advertisement
Reply
Thread Tools Display Modes
Anonymous45521
Guest
Anonymous45521 has no updates. Edit
 
Posts: n/a
Default Jan 03, 2020 at 06:47 PM
  #1
Somehow my cat pulled out an entire section of his fur on his back about the size of a penny. I don't know what to do. I think it is because he has long back claws (he won't let me cut them).

It has gotten bigger since this morning. I don't know what to do about it.
  Reply With QuoteReply With Quote

advertisement
MrsA
Member
MrsA has no updates.
 
Member Since: Apr 2019
Location: Nevada
Posts: 308
3 yr Member
398 hugs
given
Default Jan 04, 2020 at 08:31 AM
  #2
Is he an indoor cat? Maybe he's rubbing it off by squeezing through btight spaces. Is there any sign of skin irritation? When I had outdoor cats, it was common for them to lose chunks of hair, but it's rare with indoor cats.
MrsA is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Anonymous45521
Guest
Anonymous45521 has no updates. Edit
 
Posts: n/a
Default Jan 04, 2020 at 11:41 AM
  #3
Quote:
Originally Posted by MrsA View Post
Is he an indoor cat? Maybe he's rubbing it off by squeezing through btight spaces. Is there any sign of skin irritation? When I had outdoor cats, it was common for them to lose chunks of hair, but it's rare with indoor cats.
Indoor. My only guess is I let his back claws get too long and he scratched it too hard with the back legs. It doesn't look irritated. It looks like perfect skin in the area he pulled out the hair.

My thought at the moment is some sort of anxiety induced scratching -- combined with too long back nails.
  Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
MrsA
Member
MrsA has no updates.
 
Member Since: Apr 2019
Location: Nevada
Posts: 308
3 yr Member
398 hugs
given
Default Jan 04, 2020 at 09:46 PM
  #4
Actually, their claws don't really pull out hair. I never trimmed my cat's claws because they shed the older layers on their own by scratching fabric or tree bark.

Cat's can lick themselves bald sometimes or itch a spot too long with their teeth. Is the spot still growing? I think rubbing against something is the most likely cause indoors. I've had pets rub bald spots on themselves from squeezing under furniture.
MrsA is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
 
Thanks for this!
winter4me
possum220
Legendary
 
possum220's Avatar
possum220 has no updates.
 
Member Since: Jan 2009
Location: Uppa Gumtree West
Posts: 19,397 (SuperPoster!)
15 yr Member
7,983 hugs
given
PC PoohBah!
Default Jan 05, 2020 at 07:15 AM
  #5
You would think if your cat is scratching then you would be able to see claw marks. Hope this is an easy solve.
possum220 is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
splitimage
Moderator
Community Support Team
 
splitimage's Avatar
splitimage has no updates.
 
Member Since: Mar 2006
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 11,250
15 yr Member
73 hugs
given
PC PoohBah!
Default Jan 05, 2020 at 07:20 AM
  #6
Cats sometimes lick bald spots due to anxiety. I had a cat that was a rescue from an abusive situation and he'd lick his belly bare. I'd just monitor it.
splitimage

__________________


"I danced in the morning when the world was begun. I danced in the moon and the stars and the sun". From my favourite hymn.

"If you see the wonder in a fairy tale, you can take the future even if you fail." Abba

My cat has a massive chunk of hair pulled out of his back
splitimage is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Anonymous45521
Guest
Anonymous45521 has no updates. Edit
 
Posts: n/a
Default Jan 05, 2020 at 08:50 AM
  #7
Quote:
Originally Posted by MrsA View Post
Actually, their claws don't really pull out hair. I never trimmed my cat's claws because they shed the older layers on their own by scratching fabric or tree bark..
I never had to before. But this time I think the claws were long enough to get hold of it and pull it out. I don't see anyplace my cat could have gotten under and got the fur stuck on.

It seems to have stopped but I cut the claws back on his back paws.

Given its location -- directly behind the head. I can't see how licking could have done it. No way he could get back there to lick.
  Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
SybilMarie
Member
 
SybilMarie's Avatar
SybilMarie has really lost it and then some. LOLOL
 
Member Since: Jan 2018
Location: Hugo, OK
Posts: 190
5 yr Member
587 hugs
given
Default Jan 05, 2020 at 03:07 PM
  #8
Do you have a scratching post for your cat?

__________________
#ActuallyAutistic
SybilMarie is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Anonymous45521
Guest
Anonymous45521 has no updates. Edit
 
Posts: n/a
Default Jan 05, 2020 at 03:11 PM
  #9
[FONT="Arial"]
Quote:
Originally Posted by SybilMarie View Post
Do you have a scratching post for your cat?
Yes I do.
  Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Anonymous45521
Guest
Anonymous45521 has no updates. Edit
 
Posts: n/a
Default Jan 05, 2020 at 07:28 PM
  #10
It is definitely him scratching. I just caught him doing a ninja move of tilting his head an leg in a way that he could get back there. I think he has dry skin due to it being dry in here... and potentially not getting sufficient nutrition. I am not sure I am giving him enough fatty acids and I think perhaps now that he is 14 he may need some supplementation. I have ordered a supplement that gets high marks.
  Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
 
Hugs from:
MrsA
splitimage
Moderator
Community Support Team
 
splitimage's Avatar
splitimage has no updates.
 
Member Since: Mar 2006
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 11,250
15 yr Member
73 hugs
given
PC PoohBah!
Default Jan 06, 2020 at 07:36 AM
  #11
Sounds like you've definitely figured out the cause. Hope the supplement helps.


splitimage

__________________


"I danced in the morning when the world was begun. I danced in the moon and the stars and the sun". From my favourite hymn.

"If you see the wonder in a fairy tale, you can take the future even if you fail." Abba

My cat has a massive chunk of hair pulled out of his back
splitimage is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
possum220
Legendary
 
possum220's Avatar
possum220 has no updates.
 
Member Since: Jan 2009
Location: Uppa Gumtree West
Posts: 19,397 (SuperPoster!)
15 yr Member
7,983 hugs
given
PC PoohBah!
Default Jan 07, 2020 at 07:52 AM
  #12
Quote:
Originally Posted by Emily Fox Seaton View Post
It is definitely him scratching. I just caught him doing a ninja move of tilting his head an leg in a way that he could get back there. I think he has dry skin due to it being dry in here... and potentially not getting sufficient nutrition. I am not sure I am giving him enough fatty acids and I think perhaps now that he is 14 he may need some supplementation. I have ordered a supplement that gets high marks.

Good to hear that you worked out the cause. Fingers crossed that the supplements help.
possum220 is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
possum220
Legendary
 
possum220's Avatar
possum220 has no updates.
 
Member Since: Jan 2009
Location: Uppa Gumtree West
Posts: 19,397 (SuperPoster!)
15 yr Member
7,983 hugs
given
PC PoohBah!
Default Jan 16, 2020 at 08:25 PM
  #13
Is the hair growing back yet?
possum220 is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Anonymous45521
Guest
Anonymous45521 has no updates. Edit
 
Posts: n/a
Default Jan 17, 2020 at 05:53 AM
  #14
No, not enough to notice. I expect it to take at least 6 months. My cat had a spot on his face at one point and that took about 3 months with constant supplementation to grow in. But it hasn't gotten any worse.
  Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
 
Hugs from:
possum220
possum220
Legendary
 
possum220's Avatar
possum220 has no updates.
 
Member Since: Jan 2009
Location: Uppa Gumtree West
Posts: 19,397 (SuperPoster!)
15 yr Member
7,983 hugs
given
PC PoohBah!
Default Jan 17, 2020 at 10:16 PM
  #15
I am glad that you have stopped the problem before it got worse. Do the supplements cost much? Would it be worth your while to keep the cat on supplements permanently to avoid this happening in the future?
possum220 is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Anonymous45521
Guest
Anonymous45521 has no updates. Edit
 
Posts: n/a
Default Jan 18, 2020 at 06:31 PM
  #16
Quote:
Originally Posted by possum220 View Post
I am glad that you have stopped the problem before it got worse. Do the supplements cost much? Would it be worth your while to keep the cat on supplements permanently to avoid this happening in the future?
Now I am not so sure. My cat seems to be losing some hair on his ear. No way I combed that. Grrr...
  Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
lizardlady
Legendary
 
lizardlady's Avatar
lizardlady has no update
 
Member Since: Nov 2002
Location: Mid World
Posts: 17,463 (SuperPoster!)
20 yr Member
7,501 hugs
given
PC PoohBah!
Default Jan 18, 2020 at 07:14 PM
  #17
Emily, since trimming his nails helped how about a putting caps on his rear nails? I had a cat that kept clawing his face, making a sore. I bought Purdy Paws and put them on his back feet. It helped.
lizardlady is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
 
Thanks for this!
possum220
Anonymous45521
Guest
Anonymous45521 has no updates. Edit
 
Posts: n/a
Default Jan 18, 2020 at 07:16 PM
  #18
Quote:
Originally Posted by lizardlady View Post
Emily, since trimming his nails helped how about a putting caps on his rear nails? I had a cat that kept clawing his face, making a sore. I bought Purdy Paws and put them on his back feet. It helped.
Will give that a shot. I am wondering why he is scratching so much OR why his hair seems easy to remove...
  Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Anonymous45521
Guest
Anonymous45521 has no updates. Edit
 
Posts: n/a
Default Jan 20, 2020 at 10:46 AM
  #19
Little excited today. His baby fine skin this morning seems to a bit darker... looks like it might be growing back. The area looks darker so it appears like he has like "stubble"
  Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
 
Hugs from:
possum220
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:36 AM.
Powered by vBulletin® — Copyright © 2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.



 

My Support Forums

My Support Forums is the online community that was originally begun as the Psych Central Forums in 2001. It now runs as an independent self-help support group community for mental health, personality, and psychological issues and is overseen by a group of dedicated, caring volunteers from around the world.

 

Helplines and Lifelines

The material on this site is for informational purposes only, and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment provided by a qualified health care provider.

Always consult your doctor or mental health professional before trying anything you read here.