When a cat begins to bald on its rear legs, it’s concerning. Cats naturally shed, but sudden hair loss or thinning on the back legs is unusual.
Numerous causes, such as stress, fleas, allergies, bacterial infections, and allergies, can cause alopecia, or hair loss in cats. Each of these ailments has to be treated. Understanding the distinction between typical shedding and abnormal hair loss will help you respond appropriately.
Why do cats lose hair on the backs of their legs?
Hair loss can be caused by a variety of conditions, including poor nutrition, autoimmune diseases, fungal infections, allergies, and parasites. Cat hair loss patterns can vary, be symmetrical, or be either partial or complete. It’s possible for the skin around the thinning hair area to appear normal or to have redness, bumps, and scabs. Hair loss is a symptom that needs to be treated, but first the underlying reason needs to be found. If a cat is constantly scratching an area where it has hair loss, the itching problem needs to be addressed first. The following list includes the four most frequent causes of hair loss on a cat’s hind legs.
Additional parasites, such fleas
Fleas are among the most typical causes of hair loss on cats’ hind legs. Any cat despises fleas since they may be quite uncomfortable and many cats develop flea allergy. Cats frequently experience flea bite hypersensitivity, also known as flea allergic dermatitis (FAD) (allergy). Even a single flea bite in these cats can cause severe, protracted scratching, hair loss, open sores, or scabs on the skin that can later develop bacterial infections. Many cats may aggressively eat or lick the hair from their legs when they have fleas or FAD. Hair loss may occur around the neck, legs, and tail base in addition to the tiny crusty scabs known as miliary lesions, so named because they resemble millet seeds.
The most important flea allergy treatment is to avoid fleabites since flea saliva causes the reaction. It is suggested that you keep your cat on a monthly flea preventive that has been prescribed by your veterinarian in order to avoid fleas. Cats that live indoors or outdoors can get fleas.
Other parasites like mites and ringworm can also induce severe scratching, licking, or chewing, although fleas are more usually to blame for hair loss on the hind legs.
Pain
Cats may overgroom the painful areas when they are in pain. Feline lower urinary tract disease and arthritis are frequently the two most prevalent causes of pain and discomfort in cats. In an effort to relieve the pain, they could overgroom, which can lead to hair loss on their lower belly, the inside of their hind legs, and the region around their genitalia.
It can be difficult to tell whether a cat is in pain, so it’s important to be aware of the signs and to contact your veterinarian as soon as possible.
Always consult your veterinarian while selecting an efficient pain management plan. They might use opioids, laser therapy, acupuncture, and nutritional supplements in their plan.
Allergies
As previously mentioned, your cat’s hair loss on its hind legs may also be brought on by allergies to food, the environment, and fleas. The first step in treating allergies is identifying and eliminating the allergen’s source. The majority of food-allergic cats are actually allergic to a protein rather than other nutrients. When a protein in a food has been hydrolyzed, it has been broken down into its individual amino acid components. This prevents an allergy flare-up in your cat and prevents the immune system from identifying the food as containing an allergen. Other allergens, such as mold in the environment, may cause itchiness, scratching, and excessive grooming.
Stress and anxiety
Cats are meticulous groomers and conscientiously hygienic animals. Cats frequently spend between 30 and 50 percent of the day grooming. In contrast, if your cat grooms itself to the point of getting skin sores or losing hair, they might have the above-mentioned underlying medical condition or a psychological issue.
In tense or stressful situations, cats frequently brush themselves to feel better. Grooming could become a compulsive activity if it is done regularly, out of context, and interferes with daily duties. Cats frequently overgroom as a result of stress in the lower back, the inner of the thighs, and the stomach. Cats may overbrush themselves when the caregivers are not around, making it difficult to see. The majority of caregivers will observe areas where there is little or no hair. While some cats only lick in one location, others may overgroom in numerous locations.
Compulsive grooming, also known as psychogenic alopecia, is generally brought on by a change in the cat’s routine or environment, including moving to a new home or acclimating to a new family member or pet. Conflicts among cats, intense competition for resources, and boredom are additional sources of stress.
It’s imperative to have any potential medical issues ruled out by your veterinarian. Cats with psychogenic alopecia usually have hair loss without skin irritation, despite the fact that excessive overgrooming can result in secondary infections and irritation. Your cat’s hair will appear fully pulled out or split off near to the skin’s surface when viewed under a microscope.
Determine the underlying reason, identify any stressors, and, if feasible, remove them with the assistance of your veterinarian. Then, give both physical and mental stimulation, maintain regular schedules, and foster a less stressed environment. You can lessen tension in the environment by giving your cat places to hide and vertical surfaces, playing with them more, and utilizing goods that mimic a chemical that cats emit via the glands on their faces when they feel comfortable and want to let other cats in the area know that they are.
Ways to Prevent Hair Loss
Not all of the causes of cat hair loss are preventable. You can do something to keep your cat as happy and healthy as possible.
You can do something to keep your cat as happy and healthy as possible.
- To prevent your cat from becoming irritated and beginning to overgroom, make sure it doesn’t encounter too many personal stressors, such as a change in its surroundings or another animal.
- Give your pets a good diet, plenty of exercise, and regular veterinary exams to prevent serious health issues.
- Keep your cat on an efficient flea preventative every month to avoid parasite infections that could cause hair loss.
- By keeping your cat inside, you may reduce its exposure to many mites.
- Cats could lose the fur on their hind legs for a variety of causes. The first step in treatment is to identify the cause of the hair loss. If you notice that your cat is balding, take it to the vet for a checkup. The faster the underlying issue is located, the faster the cat will recover its health and regenerate its coat.
Taking Care of Cat Hair Loss
If you suspect your pet is sick, contact your veterinarian straight away. If you have any questions about your dog’s health, always see your veterinarian first. They have seen your dog, know its medical history, and can provide the best guidance for your pet.
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