Helping Guide Bengal Cat Owners

Why Is My Cat’s Hair Falling Out in Clumps?

Have you found clumps of cat’s hair lying around the house? There are a few things that can cause such a condition, and most of them should be addressed immediately.

Your cat’s hair can start falling out, in case it has fleas, an allergy, ringworm, issues with certain hormones, or if it’s suffering from stress. Poor health, an unhealthy diet, and an undetected disease can also be to blame; in any case, visiting the vet is recommended.

Why Is My Cat’s Hair Falling Out in Clumps?

It is normal for cats to shed, but if your fluffy ball has whole clumps falling out, then the chances are high that there is something wrong.

  • Stress can make your cat lose clumps of hair. That might be either due to the contractor of the muscles that are ‘holding’ the hairs or excessive scratching.
  • Fleas can also make your pet scratch excessively. This often results in bald patches.
  • Your kitty could have gotten into a fight and its fur simply got ripped out.
  • Environmental- and food-based allergies can also be to blame.
  • Ringworm is a fungus that can make the kitty’s fur break off in patches.
  • An overproduction or deficiency of certain hormones might be the root cause of hair loss. This can happen in pregnant cats, for example.

Read: Is It Cruel to Keep a Bengal Cat Indoors?

What Causes a Cat to Lose Chunks of Hair?

All of the reasons mentioned above can cause your precious ball of happiness to start losing hair (sometimes, in whole chunks).

An unhealthy diet, overall poor health, and an undetected disease might also be to blame.

In any case, if you have noticed that your cat started losing clumps of hair, paying a visit to the vet is advised.

Why Is My Elderly Cat Shedding So Much?

In cats, coat quality changes as the animal ages. A slight change in the kitty’s shedding pattern is completely normal.

An old cat might also not be able to groom itself as well as it used to. In such a case, simply start brushing your senior a bit more often.

Another reason that is unique for elderly cats is thyrotoxicosis or hyperthyroidism. Unfortunately, such a condition can be treated only via surgery or by radioactive iodine.

Cat Losing Clumps of Hair Around Neck

Hair loss on the back of the cat’s neck is usually an early symptom of hormonal imbalance.

If your kitty is used to walking on a leash, then an irritating collar might also be the root cause of the problem. 

Read: Are Savannah Cats Hard to Care For?

Cat Losing Hair on Back Legs and Belly

Such a pattern is typical for flea allergies. Once an allergy of this kind develops in a cat, it would take only one flea for the symptoms to come back.

Why Is My Cat Losing Hair on Her Back?

One of the following conditions can make the cat lose hair (especially on its back near the tail):

  • Parasitic flea infections
  • Fungal ringworm infections
  • Allergies
  • Supracaudal gland hyperplasia
  • Psychogenic alopecia
  • Arthritis
  • Urinary tract disorders, and others

Should I Be Concerned If My Cat Is Losing Hair?

It is completely normal for your cat to shed on a daily basis. But if you have noticed that your cat started losing more hair than before, or if the hair is falling out in clumps, then it’s certainly a reason for concern. 

Pregnancy and seasonal shedding are the ‘good’ reasons that can make your cat lose more hair than normal. But taking a trip to the vet is still advised.

Read: Do Bengal Cats Need Special Care?

Why Is My Cat Shedding So Much All of a Sudden?

  • Poor diet
  • Dehydration
  • Stress and anxiety
  • Pregnancy and lactation
  • Health issues (allergies, ringworm, fleas, thyroid disease, and so on)

Can Worms in Cats Cause Hair Loss?

Ringworm is a fungal infection that can affect the majority of mammals and that is highly contagious.

The main symptom of ringworm are lesions on the skin that have a circular shape. This will cause the cat to lose its hair around the infected area.

How Can I Tell If My Cat Has Parasites?

The most common symptoms of parasites in cats include:

  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Weight loss
  • Tarry feces
  • Distended abdomen
  • Skin lesions which often lead to hair loss

As the infestation worsens, the symptoms will progress. At this point, the kitty might start to suffer from dehydration, weakness, anemia, shock, and low blood pressure.

Can a Cat Lose Hair Due to Stress?

A cat can start to lose hair in clumps if it experiences stress.

This may happen due to:

  • The contraction of the muscles that are ‘holding’ the hairs in place
  • Excessive licking
  • Excessive scratching

How Do You Know Your Cat Is Stressed?

Your cat is most definitely stressed and anxious, if the kitty is:

  1. Urinating outside of the litter box
  2. Experiencing a digestive issue (diarrhea, constipation, etc.)
  3. Licking itself bald or raw
  4. Excessively scratching
  5. Constantly hiding somewhere
  6. Meowing for too long and the vocalizations are loud and unusual
  7. Losing interest in food  
  8. Sleeping more than usual
  9. Fighting and showing aggression towards other animals and people

Read: Do Savannah Cats Need Lots of Attention?

What Is Mites on Cats?

‘Mange’ is the name of the condition that is caused by microscopic mites. These creatures invade the cat’s skin and cause irritation, itching, inflammation, and hair loss.

Can Mites Cause Hair Loss in Cats?

The most common types of mites that can affect a cat’s skin include Chyletiella mites and Demodex mites.

The former live on the skin and eat keratin (the protein that makes up nails and hair). 

Demodex mites live in oil glands and the actual hair follicles. If the cat is infested with these parasites, then the hair loss might be caused by an immune reaction or because the follicles got clogged.

What Kills Mites Instantly?

Unfortunately, the treatment to eliminate mites usually lasts for a few weeks. You should not use any insecticides on your cat without the vet’s approval.

In a lot of cases, treatment with lime sulfur dips once a week for 4-5 or more weeks is recommended as it is a safe and effective treatment. 

How Can I Treat My Cats Hair Loss?

Taking your cat to the vet is always the first thing that you should do. The treatment would then be chosen in accordance with the diagnosis.

In a lot of cases, you would have to:

  • Adjust the cat’s diet
  • Get rid of the factor that is causing stress in the animal (the vet might prescribe a CBD product)
  • Regularly bathe the kitty, if a skin condition is to blame
  • Get a flea repellent 

Do Cat Bald Spots Grow Back?

In the absolute majority of cases, the hair will grow back as soon as the root cause of the problem gets eliminated.

Read: Do Cats Care If You Cry?

What Helps Cats Grow Hair Back?

After treating the underlying condition, you might want to consider:

  • Adding supplements to make the hair grow back faster (omega fatty acids and zinc are especially beneficial)
  • Regularly brushing your kitty to remove the dead hair and stimulate the growth of new hair
  • Keeping the cat cool (if the kitty is too hot, it will start shedding more)

Can Alopecia in Cats Be Cured?

If the underlying cause of your cat’s alopecia gets appropriately treated, then your kitty’s hair will, most likely, grow back. 

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