Expert: Jessica - 12/31/2009

Question
Dear Jessica
My cat is 3 years old, she is a healthy one and doesn't wander much. Lately she has lost fur on the backs of her legs and sometimes it looks red. She doesn't have fleas, what could it be?

Answer
Hi Beth.  Skin problems can be difficult to diagnose.  You should have her examined by a vet to see if her pattern of fur loss and the irritation fit any specific conditions.  Some cats simply overgroom these areas when they become stressed, breaking their fur off with their rough tongues and causing skin irritation.  But it is more likely due to an allergy, either to a food ingredient or something in her environment, an autoimmune disease, or a parasite or infection.  In addition to fleas, cats can get microscopic mites, lice and fungal and bacterial skin infections.

If the pattern is clearly indicative of one specific ailment, your vet can lay out a treatment plan for you.  However, the vet might want to do a skin scraping to help diagnose the problem.  A blade-like instrument is used to scrape off a layer of skin cells, which are then analyzed to determine if there are fungi, bacteria, inflammatory cells or parasites present.  A hair and skin culture might also be helpful.  This can help your vet determine what's causing your cat's skin problems and start you on the right path to her recovery.

Best wishes!

Jessica