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Cats/Small bald spot?

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Expert: - 2/6/2012


Question
Chibi arm
Chibi arm  
I was playing with my almost two year old kitty today when I saw something strange on her inner right "arm." It was a small bald spot, about an inch and a half long, and an inch wide.  Some of her fur was pressed down on the area, but, it didn't look like it was irritated and I didn't see anything just under the skin. She's a gray medium hair cat, and, quite small for her age. She's very active and an indoor only cat. I'm taking her into get spayed in two weeks, but, until then I don't know if I should keep her separate from my two other cats. They all get along very well, and none of them ever go outdoors. I'm not sure if she could have gotten it from playing. This might be normal, but, until the day of the appointment I'd like to kind of know what this is. I'm not sure what to do. I've fed her the same food, I haven't changed it, nor the brand of litter I use.

Answer
Jessica,

To be on the safe side I'd take this baby to the vet just to confirm that what's going on isn't contagious... I think it's simply an obsessive licking issue which can happen in some cats, but it could be a sign of thyroid issues or ringworm so it's best to have her checked sooner rather than later. I doubt very much that this is ringworm, as I said it looks to me more like a food issue or an obsessive licking issue neither of which are contagious to your other cats.

Hopefully this information helps. If you have any further questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me again at any time - I'm more than happy to help.

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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