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Cats/Senior cat pulling his hair out

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Expert: - 10/27/2008


Question
For the past 2 weeks or so, my 16 yr old cat knaws at himself and pulls out big clumps of hair.  He is getting quite bald in areas.  My question is whether or not he is in distress.  He is also deaf, throws up a lot, and acts strangely--such as meowing at the water dish and is very needy now.  (always wants to be sitting on someone)

Answer
Lorie,

It's important that your elderly cat is taken to the vet as soon as possible to be properly assessed. I suspect that there is a medical reason for the sudden behavioral changes so it would be advisable to have a full blood panel and urine test done to find out what's going on...Hair loss can be associated with thyroid issues (which require medication and possibly surgery) as well as allergies to environmental substances or food. Your cat is roughly equivalent in age to an 80 year old human being so keeping a close eye on his health and behavior is important...Many vets recommend that elderly cats be examined more frequently than younger cats who are healthy, in many practices the recommendation is to have them examined by a vet including blood work and other testing at least every six months.

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Ali

Expertise

I am the proud guardian of 5 mixed breed cats ranging from 12 weeks to 13 years old and one purebred ragdoll. I have 20+ years experience working with mixed breed cats from a variety of different situations. I have fostered cats/kittens with special needs/behavioral issues. I have rescued/rehabilitated/re-homed a variety of stray/abused cats. I can offer advice on managing feral cat colonies, rehabilitating strays and finding them forever homes. I can help you to determine whether a cat is stray or feral, there IS a significant difference. Improperly introducing a new cat/kitten can result in aggression between newly introduced cats because cats are territorial by nature and they don't like sudden changes in their environment. To learn more about a peaceful way to introduce a new cat into a home with other cats please check out my previous answers on this subject. Proper nutrition for cats can be confusing, I recommend checking out catinfo.org which was created by a veterinarian (Dr. Lisa Pierson) who takes a common sense approach to explaining feline nutrition. Cat behavior and instincts are different from those of humans, I can help you understand your cat's needs so that you can meet them adequately and have a balanced, psychologically and physically sound kitty. Cats vary in personality, energy level and intelligence, different approaches may be required to achieve results in terms of training and interaction with your feline companion. An intelligent, high energy cat must be kept busy or they will make their own fun. I am NOT a licensed veterinarian and I can't offer medical advice. If your cat is ill/injured my advice is always the same: get prompt medical treatment provided by a veterinarian. If finances are an issue I will try to find resources in your area that can help with medical costs or make other choices to ensure the welfare of your cat.

Experience

I have fostered feral and stray cats, rehabilitated and homed cats that many people recommended euthanasia for. I am willing to make an effort to do the research and ask questions because I care enough to find solutions to behavioral problems rather than giving up. I have an interest in the use of alternative therapies to help provide the best possible care for all cats and I can say in all honesty that I've seen some incredible things happen for some incredible cats and their human caregivers when the right alternative therapeutic modality is used by a qualified veterinarian with expertise and experience in the field.

Education/Credentials
I've earned my diploma as a veterinary assistant with honors.

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