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Question
I have a black cat Brazillia with short hair that looks like a Bengal cat from pictures I've seen. She is about 9 months old. Maybe older since I rescued her from an abusive situation. The past week or so (that I've noticed)she has been excessively losing hair on her front paws or really legs. Also on her back inner thighs. I have another cat which looks like a Manx because of no tail that has long hair. And two dogs both Terriers. The patches have no puss, redness, bumps, crust, or anything! Just no Hair!! Now sometimes the other cat bites Brazillia but I've never seen her bite the patches missing hair. I've been putting an anti-fungal cream on it too. Is that okay?
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thank you for your help.
danni
Danielle,
It's tough to say what's causing your cat's hair loss. There are so many reasons for cats to suddenly go bald in patches like Brazillia's. I would recommend that you have her assessed by your family veterinarian as soon as possible to find out whether she has a thyroid issue, food/environmental allergies, anxiety, allergies to fleas, mange, etc. Your vet may require blood work to determine the cause of this sudden hair loss. I would avoid putting anything on these bald spots without a vet's recommendation because there is a possibility that you may do more harm than good with your well intentioned care.
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Answers by Expert:
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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