Hair Loss Problem, Care And Treatment

A cat's fur is made up of two different types of hair which are either very fine and lie closer to the skin as waterproofing and insulation, or longer to form the outer coat. Unique to the cat, rather than a single hair per follicle you will see two or three hairs growing from the same follicle which gives the coat its density.

Feline hair loss can be down to a number of reasons. It may simply be that your cat is losing fur in the same way that humans shed hair. When grooming, the cat's rough tongue surface will rasp at loose or dead hair and this is a perfectly natural process of shedding and regrowth and is nothing to worry about. Long-haired cats are particularly prone at shedding hair and always need careful and regular grooming to make sure their fur doesn't become knotted and difficult to groom. Once fur does become matted the only way to untangle it is to try using some warm oil to loosen the knots, and as a last resort you may need to cut away the fur to let it regrow.

Occasionally cats can be compulsive about their grooming habits and will eventually lick the fur so much that it starts to fall out or bare patches appear on the skin. This is simply a behavioral problem and you can ask your veterinary surgeon for advice on behavior modification to help your cat deal with the obsession.

More seriously, hair loss can be a sign of illness. Giving your cat regular care and attention will pick these problems up quickly so that they can be treated, and you should take your cat to see the veterinary surgeon as soon as you suspect anything is wrong. Your vet may diagnose a number of causes which can include ringworm or other parasites, hormonal disturbances, skin diseases, and possibly diseases which affect the circulation.

For general day to day care and attention, use a cat comb to get rid of the little bits of dirt, dust and skin flakes on the surface of your cat's skin, and a cat brush to keep the coat tangle-free and encourage good circulation in the skin to promote healthy hair growth. Make sure that you buy a brush for your cat's own personal grooming - do not use your own. Apart from the hygiene issues, a feline brush is designed for feline use and you do not want to use a brush with bristles that might damage your cat's skin.

You can also give your cat homeopathy treatments to keep the fur glossy and healthy, but make sure that these are administered with your vet's knowledge and participation. Most vets these days are in favour of homeopathic treatments and can give you advice on safety and dosages, and products are available to keep your cat's coat in perfect condition.