Cat pulling out fur: Is it stress or a skin problem? What to do?

Question

My cat is pulling his hair out. I have tried a bath and calming collar. Help? Pet's info: Cat | Mixed Breed | Male | neutered | 8 lbs

Dr. Heidi DVM, CVA, CCRT, CVTP, CVSMT, CVCH · Accepted Answer

I'm sorry you are dealing with this with Peanut. Your first order of business is to figure out if he is pulling his hair out from a skin/itching problem or from stress. That will require a trip to your vet to evaluate for skin problems and probably a simple skin test. Your vet will need to evaluate Peanut for bacterial, yeast, fungal and external parasite infections. If everything looks normal there, your vet will likely recommend flea control for all animals in the house (even if there isn't any evidence of fleas). If the problem appears to be an allergy, your vet may discuss medications to resolve the itching. If the problem appears stress related, there are a few supplements and medications that can be tried. Again, I would recommend discussing the options with your vet. I hope that gives you a few ideas. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Cat pulling out fur: Is it stress or a skin problem? What to do?

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