Expert: Karen Craft - 2/6/2008

Question
We have a new kitten who is about 10 mo.  She is VERY fluffy, hense her name "Fluffy".  I have noticed she is loosing hair in patches under her chin...it runs down her throat and is starting to extend over her shoulders on both sides of her asphugus. The skin seems bluish and it looks like little tiny hairs are gowing back..it is not red, scaly or bumpy.  She does not really groom this area, in fact my first thought when it was smaller was the loss of hair after I groomed out the hair matted up.  She does not scratch this area excessivly.  She is the most loving little kitty and snuggles with you like a little rag doll. She loves to be pet and loves her daily routine of her brushing and grooming by me.   She "seems" to have adjusted well in our home with our 11 yr old female who is the "queen"..and to our 9 yr old female and then to her own sister from the same litter....who have become best friends, sleeping, playing, and even eating side by side!  She eats an indoor formula and gets some salmon or turkey in gravy once a week.  Her coats is very soft to the touch, fluffy, and shinny.  Oh, and she has had her first round of shots.  I am emailing you because I do not want to spend $80 at our vet to have him tell me that she is having anxiety issues.  I have looked online and there are so many things that really do not fit exactally how her patches are.  We are in the dead of winter so fleas are not a concern, but I have checked all cats and there are no sign of them.  I have had cats now for 11 years and take very good care of all of them. They are our "girls" and "kids"...our two daughters are inlove with our new addition! I have had  VERY healthy cats and no issues...not even fleas....due to yearly routine of flea vaccinations with Advantage, combing, bathing and  house cleaning....I do not like the thought of "bugs"...anyhow....I hope you can lend some advice!!

thank you!

Answer
Hi K. Taylor,

Cats lose hair for a variety of reasons. She is not scrathing the area excessively, but that means she is scratching it.  If she is then you might want her checked out for a couple of skin conditions. She doesn't sound like she has anxiety issues. She might have demodex, a type of skin mites; she could have a fungal infection; or she could have an allergy to something. This is one time I would go to the vet and have her checked out. Good luck and let me know what he says.

Ciao, Karen