Causes of Cat Shedding & How to Treat Feline Ringworm

One of the most common challenges for owners of furry companions like cats is the inevitable issue of "cat shedding." Since cats naturally shed their coats seasonally, but for some cats, shedding happens so frequently that owners begin to worry -- is this normal shedding, or does my cat have a skin problem!? Today, Thonglor Pet Hospital will explain what causes cat hair loss.

We'll also share guidance on treating feline ringworm, to help keep your beloved pet free from skin disease. Let's take a look at the treatment methods available!

What Causes Cat Shedding? Abnormal Signs Every Cat Owner Should Know!

For furry pets like cats, shedding is a normal part of the hair growth cycle. Shedding helps release heat from the skin and also helps remove dead skin cells to make way for new hair growth. However, if you notice your cat shedding more than usual, this could be a warning sign of an underlying health issue, which can arise from several causes, including:

• Skin disease: Hair loss in cats, or "Alopecia," can result from several factors such as skin infections, ringworm (a fungal infection), parasite infestations like mange mites or fleas, or other skin conditions caused by allergies. These conditions cause skin irritation and inevitable scratching, which can worsen the affected area.
• Stress and pain: Moving to a new home can cause a cat to shed, since stress can suppress the immune system. In another scenario, if a cat experiences pain somewhere on its body, it will often lick that area excessively, causing hair loss there -- and if there's a wound, this can slow healing further.
• Hormones: Some hair loss problems in cats stem from hormonal imbalances, since certain hormones affect hair growth. Pregnant or nursing cats often experience hair loss due to hormonal changes during this period, but the hair typically grows back over time.
• Health problems and nutritional deficiencies: When a cat doesn't receive enough nutrients or eats an unhealthy diet, this can also cause hair loss. It's best to consult a veterinarian to determine the cause and find the appropriate treatment.

These are all the causes of hair loss in cats. Now that you know the causes, let's look at the patterns of hair loss to help identify the appropriate treatment, so your cat can return to having a shiny, healthy coat.

What Do the Patterns of Cat Hair Loss Look Like?

If your cat has abnormal hair loss but you don't know the cause, you can observe the pattern of hair loss to help identify what's happening. Hair loss patterns can generally be divided into 3 main types:

• Patchy hair loss: If you notice your cat losing hair in patches or circular areas, along with red patches on the skin, this may indicate a skin condition such as ringworm or a fungal skin infection.
• Clumped hair loss: If your cat is stressed, it will lick its fur to soothe itself, which can lead to excessive licking resulting in clumped hair loss and other side effects.
• Widespread hair loss: Cats normally shed seasonally, especially during summer. If you notice more hair loss than usual, this may be due to nutritional deficiencies, resulting in poor, brittle hair that falls out easily.

Hair loss in cats caused by disease can sometimes affect humans and be contagious. For example, feline ringworm can spread to humans easily -- being in close contact with your pet is one way this can happen with high likelihood. If this occurs, you should see a doctor as soon as possible.

Treatment Guidance for Feline Ringworm, One of the Causes of Hair Loss

What should you do if your cat has a skin condition that's causing you concern? In this section, Thonglor Pet will share treatment guidance for "feline ringworm" that every cat owner should know! Since this disease can spread to humans, we want to help keep both you and your cat healthy by sharing treatment tips you can easily follow.

1. Topical medication or antifungal shampoo: In the early stages, if your cat has patchy or localized hair loss, you can use a topical medication to help dry out the affected area, or use an antifungal shampoo containing Miconazole, Ketoconazole, or 2% Chlorhexidine, which helps reduce fungal spores on the skin. This method is only suitable for early-stage symptoms and provides temporary relief.
2. Oral antifungal medication: Used in cases of severe symptoms. Although modern antifungal medications have fewer side effects compared to the past, taking medication can directly affect your cat's health, so before prescribing oral antifungal medication, your veterinarian will need to run blood tests first.
3. Cleaning: Use antifungal disinfectant to clean the surrounding environment, especially areas where your pet spends time, to reduce the spread of infection. Importantly, cleaning also helps your cat recover from the fungal infection faster.
4. If you have more than one cat, get them all tested: If you have more than one cat and one of them has a fungal infection, you should have the others tested too, since some cats may be infected without showing symptoms, yet can still be carriers and spread the infection to other cats -- and to you as well.

As is well known, feline ringworm is a type of skin condition that can spread between pets and humans. So if you notice symptoms of this disease in your cat, you can easily follow the recommendations above to prevent the spread of infection. However, if you notice the skin infection becoming more severe, you should bring your pet to see a veterinarian promptly for diagnosis and immediate treatment.

Want Your Cat's Coat Beautiful and Healthy Again? Let Thonglor Pet Hospital Help

Having read this far, you can see that hair loss in cats can occur for many different reasons. In this article, we've shared basic treatment methods you can apply to your cat yourself. However, if you notice severe abnormal symptoms, we recommend bringing your pet to see a veterinarian who specializes specifically in skin conditions, to identify the cause and provide targeted treatment. Thonglor Pet Hospital has veterinarians who specialize specifically in treating skin diseases in pets.

Most importantly, we're open 24 hours a day! Because accidents and illness don't only happen to humans -- they can happen to animals too. This is why Thonglor Pet Hospital has become the first choice for pet lovers, and we continue to develop our services to ensure the highest quality of care in line with international standards.