any vet friends know anything about feline balding?

[amanda509]

about halfway through the summer my cat's belly and inside of his back legs have gone bald. the only difference was he goes outside during the summer months. i did some research and it seems he has Feline endocrine alopecia, but thats only a symptom of many things. i dont have the money right now to take him to the vet for them to say hes fine (like they did last time, $300 later). he has no fleas, no ringworm, no scabs, there are some crusties by his genitals but i think it's just pee splash (going to wash it off once he wakes up tonight). he is an 11 year old neutered male, i read a hormone imbalance could cause it? he may be fixed, but he still humps a stuffed animal (odd for a cat). he also doesnt have urinary problems, he eats normal, drinks normal, and pees with no problems. figured id ask here first seeing how this is the most peaceful non biased forum around

 

[pssh]

My first thought would be it might be mange?

One of my dogs who has allergies will lick/scratch herself bald on her butt/back legs and sometimes her belly/hoo haa area. She will, rarely, get an ear infection as well. Could that be a possibility? We usually just have to keep her from licking herself too bad until she stops/the allergen goes away, but if she gets really bad she usually has to go in and gets an antibiotic and anti-inflammatories and I think a steroid?

Does he seem to lick himself a lot/excessively? Or is the hair loss more of something that he didn't appear to cause? Sudden or Gradual? Did the vet say that was his issue, or did you come across in and it seemed to fit the bill?

 

[amanda509]

My first thought would be it might be mange?

One of my dogs who has allergies will lick/scratch herself bald on her butt/back legs and sometimes her belly/hoo haa area. She will, rarely, get an ear infection as well. Could that be a possibility? We usually just have to keep her from licking herself too bad until she stops/the allergen goes away, but if she gets really bad she usually has to go in and gets an antibiotic and anti-inflammatories and I think a steroid?

Does he seem to lick himself a lot/excessively? Or is the hair loss more of something that he didn't appear to cause? Sudden or Gradual? Did the vet say that was his issue, or did you come across in and it seemed to fit the bill?

It's deff not mange, he doesnt have any other signs. it seemed to be gradual, but he was at my parents house all summer after i moved out. my mom and i think he may have been depressed when i moved out and it led him to excessively groom? i have no idea. it was something that i googled and was the only skin condition i could find that matched...we'll see if it gets any better with him moving in with us...

 

[Lathis]

I had a neutered male domestic shorthair that lost his eyebrows. Otherwise healthy. The vet way back then (this was probably 20 years ago) thought it was a hormonal imbalance. He did some sort of blood test, but I don't remember the details. After a while, it corrected itself. Warthog was pretty goofy looking (solid black cat with bald eyebrows), but the skin was healthy, no sores, no change in his behavior, and it never reoccurred. Not sure if that's helpful, but if it's not a grooming related issue, it could be hormonal or stress.



Ps - all our neutered males have been humpers. I think it's just a personality tic, showing us who's boss

 

[amanda509]

I had a neutered male domestic shorthair that lost his eyebrows. Otherwise healthy. The vet way back then (this was probably 20 years ago) thought it was a hormonal imbalance. He did some sort of blood test, but I don't remember the details. After a while, it corrected itself. Warthog was pretty goofy looking (solid black cat with bald eyebrows), but the skin was healthy, no sores, no change in his behavior, and it never reoccurred. Not sure if that's helpful, but if it's not a grooming related issue, it could be hormonal or stress.



Ps - all our neutered males have been humpers. I think it's just a personality tic, showing us who's boss

During my research i did hear hormone imbalances were a main cause. i think the cause may be he was depressed when i moved out...but now he is back with me and happy as can be! he gets his own recliner, sleeps on the bed, dry food at all times, wet food mornings and nights (he needs some weight). he is one happy kitty right now, so i hope his hair situation improves. but even if it doesnt, as long as he doesnt lose any more or get any sores, its not like ill love him any less with a bald belly

honestly, people freak out when i tell them my cat has a "humpy bumpy"...a cat stuffed animal with a naked back from him kneeding it while humping it...ive tried to get him a new one, but he wont give up the one he's had for 10 years...

 

[Decadancin]

Other than the possibilities mentioned, it could be from excessive grooming. They will do this often if stressed or insecure. A sudden change in territory may trigger the reaction, or another cat or animal in or near the home.

 

[pssh]

Definitely could be excessive grooming. They make little onesie PJ looking suits to help cats stop the licking (they look funny and sad at the same time...) If it seems like nothing else is wrong, and it isn't red/swollen/etc. I would just keep an eye on it and try to stop him if he licks at it too much.