliminated. If areas of baldness are clearly visible under a collar, harness, or after an injury, a fight with another cat, no special treatment is required, and the animals usually quickly grow new hair.

The beautiful, soft and silky fur of our pets is a clear sign of their good health. Loss of hair, therefore, may indicate some serious pathologies in the animal’s body. One of the most complex disorders in cats is alopecia. It is divided into two types:

Symptomatic when the pathology is only a visible effect of another cat disease.

Idiopathic. It occurs “on its own”; more often it is impossible to identify visible causes.

In addition, the pathology can be focal, when hair falls out only in a limited area, and generalized (mass baldness over a large area). In addition, symmetrical alopecia occurs in cats, in which hair falls out symmetrically on all sides (hormones, chemotherapy) and asymmetrically, when hair loss is observed in only one area of the body.

The term “alopecia” in this case refers to hair loss, and it can be either local or massive, systemic. Simply put, this is baldness. In cats, this “disease” is quite common, and the causes of this disorder cannot be identified in all cases... However, such a pathology as psychogenic alopecia in cats has already been fully studied and confirmed. It occurs in the most “finely organized” animals.

Most often, chronic or very severe stress (even short-term) leads to this outcome. Cats are very sensitive animals to changes in their environment, so many things can cause it. Hair loss often begins suddenly, and within a couple of days your pet becomes a “Sphynx”, regardless of its original breed.

Read also: Diagnosis and treatment of sinusitis in cats

Here are the main reasons for what is happening:

The appearance of a new cat in the house.
Moving to another house or city.
Large-scale renovation.
The birth of a child, to whom all the attention of the cat’s owners is now directed.
Death or divorce.
“Chronic” chaos in the apartment.
Boredom and a depressed, apathetic state.
Restriction in movement (after injury, when a cast is applied).
"Toilet problems."

What to do with a “mentally unstable” cat?

Carefully evaluate your pet's living conditions, paying attention to the slightest changes that could cause baldness. Even a new diet or litter tray are “good” causes of alopecia in cats. If your work schedule has changed, as a result of which your cat spends days and nights in splendid isolation, sitting in the apartment, then you should not be surprised at the massive hair loss.

There is no need to immediately start feeding your pet sedatives. It may be possible to find an alternative solution. So, if the changes in the cat’s environment are not so critical and “monumental” (a new litter box, for example), you just need to be patient: soon everything will return to normal, and your pet’s fur will grow back.