A cat forum. CatBanter

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.

Go Back   Home » CatBanter forum » Cat Newsgroups » Cat health & behaviour
Site Map Home Register Authors List Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read Web Partners

losing hair



 
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old April 30th 05, 01:11 AM
Justin L
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default 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
  #5  
Old April 30th 05, 03:56 PM
Justin L
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

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  
Old April 30th 05, 05:13 PM
Rhonda
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

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  
Old April 30th 05, 06:21 PM
Mary
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default


"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  
Old April 30th 05, 08:21 PM
Karen
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

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  
Old April 30th 05, 01:57 AM
Mary
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default


"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  
Old April 30th 05, 03:10 AM
Justin L
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

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

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

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


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 05:56 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.6.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright ©2004-2024 CatBanter.
The comments are property of their posters.