Expert: Dr. Louis N. Gotthelf - 6/23/2007

Question
I have a persian and I get her shaved 1-2 times a year, And about 2 months ago I got her shaved again & this time her hair did not grow back like it normally does. She has a very short even layer all over her body about a 1/2 inch then the she has these single hairs that are growing all over wildly throughout her body that are 3-4 inches and some spots are growing in real thick then there are other areas where the hair isnt growing any longer at all. I hope that its just that she is getting older (7yrs) I hate to think something is wrong with her...Can anyone help?

Answer
Hairs grow according to temperaure.  Wehn you shaved the cat, so me hairs will be at the proper temperature and others wil not.  If the hair follicles are there, then when the weather changes, the hair will probably regrow.  If there are bald patches without hair follicles, then that may be a problem.  Clipping the hair did not cause that type of baldness.  If you are worried, have your vet do a biopsy of the hairless areas to se if the folicles are active or not.