{"id":101942,"date":"2022-04-22T12:31:10","date_gmt":"2022-04-22T12:31:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/is-it-normal-for-older-cats-to-lose-hair\/"},"modified":"2022-04-22T12:31:10","modified_gmt":"2022-04-22T12:31:10","slug":"is-it-normal-for-older-cats-to-lose-hair","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/is-it-normal-for-older-cats-to-lose-hair\/","title":{"rendered":"Is it normal for older cats to lose hair?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_17 counter-hierarchy counter-decimal ez-toc-grey\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" style=\"display: none;\"><i class=\"ez-toc-glyphicon ez-toc-icon-toggle\"><\/i><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class=\"ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1\"><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/is-it-normal-for-older-cats-to-lose-hair\/#Is_it_normal_for_older_cats_to_lose_hair\" title=\"Is it normal for older cats to lose hair?\">Is it normal for older cats to lose hair?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/is-it-normal-for-older-cats-to-lose-hair\/#Why_is_my_elderly_cat_going_bald\" title=\"Why is my elderly cat going bald?\">Why is my elderly cat going bald?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/is-it-normal-for-older-cats-to-lose-hair\/#Why_is_my_senior_cat_losing_clumps_of_hair\" title=\"Why is my senior cat losing clumps of hair?\">Why is my senior cat losing clumps of hair?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/is-it-normal-for-older-cats-to-lose-hair\/#Should_I_be_concerned_if_my_cat_is_losing_hair\" title=\"Should I be concerned if my cat is losing hair?\">Should I be concerned if my cat is losing hair?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/is-it-normal-for-older-cats-to-lose-hair\/#Why_is_my_old_cat_losing_hair\" title=\"Why is my old cat losing hair?\">Why is my old cat losing hair?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/is-it-normal-for-older-cats-to-lose-hair\/#Do_cats_lose_hair_as_they_age\" title=\"Do cats lose hair as they age?\">Do cats lose hair as they age?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/is-it-normal-for-older-cats-to-lose-hair\/#Why_is_my_senior_cat_all_of_a_sudden_balding\" title=\"Why is my senior cat all of a sudden balding?\">Why is my senior cat all of a sudden balding?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/is-it-normal-for-older-cats-to-lose-hair\/#Why_is_my_elderly_cats_hair_falling_out_in_clumps\" title=\"Why is my elderly cat&#8217;s hair falling out in clumps?\">Why is my elderly cat&#8217;s hair falling out in clumps?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/is-it-normal-for-older-cats-to-lose-hair\/#What_should_I_do_if_my_cat_is_losing_hair\" title=\"What should I do if my cat is losing hair?\">What should I do if my cat is losing hair?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/is-it-normal-for-older-cats-to-lose-hair\/#What_does_it_mean_when_your_cat_is_losing_hair\" title=\"What does it mean when your cat is losing hair?\">What does it mean when your cat is losing hair?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/is-it-normal-for-older-cats-to-lose-hair\/#Why_do_older_cats_lose_clumps_of_hair\" title=\"Why do older cats lose clumps of hair?\">Why do older cats lose clumps of hair?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/is-it-normal-for-older-cats-to-lose-hair\/#How_can_I_treat_my_cats_hair_loss\" title=\"How can I treat my cats hair loss?\">How can I treat my cats hair loss?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/is-it-normal-for-older-cats-to-lose-hair\/#What_causes_hair_loss_in_older_cats\" title=\"What causes hair loss in older cats?\">What causes hair loss in older cats?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/is-it-normal-for-older-cats-to-lose-hair\/#Is_hair_loss_normal_in_older_cats\" title=\"Is hair loss normal in older cats?\">Is hair loss normal in older cats?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/is-it-normal-for-older-cats-to-lose-hair\/#Why_is_my_elderly_cat_losing_chunks_of_fur\" title=\"Why is my elderly cat losing chunks of fur?\">Why is my elderly cat losing chunks of fur?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/is-it-normal-for-older-cats-to-lose-hair\/#Why_do_cats_lose_chunks_of_fur\" title=\"Why do cats lose chunks of fur?\">Why do cats lose chunks of fur?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-17\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/is-it-normal-for-older-cats-to-lose-hair\/#Will_cat_hair_loss_grow_back\" title=\"Will cat hair loss grow back?\">Will cat hair loss grow back?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-18\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/is-it-normal-for-older-cats-to-lose-hair\/#Why_is_my_cat_losing_her_hair\" title=\"Why is my cat losing her hair?\">Why is my cat losing her hair?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Is_it_normal_for_older_cats_to_lose_hair\"><\/span>Is it normal for older cats to lose hair?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Like humans, senior cats can experience thinning fur or mild hair loss. Hereditary hair loss also exists among felines, though its more common with younger animals, sometimes occurring at birth or not long after. Finally, keep in mind that <b>shedding is normal for cats of all ages<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_is_my_elderly_cat_going_bald\"><\/span>Why is my elderly cat going bald?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><b>Nervous disorders (e.g., over-grooming) can also cause hair loss in cats. Hormonal imbalances, specifically too much thyroid or increased levels of steroids in the body, may lead to cat hair loss. Another less common factor is heredity. Cat alopecia is common in older cats that are diagnosed with some types of cancer.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_is_my_senior_cat_losing_clumps_of_hair\"><\/span>Why is my senior cat losing clumps of hair?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Why is my old cat losing clumps of fur? <b>Some cats suffer from skin allergies, which can result in hair loss. Cat alopecia is commonly caused by mange-causing parasites and fungi such as ringworm, especially in younger cats or those with underlying health problems.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Should_I_be_concerned_if_my_cat_is_losing_hair\"><\/span>Should I be concerned if my cat is losing hair?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Generally, if we can reverse the cause, then we can get the hair to grow back, Dr. Hayworth says. This is especially true with over-grooming related to allergies. So, if you notice hair loss in your cat, <b>it is definitely worth a trip to the doctor.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_is_my_old_cat_losing_hair\"><\/span>Why is my old cat losing hair?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The Most Common Reasons <b>Allergies: Theyre the top cause of hair loss. Like people, your cat can be allergic to food, insect bites, medicines, dust, or pollen. To ease the itch, theyll lick their fur until there are bald spots. Its simple to treat, but you might have to give them medicine for the rest of their life.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Do_cats_lose_hair_as_they_age\"><\/span>Do cats lose hair as they age?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><b>As they grow older, cats will commonly experience thinning of their fur, and even develop patches of hair loss. Like in humans, a cats hair can turn white with age  but, their whiskers may turn black.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_is_my_senior_cat_all_of_a_sudden_balding\"><\/span>Why is my senior cat all of a sudden balding?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Like humans, senior cats can experience thinning fur or mild hair loss. Hereditary hair loss also exists among felines, though its more common with younger animals, sometimes occurring at birth or not long after. Finally, keep in mind that <b>shedding is normal for cats of all ages<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_is_my_elderly_cats_hair_falling_out_in_clumps\"><\/span>Why is my elderly cat&#8217;s hair falling out in clumps?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>What causes hair loss in cats? Feline fur loss may have <b>fungal and parasitic causes, such as ringworm, mites or flea allergies. Food allergies are another possibility, as are metabolic conditions such as hyperthyroidism, the term for over-production of thyroid hormones.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_should_I_do_if_my_cat_is_losing_hair\"><\/span>What should I do if my cat is losing hair?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Treatment for Cat Hair Loss If the alopecia is due to a skin disorder (e.g., skin erosions), thyroid imbalance or other hormonal imbalance, there are <b>cat medications and topical treatments available. If cat hair loss is due to a behavioral issue, your vet might prescribe anxiety medication for cats.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_does_it_mean_when_your_cat_is_losing_hair\"><\/span>What does it mean when your cat is losing hair?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The Most Common Reasons Allergies: Theyre the top cause of hair loss. Like people, <b>your cat can be allergic to food, insect bites, medicines, dust, or pollen. To ease the itch, theyll lick their fur until there are bald spots. Its simple to treat, but you might have to give them medicine for the rest of their life.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_do_older_cats_lose_clumps_of_hair\"><\/span>Why do older cats lose clumps of hair?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Like humans, senior cats can experience thinning fur or mild hair loss. Hereditary hair loss also exists among felines, though its more common with younger animals, sometimes occurring at birth or not long after. Finally, keep in mind that <b>shedding is normal for cats of all ages<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_can_I_treat_my_cats_hair_loss\"><\/span>How can I treat my cats hair loss?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Generally, if we can reverse the cause, then we can get the hair to grow back, Dr. Hayworth says. This is especially true with over-grooming related to allergies. So, if you notice hair loss in your cat, <b>it is definitely worth a trip to the doctor.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_causes_hair_loss_in_older_cats\"><\/span>What causes hair loss in older cats?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>What causes hair loss in cats? Feline fur loss may have <b>fungal and parasitic causes, such as ringworm, mites or flea allergies. Food allergies are another possibility, as are metabolic conditions such as hyperthyroidism, the term for over-production of thyroid hormones.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Is_hair_loss_normal_in_older_cats\"><\/span>Is hair loss normal in older cats?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Generally, if we can reverse the cause, then we can get the hair to grow back, Dr. Hayworth says. This is especially true with over-grooming related to allergies. So, if you notice hair loss in your cat, <b>it is definitely worth a trip to the doctor.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_is_my_elderly_cat_losing_chunks_of_fur\"><\/span>Why is my elderly cat losing chunks of fur?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Some cats experience <b>skin allergies, which can cause hair loss to occur. Parasites that bring about mange, and fungal issues like ringworm, are also common causes of cat alopecia, especially in younger cats or those with other health issues. Nervous disorders (e.g., over-grooming) can also cause hair loss in cats.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_do_cats_lose_chunks_of_fur\"><\/span>Why do cats lose chunks of fur?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Like humans, senior cats can experience thinning fur or mild hair loss. Hereditary hair loss also exists among felines, though its more common with younger animals, sometimes occurring at birth or not long after. Finally, keep in mind that <b>shedding is normal for cats of all ages<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Will_cat_hair_loss_grow_back\"><\/span>Will cat hair loss grow back?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><b>Treatment of Hair Loss in Cats<\/b><\/p>\n<li>Topical Treatments. A topical cream is often used when treating alopecia.  <\/li>\n<li>Antidepressants or Antianxiety Medications.  <\/li>\n<li>Antihistamines.  <\/li>\n<li>Cause-Specific Treatments.<\/li>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_is_my_cat_losing_her_hair\"><\/span>Why is my cat losing her hair?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Generally, if we can reverse the cause, then we can get the hair to grow back, Dr. Hayworth says. This is especially true with over-grooming related to allergies. So, if you notice hair loss in your cat, <b>it is definitely worth a trip to the doctor.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><\/h2>\n<h2><\/h2>\n<h2><\/h2>\n<h2><\/h2>\n<h2><\/h2>\n<h2><\/h2>\n<h2><\/h2>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Table of Contents Is it normal for older cats to lose hair?Why is my elderly cat going bald?Why is my senior cat losing clumps of hair?Should I be concerned if my cat is losing hair?Why is my old cat losing hair?Do cats lose hair as they age?Why is my senior cat all of a sudden&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"spay_email":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-101942","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/101942"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=101942"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/101942\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=101942"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=101942"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=101942"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}