You are here:
- Home
- Animals/Pets
- Cats
- Cats
- Shaved Cat
Cats/Shaved Cat
Advertisement
Question
Hey I shaved my 3 year old cat about 6 weeks ago, he had pretty severe
matting. He's had it done once before, so I knew what to expect. His hair is
starting to grow in now, but it's growing in VERY strange, like really patchy on
his back, he looks like a really sick old person that has a few hairs covering
their bald head in some places. I don't remember this happening last time
and I can't find any information on it online. He seems in relatively good
health, otherwise. One thing that has changed is I started putting fish oil in
his dry food. I stopped that last week to see if that could be the problem but I
sort of doubted it. Why does his hair look like this??
Ashley,
I have a few questions that I need to ask in order for me to be able to help you understand what's happening here.
What equipment did you use to shave your kitty?
What kind of diet does your cat eat?
Have you discussed what you're seeing with the vet?
I'm not leaning towards the fish oil being the problem here, but there are some medical issues that could explain what's going on. If your cat is allowed outside he may have come into contact with something he shouldn't have. There's a possibility that the stress of being shaved has caused a problem with his skin. If your cat has allergies he could be itchy which can cause kitties to yank fur out. Your kitty may have a skin infection of some sort. In all honesty I think that this situation calls for a vet's input, any one of these issues could be responsible for the way your cat's fur regrows so the first step really should be to have your vet examine your kitty ASAP. You can't really treat a problem if you don't know what it is or what's causing it. Sometimes issues with a cat's coat have more to do with the quality of their diet than most people realize.
I am wondering if there's a reason that your cat isn't being groomed for a few minutes each day so that there's no need to shave him...I can offer tips to groom cats at home and make it a more pleasant experience for you and your cat. I know that my cats have been groomed daily since they were kittens and they see it as a pleasant experience and opportunity to receive my undivided attention. I've trained older foster cats to enjoy the grooming so if you're willing to try, I'm willing to try and help you and your cat.
Related Articles
- Dermatitis in Dogs and Cats - Yeast and Bacterial Infections in Dermatitis in Dogs and Cats
- Skin Disease, Hair Loss and Scratching - Information about allergies, parasites, infections and hair loss in dogs and cats
- Hookworms in Cats - Signs - Diagnosis - Treating Hookworms
- Urinary Problems in Cats: urine marking, litter box behavior issues, urinary infections
- Catfish for Fun and Food on Rod and Reel
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.
©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.