Expert: Karen Craft - 1/16/2009

Question
QUESTION: Hello, I see you asked a question (quite a while ago now) on a 2 week old kitten that you had that was losing its hair, and I wanted to ask what the outcome for that kitten was? The reason I ask is that I have 5 orphan kittens here at the moment that are now 6 weeks old. Have had them since they were about 3 weeks old. They are all black, all fluffy kittens, 4 girls and one boy. The boy has a markedly thinning fur coat, especially over his back, sides and back of his head (but the skin underneath is normal). He is ever so slightly thinner than the other kittens too, but otherwise plays, eats, poops etc normally. They were flea'd soon after I got them, but only wormed 3 days ago. Just curious as to the cause from your kittens hair loss, as it sounds similar. Cheers

ANSWER: Hi Rochelle,

I think you have me confused with someone else. But I can tell you that having fleas can cause hair loss like that. Flea allergies react like that. You can't use flea stuff on them yet. They are too young. But you can do this home flea treatment.

Give him a  bath in the blue original Dawn dish washing
liquid. Water it down to about 2/3 water and 1/3 Dawn
liquid. Saturate the kitty and be careful not to get
it in his eyes or mouth. Rub it into his fur really well. Used a gentle flow of warm water to thoroughly
rinse him, and wiped his face and ears with a
damp washcloth. Use towels to dry.

Don't put the kitty in a basin of water, but set him on
a safe surface to do the bathing like a plastic chair or
table set in the bathtub. Put a towel or sponge wipe on the surface he will be on. This gives him something to grip on when you bathe him. Then rinse him off in the same place. They are more afraid of being submerged in water than of the water being dipped or spayed on them gently.

See how he does after this. Good luck.

Ciao, Karen


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Karen, thanks for your answer. I got you mixed up with a questioner sorry, heres where I saw: http://en.allexperts.com/q/Cats-1606/newborn-kitten-hair-loss.htm  These kittens were flea treated when I got them (spray on Frontline) and funnily enough I have been bathing all 5 kits every second day in water with dishwashing liquid as they have been getting so sticky with jellymeat. He seems fine though, just a little bald, so will see how he goes :-) Thank you for your reply too. Is there any way I can get in touch with that original questioner? if not, no matter.

Answer
Hi Rochelle,

I forgot about that one. She never got back to me so I don't know how her kitten did. Here's a link that will probably give you more to worry about. ;) It lists all the things that can cause a cat's hair loss. The list is long.
http://en.allexperts.com/q/Cats-1606/newborn-kitten-hair-loss.htm  

Just from what you told me though it doesn't sound too dangerous. But I would get him checked by a vet to make sure all is well. Good luck. And let me know how he is.

Ciao, Karen