Expert: Dr. Louis N. Gotthelf - 7/3/2007

Question
I have long haired cat who's hair started to matted really bad around her collar. I took the collar off and brushed the hair to try to untangle it.  Within a day there was large mat of hair dangling, which I snipped off, but now she is bald around  where her collar  USED to hang, no more collars ( shes an indoor). My question is should I be concerned about the hair loss and the fact that she scratches there and if there is an ointment that I can use  to help the hair grow faster?

Answer
Cats show allergies around their neck and face.  If you take the collar off and this mattng continues, the cat is itchy and I would have her seen by a vet.  Ointments and cremes do not work to re-grow hair.  The steroid cremes may reduce inflammation, but let your vet make that determination.