My cat is losing fur on her legs and tail. Is it from licking?

Question

Hello. My cat has been losing fur on her legs (not paws). Took her to vets, and she had a steroid injection. Vet tested for mites, not that. No fleas either. She's not upset, eating and drinking normally, and bright eyed. The fur is now coming off the underneath of her tail. Any help would be gratefully received. Kim Lintern. Pet's info: Cat | Domestic Mediumhair | Female | spayed | 3 years and 4 months old

Jenna Beyer, DVM, MBA, cVMA · Accepted Answer

Even if you don't see fleas, I would recommend that Poppy be on a good flea preventative as the bite of even one flea can be cause itching all over in some cats! The hair loss in the pictures looks like hair fur-mowing caused by excessive licking. The number once cause is from itching. Causes for itching in cat include mites on the skin, ear mites, fleas, intestinal parasites, ringworm, food allergies, environmental allergies, or atopy. Steroids will help with some of these issues, but if the itch comes back, so might the hair loss, too. It may be reasonable to start medications for allergies, perform allergy testing if all parasitic and infectious causes have been ruled out, or try a food trial for food allergies. These options can be discussed with your vet. Ocasionally, the fur mowing can be caused by anxiety or other mental illness. Environmental enrichment can help with some issues, as well as supplements like Zylkene or Comfort Zone Feliway Diffuser Kit. Here is a good article about fur-mowing in cats: http://www.marvistavet.com/fur-mowing-feline.pml

My cat is losing fur on her legs and tail. Is it from licking?

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