If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
|
#1
|
|||
|
|||
losing hair
Hi,
My cat Jake has small patches of his fur missing on both of his sides. Missing may be a bad description, I would say the fur looks thin, if that makes sense to anyone... I am bringing him in tomorrow morning to have the vet take a look, as I cannot tell if this is serious or not. Any ideas what this could be? I was thinking maybe he was shedding, but there seems to be too much fur missing for that. e gets upset if I try to pet him there, and tries to bite me. Does this sound serious enough to rush him in somewhere? He acts pretty normal otherwise, very playful, good appetite, etc. Justin - worried |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
On Fri, 29 Apr 2005 19:47:52 -0500, Karen wrote:
in article , Justin L at wrote on 4/29/05 7:11 PM: Hi, My cat Jake has small patches of his fur missing on both of his sides. Missing may be a bad description, I would say the fur looks thin, if that makes sense to anyone... I am bringing him in tomorrow morning to have the vet take a look, as I cannot tell if this is serious or not. Any ideas what this could be? I was thinking maybe he was shedding, but there seems to be too much fur missing for that. e gets upset if I try to pet him there, and tries to bite me. Does this sound serious enough to rush him in somewhere? He acts pretty normal otherwise, very playful, good appetite, etc. Justin - worried No idea. Allergies of course may be a problem, but is it irritated? Or does he not like his sides touched (some cats don't). Vet is the best answer. Please keep us posted. I hope it is nothing. It doesn't seem to be irritated, and he really doesn't seem to like being petted too much. I guess I'll find out tomorrow. Justin |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
"Justin L" wrote in message ... On Fri, 29 Apr 2005 19:47:52 -0500, Karen wrote: in article , Justin L at wrote on 4/29/05 7:11 PM: Hi, My cat Jake has small patches of his fur missing on both of his sides. Missing may be a bad description, I would say the fur looks thin, if that makes sense to anyone... I am bringing him in tomorrow morning to have the vet take a look, as I cannot tell if this is serious or not. Any ideas what this could be? I was thinking maybe he was shedding, but there seems to be too much fur missing for that. e gets upset if I try to pet him there, and tries to bite me. Does this sound serious enough to rush him in somewhere? He acts pretty normal otherwise, very playful, good appetite, etc. Justin - worried No idea. Allergies of course may be a problem, but is it irritated? Or does he not like his sides touched (some cats don't). Vet is the best answer. Please keep us posted. I hope it is nothing. It doesn't seem to be irritated, and he really doesn't seem to like being petted too much. I guess I'll find out tomorrow. Bet you five bucks it is overgrooming as a result of stress. |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
On Fri, 29 Apr 2005 22:16:12 -0400, "Mary" wrote:
"Justin L" wrote in message .. . On Fri, 29 Apr 2005 19:47:52 -0500, Karen wrote: in article , Justin L at wrote on 4/29/05 7:11 PM: Hi, My cat Jake has small patches of his fur missing on both of his sides. Missing may be a bad description, I would say the fur looks thin, if that makes sense to anyone... I am bringing him in tomorrow morning to have the vet take a look, as I cannot tell if this is serious or not. Any ideas what this could be? I was thinking maybe he was shedding, but there seems to be too much fur missing for that. e gets upset if I try to pet him there, and tries to bite me. Does this sound serious enough to rush him in somewhere? He acts pretty normal otherwise, very playful, good appetite, etc. Justin - worried No idea. Allergies of course may be a problem, but is it irritated? Or does he not like his sides touched (some cats don't). Vet is the best answer. Please keep us posted. I hope it is nothing. It doesn't seem to be irritated, and he really doesn't seem to like being petted too much. I guess I'll find out tomorrow. Bet you five bucks it is overgrooming as a result of stress. Heh, good thing I didn't bet! (I had a feeling this was the prob too) The vet says something may be stressing him out. He gave him a steroid shot, and said to keep an eye on him. He said it could be any number of things stressing him - a female in heat outside he can smell, just wanting to go outside, or something with him and Elwood. Justin |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
Hi Justin,
Why the steroid shot? Just curious. A vet gave our middle-aged, chubby cat a steroid shot for possible food allergies, and it brought on diabetes. Not to scare you (famous last words) but watch for weight-loss or extra thirst in him. Maybe Jake is young and thin and not at risk! I hope he's doing well. Rhonda Justin L wrote: The vet says something may be stressing him out. He gave him a steroid shot, and said to keep an eye on him. He said it could be any number of things stressing him - a female in heat outside he can smell, just wanting to go outside, or something with him and Elwood. Justin |
#7
|
|||
|
|||
"Justin L" wrote in message ... On Fri, 29 Apr 2005 22:16:12 -0400, "Mary" wrote: "Justin L" wrote in message .. . On Fri, 29 Apr 2005 19:47:52 -0500, Karen wrote: in article , Justin L at wrote on 4/29/05 7:11 PM: Hi, My cat Jake has small patches of his fur missing on both of his sides. Missing may be a bad description, I would say the fur looks thin, if that makes sense to anyone... I am bringing him in tomorrow morning to have the vet take a look, as I cannot tell if this is serious or not. Any ideas what this could be? I was thinking maybe he was shedding, but there seems to be too much fur missing for that. e gets upset if I try to pet him there, and tries to bite me. Does this sound serious enough to rush him in somewhere? He acts pretty normal otherwise, very playful, good appetite, etc. Justin - worried No idea. Allergies of course may be a problem, but is it irritated? Or does he not like his sides touched (some cats don't). Vet is the best answer. Please keep us posted. I hope it is nothing. It doesn't seem to be irritated, and he really doesn't seem to like being petted too much. I guess I'll find out tomorrow. Bet you five bucks it is overgrooming as a result of stress. Heh, good thing I didn't bet! (I had a feeling this was the prob too) Yes, that is what it was with me--just a strong intuitive feeling, based upon what you have told us about Jake and Elwood being introduced and doing what so many boy cats seem to do! The vet says something may be stressing him out. He gave him a steroid shot, and said to keep an eye on him. He said it could be any number of things stressing him - a female in heat outside he can smell, just wanting to go outside, or something with him and Elwood. The steroid shot should help with any inflammation that is causing irritation. Here is how I solved Cheeky's problem, and by the time I got her to stop her entire side was bald. I pinpointed what was different in the house. Here it is: Buddha, my other cat had a fit related to her hyperthyroid and a possible heart condition, so all of a sudden there was the upheaval of getting her into the carrier (she is a drama queen and a little thug!) and in for tests and ultrasound and such. Then Buddha began sticking to me like glue! It was the weirdest thing, you would think she would have been like "**** man, I'm staying away from her she keeps loading me up and taking me to the vet!" but no. Instead of hanging out on the first floor, with occasional forays into the second for food and extra play she began to come to the third floor which has always been Cheeky's turf--where her box is, her food is, where she hangs out, and where she sleeps with us. (Buddha has her own bed she has always liked to sleep in, on the first floor.) Not only did Buddha get up on our bed but she began hanging out in the guest room where Cheeks loves to sleep during the day. Since Cheeks is a very polite little girly cat, she just took it all in and groomed like mad until she was bald! Anyway, here is what I did. I encouraged Cheeks to hang out with Buddha (I did not have the heart to chase Boo away.) and I spent more time downstairs with Buddha. Also, when Boo was on her way upstairs, I said to Cheeks in that "get 'em" voice that they all respond to, "Get that cat! Get her, Cheeky!" This seems to tell Cheeks that it was okay to defend her turf. So she began, about half the time, standing her ground and kind of rushing at Buddha when she came upstairs. No growling, no hissing, no swatting. These are girly cats! They do a lot of staring and walking away to think it over! Eventually Buddha stopped coming up, and we now make sure to play with them together several times a night on the second floor, with the lazer pointer. It took over a month for Cheeky's fur to grow in. Good luck with Jake! He is a cutie. |
#8
|
|||
|
|||
in article , Justin L at
wrote on 4/30/05 9:56AM: On Fri, 29 Apr 2005 22:16:12 -0400, "Mary" wrote: "Justin L" wrote in message ... On Fri, 29 Apr 2005 19:47:52 -0500, Karen wrote: in article , Justin L at wrote on 4/29/05 7:11 PM: Hi, My cat Jake has small patches of his fur missing on both of his sides. Missing may be a bad description, I would say the fur looks thin, if that makes sense to anyone... I am bringing him in tomorrow morning to have the vet take a look, as I cannot tell if this is serious or not. Any ideas what this could be? I was thinking maybe he was shedding, but there seems to be too much fur missing for that. e gets upset if I try to pet him there, and tries to bite me. Does this sound serious enough to rush him in somewhere? He acts pretty normal otherwise, very playful, good appetite, etc. Justin - worried No idea. Allergies of course may be a problem, but is it irritated? Or does he not like his sides touched (some cats don't). Vet is the best answer. Please keep us posted. I hope it is nothing. It doesn't seem to be irritated, and he really doesn't seem to like being petted too much. I guess I'll find out tomorrow. Bet you five bucks it is overgrooming as a result of stress. Heh, good thing I didn't bet! (I had a feeling this was the prob too) The vet says something may be stressing him out. He gave him a steroid shot, and said to keep an eye on him. He said it could be any number of things stressing him - a female in heat outside he can smell, just wanting to go outside, or something with him and Elwood. Justin Consider getting a Feliway diffuser to help with stress issues. |
#9
|
|||
|
|||
"Justin L" wrote in message ... Hi, My cat Jake has small patches of his fur missing on both of his sides. Missing may be a bad description, I would say the fur looks thin, if that makes sense to anyone... I am bringing him in tomorrow morning to have the vet take a look, as I cannot tell if this is serious or not. Any ideas what this could be? I was thinking maybe he was shedding, but there seems to be too much fur missing for that. e gets upset if I try to pet him there, and tries to bite me. Does this sound serious enough to rush him in somewhere? He acts pretty normal otherwise, very playful, good appetite, etc. Justin - worried When Cheeks had this it was because she was overgrooming due to anxiety issues arising when Buddha began invading her turf. She stopped when Buddha stopped. Since Jake and Elwood are still getting used to each other having been recently introduced, it seems likely that this is the problem, but the vet is a good idea to rule out other things. Does Jake have a safe spot that is all his to retire to? |
#10
|
|||
|
|||
On Fri, 29 Apr 2005 20:57:43 -0400, "Mary" wrote:
"Justin L" wrote in message .. . Hi, My cat Jake has small patches of his fur missing on both of his sides. Missing may be a bad description, I would say the fur looks thin, if that makes sense to anyone... I am bringing him in tomorrow morning to have the vet take a look, as I cannot tell if this is serious or not. Any ideas what this could be? I was thinking maybe he was shedding, but there seems to be too much fur missing for that. e gets upset if I try to pet him there, and tries to bite me. Does this sound serious enough to rush him in somewhere? He acts pretty normal otherwise, very playful, good appetite, etc. Justin - worried When Cheeks had this it was because she was overgrooming due to anxiety issues arising when Buddha began invading her turf. She stopped when Buddha stopped. Since Jake and Elwood are still getting used to each other having been recently introduced, it seems likely that this is the problem, but the vet is a good idea to rule out other things. Interesting, he does seem to be grooming the area a lot. Maybe Elwood is stressing him out... Does Jake have a safe spot that is all his to retire to? He likes to go under my bed, so I guess that is his safe spot. Thanks, Justin |
|
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Young? Losing Hair? Need to hide bald spot instantly? Need something that looks real? | [email protected] | Cat health & behaviour | 1 | January 7th 05 11:55 PM |
Hair loss | Flycaster | Cat health & behaviour | 5 | December 21st 04 08:14 PM |
Cats loosing TONS of hair | Ken G. | Cat health & behaviour | 14 | August 25th 04 02:21 AM |
Our Siamese is losing hair on his tail and is spreading to his body.. | KappaMan | Cat health & behaviour | 8 | January 3rd 04 11:01 AM |