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Cats/19 yr old female cat is loosing hair in clumps

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Expert: - 9/20/2011


Question
My cat has gotten thinner as she gets older, now she's loosing chunks of hair at a time. I see large areas of her pink skin and she's getting the clumps stuck in her mouth. Any recommendations for me? She's not current on shots - she's on soft and dry food- she's eating drinking and going to the bathroom ok.

Answer
D,

I would suspect that your kitty may have an issue with hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) which isn't uncommon as kitties age. You may want to ensure that her kidney values are looked at very carefully before treating her hyperthyroidism as the increased blood pressure may be protecting the kidneys, but if her kidneys are in good shape then there's no harm in treating her thyroid issues - it's as simple as a pill a day. As for her needles if she's a low risk indoor kitty I wouldn't jump on the band wagon of vaccinating her at this age. Overall she sounds pretty healthy given her age.

If you have any further cat related questions or concerns please don't hesitate to contact me again at any time - I'm more than happy to help in any way that I can.

Kind regards,

Ali

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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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