Devon Rex skin issue & cat hair loss problem

by Julie
(Sunrise, FL)

I am a new Devon Rex mommy, and my cat is suffering from cat hair loss. Oreo just turned one on Oct 1, and we just moved from NC to FL so there have been big changes in my cat's life. For the past 4 weeks, we have seen a lot of cat scratching behavior but no cat fleas. But his cat hair loss is all around his head and neck area and his skin looks brownish and not the normal pink color we usually see.

I bathed him with Aveeno Baby shampoo but it just seems to be getting worse.


Dear Julie,

Cat hair loss can be caused by a number of different feline health problems, but there is an important distinction to be made between the two symptoms you described. You said that your cat's hair was "falling out," and said that you have seen excessive "scratching."

Considering your cat's age, it is very unlikely that a one year old cat has hair that is just falling out. This usually happens in cats with feline endocrine diseases, such as hyperthyroidism and cat diabetes. "Scratching," however, is a sign of an itchy cat.

Also, the fact that you described your cat's skin as brown suggests that he is itchy. The brown coloring you are seeing on your cat's skin and fur could be from salivary staining, which occurs when cats lick themselves repeatedly and excessively.

The number one cause of hair loss in cats, by far, is cat allergies, and the number one cat allergy is a flea allergy. The flea population is huge in Florida, and can be significantly larger than what you were used to in North Carolina. So, although I know you have said you don't see fleas, I would recommend reading The Truth About Feline Allergies for a better understanding of how your cat could have a flea allergy, even if you don't see fleas!

Using a monthly topical cat flea medicine, such as Frontline, on your cat could be tremendously helpful. If the cat hair loss or itchiness persists over the next several weeks to months, following up with your veterinarian would be recommended.

All the best,
Dr. Neely