I believe certain cats may suffer from male pattern baldness’ as a form of sympathy for their owners. Facial alopecia, the medical term for hair loss between the eyebrows and the ear, is a common occurrence as people age.
If you have more than one pet, dealing with ear mites can be a big hassle. Infectious mites can spread between cats, as well as to your dogs and other animals.
If you detect dark crusty gunk or something that looks like coffee grounds on the inside of your ear, you need to get a closer look. Scrape it onto a sheet of black paper using a cotton ball. Everything seems to be still. You’ll need a light source and a magnifying glass to get a good view. Moving white dots are visible. Sadly, your loved one has ear mites. It’s not a fun procedure, but you have to handle it that way.
Why do cats have bald spots next to ears?
Since when has your cat started to lose its hair? You could assume that it’s a normal part of cat life, and that every cat goes through it at some point. It’s not uncommon for cats to lose their hair when they have health issues, unless they’re part of the rare Sphinx breed.
It is perfectly typical for an adult cat to have symmetrical, sparse hair in the area in front of the ears, symmetrically on both sides of the face. There are many glands under the skin in this location, despite the thin hair. When a cat “head butts” or rubs its head against you, its glands leave behind a scent. The cat is essentially claiming you as its own.
Fleas and ticks may be to blame for excessive scratching. However, there are situations when it is caused by a different type of irritation. There are many flea and tick medications available at your local pet store or other retailer. You may want to give your cat some of these. It’s typically effective. It’s also less expensive than what your veterinarian would charge you for your pet. However, you should use caution while purchasing a flea collar. Certain of these products can induce an ear rash in some people. Cats find it difficult to chew because of the plastic lamp shade-shaped anti-scratching casting. Cats, on the other hand, despise it.
Why do cats lose their hair?
It’s not uncommon for ear mites to spread to other parts of the body, including the tail and rump, while a cat is curled up in a snoozing position.
Under microscope examination, the vet will be able to diagnose ear mites and provide simple medicine.
Alopecia comes in a variety of types. Another symptom of alopecia areata is hair loss in the area between the ear and the eyes.
Cats like the sphinx have alopecia hereditarily, which means they are unable to grow hair and will never be able to have any.
An alopecia known as pinnal alopecia is a type of alopecia. Outside of the ear pinnae, it’s most common to find this.
Pinnal alopecia is common in Siamese cats and usually goes away on its own.
Another symptom of alopecia areata is hair loss in the area between the ear and the eyes. Cats are known to suffer from preauricular alopecia, which is a type of alopecia that affects the hair around the ears.
You may notice redness, lumps, scabs and even skin loss in and around your hair-loss area. It is possible for a cat’s skin to be affected by alopecia in symmetrical patterns or in random regions.
Those cats that do not suffer from any of the above-mentioned alopecias are affected by acquired alopecia. Alopecia is not a problem in and of itself because a cat does not inherit the condition from its mother.
Alopecia, the medical term for hair loss in cats, refers to the full or partial balding of cats. Veterinarians believe that skin allergies are the most common cause of alopecia.
Alopecia areata comes in a variety of forms. Sphinx cats, for example, have a condition known as genetic alopecia, which means that they are unable to grow hair and will never have any hair on their bodies. Pinnal alopecia is another kind of alopecia. In most cases, it grows outside the ear pinnae. When it comes to Pinnal Alopecia in Siamese Cats, it’s fairly frequent, and it normally goes away with time. Between the ear and eye hair thinning is another kind of hair loss known as alopecia areata. Every cat has this type of hair loss known as preauricular alopecia.
There can be no redness, lumps, scabs, or skin loss on the skin that surrounds the balding area, or there can be. Alopecia can affect the cat in a symmetrical or a random pattern.
What are the causes of bald spots next to ears?
1. Itching, Allergies, and Fleas
Fleas infest pets on a regular basis. However, some cats are extremely sensitive to flea saliva’s antigens. The itching is often so bad that cats may lick themselves to try and get rid of the itch. Licking can lead to bald spots if done in excess.
2. Psychiatric condition
If a cat is experiencing neuropathic discomfort, it may also engage in excessive grooming. Additionally, stress and anxiety can lead to hair loss.
3. Hair loss caused by genetics
Genetics may be to blame for your cat losing hair on its ears or head. In situations of hereditary hair loss, there is no underlying cause other for a transfer of genes, therefore bald patches do not exhibit any irritation and don’t seem to bother an affected cat at all. Once hair has been gone, there is no treatment to stop it from falling out or to encourage it to grow back.
Cats of the following breeds are more likely to suffer from hereditary hair loss, according to ProVet Health Care:
- Birman
- Burmese
- Devon Rex is the name of this person.
- Siamese
4. This is an angry feeling
Anguished cats will frequently lick the injured area in an attempt to alleviate the discomfort. The pulling out of hair that occurs as a result of excessive licking might lead to hair loss.
5. Infections
Some cats lose their fur because of infections in a specific location. Ringworm and other fungal illnesses can cause hair loss in cats.
6. Acquired loss of hair
In most cases, itching is caused by a condition other than hair loss. Cats with itchy patches will scratch, chew, lick, or rub the affected areas until the fur is completely removed. There are many more probable reasons, some of which are communicable, if inherited factors are eliminated. To be clear, the information offered here is not designed to substitute a professional diagnosis from your veterinarian.
7. Infestation of the ears with ear mites
Otodectescynotes, the technical name for ear mites, can cause excruciating itching in cats and lead to hair loss in the ears and on the head. Despite their inability to thrive on humans, these mites are easily spread from one cat to another.
- To identify an ear mite infestation, look for the following symptoms:
- Rubbing of the scalp
- The ringing in my ears is unbearable.
- Scratching
- Redness
- Hair thinning
- Ear wax buildup is brown and sticky.
- The stench of rotting flesh
An otoscope can be used to diagnose ear mites. A vet-recommended medicine and thorough yet gentle cleaning of the ears are the most common forms of treatment. To ensure that any new hatchlings are killed, the therapy must be repeated seven to ten times.
8. Cancer
Neoplasia, a form of cancer, can also cause hair loss in cats. If you feel your cat is suffering from this type of cancer, contact your veterinarian immediately.
If the alopecia is caused by a skin illness (e.g., skin erosions), thyroid malfunction, or any hormonal imbalance, treatments and topical cures are available.
It’s possible to teach a behaviour treatment programme to treat hair loss if it’s caused by a psychiatric disorder.
9. As a result of a hormonal imbalance
A cat’s hair loss may be caused by a hormonal imbalance or an excess of steroids in the body. When hormone levels are out of whack, follicles die and hair may not develop.
Is it possible to regrow cat’s hair?
Hair will regrow in the majority of feline hair loss situations when the underlying reason is effectively addressed. Depending on the source of the hair loss, certain cats may be more prone to future bouts of baldness, while others may not notice any future occurrences at all.
Bald patches in cats can be an early warning indication that the cat’s health needs to be addressed, especially if the animal has a history of thyroid problems or is prone to stress. Medical assistance should be sought as soon as you discover unusual baldness or hair loss in your cat.
What can your veterinarian do to help?
Your cat’s alopecia will be thoroughly examined by your veterinarian. Treatment for fleas, which can cause itching and hair loss, may be recommended by doctors if they find them (which you should keep up to date, anyway).
Ringworm and other parasites can be detected by taking a sample of hair or scraping a little amount of skin from your pet’s body, which is absolutely painless. A small sample of your cat’s skin may be taken under anaesthesia or a cat allergy skin test may be performed to check for cat skin disorders. Another option is to draw some blood to check for conditions that might be the source of your pet’s hair loss.
If your vet is unable to determine the cause of your cat’s alopecia, they may suggest that you consult a veterinary dermatologist.
If, on the other hand, you or your veterinarian feel that your cat’s excessive grooming and resulting hair loss could have a behavioural cause, you may want to talk to your cat about their daily routine to figure out what stresses them out.
What are the options for dealing with alopecia?
An alopecia treatment plan for your cat’s hair loss will depend on the origin of the problem. After conducting tests, your veterinarian will be able to offer flea control products or an anti-fungal medication if parasites or ringworm are found.
With the guidance of a veterinary dermatologist, a plan can be put in place to avoid the offending food or chemical after it has been identified.
1. Treatment with antidepressants and antianxiety drugs
Medication may be administered to aid cats with psychogenic alopecia, or hair loss caused by mental problems like stress. In many situations, this treatment has been effective in reducing grooming requirements while the drug is being administered.
The drug used in this procedure poses a risk of side effects, but they are rarely severe. It’s common for this form of therapy to be accompanied by behavioural and environmental changes.
2. Ailment specific therapy
The underlying disease that has caused your pet’s hair loss can be treated in a variety of ways. Ask your veterinarian about the possible side effects and risks of treatment for infections, tumours, imbalances, and other illnesses that may impact your pet.
Watch 6 reasons for hair loss in cats | Video
In cats, what produces bald patches?
Fleas or other external parasites are the most typical culprits in bald patches on cats. The most common cause of hair loss in cats is an allergic reaction to the saliva of fleas, which leads to excessive grooming. In some cases, the bald patch might range in size from a pebble to a mountain.
When will a cat’s bald spots regrow?
After shaving, long-haired cats’ fur will take anywhere from four to six months to fully regrow. In as little as three months after shaving, a short-haired cat’s fur will come back. Brushing your cat’s hair is often discouraged.
What can I do to encourage the regrowth of my cat’s coat?
After your cat has been spayed, here are three tips to help the hair grow faster.
Prevent Over-Grooming by Using an E-Collar or Coat.
You can soothe your cat using calming products.
Supplements are a great way to keep her hair and skin healthy.
Some cats’ ears are covered with bald areas in front of their ears for no apparent reason.
Why does a cat’s ear get a bald patch?
Facial alopecia is a common pattern of hair loss in cats as they become older, and it’s a sign of ageing. It’s possible that cats’ love of rubbing their faces against objects may also contribute to the hair loss in that area.
Is there a way to restore hair growth to a cat that has lost it due to going bald?
Spot-ons, which target and kill parasites directly, are the most effective treatments for this illness. Products from the vet tend to be most successful, although sometimes extra treatments can be needed to ease itching – for example, a course of steroid medication.
Final words
Most cats’ hair will regrow once a successful course of treatment addresses the underlying cause of their hair loss.
Some cats who lose their hair due to sickness may be more susceptible to baldness in the future, while others may not show any signs of baldness in the future.
If a cat has a history of thyroid problems or is sensitive to stress, bald patches near the ears may be an early warning sign that their health needs to be addressed.
It’s best to get your pet checked out by a professional if you see any unusual baldness or hair loss.
