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Cats/Hair loss on front legs.
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Question
I have three cats. One, a male is six years old and from a pet center with short hair. The other two are females and have long hair and came from a farm as kittens about five years ago. I recently (two days) discovered that her two front legs have hair patches missing. They are all indoor cats and this one has always been skiddish of other people. Never comes out unless it just our family. She is happy, eating, going to the bathroom, coughs up the occasional hairball but nothing serious. Not itching or frantickly licking? Seems content. There is some fur there that is mostly peach fuzz and in two stripe like patches going up and down along the front of the two legs.any ideas as to what is going on? I am concerned because I am seven months pregnant and my husband and I have a two year old at home.
Leanne,
This sounds like an overgrooming situation due to itching. You need to work with your vet to find out why the itching. It could be a change in food, an allergy to something (food or fleas?), a sensitivity to body mites, or who knows what?
Although I am not a vet, I would not think it is anything that would be contagious to humans. However, I would get this kitty to your vet to try to find out what is going on.
If the hair is coming back and the patches are not getting re-established, it might just be a passing thing?!?!?!
Best regards... Norm.
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Answers by Expert:
Norman Auspitz
Expertise
I can answer most non-veterinary questions about cats. My particular expertise is pedigree cats, breeding and showing. However, I am versed in feline behavior, cat breeds and their characteristics, general feline husbandry, and the like.
Experience
I judged for the Canadian Cat Association from 1975 until 1982. I am currently an approved allbreed judge for the Cat Fanciers'' Association (the world''s largets cat registry), and have been judging for them since 1991. I have been breeding pedigreed cats since 1971 and have been exhibiting pedigreed cats in shows since 1970. I obtained my first pedigreed cat in 1970 and have never looked back. In 1971, I obtained my first Abyssinian which has become my primary breed. In addition, I have bred Manx and Persians. Currently, besides the Abyssinians, I am also breeding Maine Coons.
Organizations
Cat Fanciers'' Association, inc. (CFA) and the Manx, Maine Coon, and Abyssinian breed councils. I am currently Abyssinian breed council secretary.
Publications
Cat Fancy Magazine, The Abyssinian Chapter in The Cat Fanciers'' Association Complete Cat Book, and Articles for various editions of The Cat Fanciers'' Association Yearbook
Education/Credentials
I received a B.S. from Drexel University in 1968, a M.Math from University of Waterloo, in 1970, a Ph.D. from University of Waterloo in 1975, and a MBA from McMaster University in 1980. I received my approved allbreed judging status in the Cat Fanciers'' Association in 1999.
Awards and Honors
We have produced a number of Cat Fanciers'' Association (CFA) National winning Abyssinian and Maine Coons. We have produced a number of Abyssinian and Maine Coon Distinguished Merit females (an award for a top producing cat), including the first Distinguished Merit Abyssinian in the red (sorrel) color. I am the CFA Abyssinian breed council secretary and belong and/or hold office in a number of cat clubs. I am also a member of the CFA Judges Association.
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