Why is my senior cat losing fur in a patch, not from fleas?

Question

My cat lost a large patch of fur. He does not have fleas. He is 16yrs old. What may be wrong and what can I do? Pet's info: Cat | American Shorthair | Male | neutered | 16 years and 2 months old | 18 lbs

Dr. Elizabeth · Accepted Answer

Maxwell could lose hair for a few reasons. In general things that cause hair loss in cats are: flea allergy, food allergy, hyperthyroidism, ringworm, bacterial infections or environmental allergy. I would advise to take him into the vet to have him examined. They may be able to determine the cause based on physical exam. At home there's not much you can do except protect the area if Maxwell seems to want to lick/scratch it with an Elizabethan collar. If he is not on a reputable flea product, you may put him on one (I recommend Revolution) just to rule out fleas for sure. Sometimes you just have to start moving down the list of things that cause hairless until you figure out which one it is!

Why is my senior cat losing fur in a patch, not from fleas?

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