Why is my 12-year-old cat losing hair and has bald spots everywhere?

Question

I already scheduled an appointment, but I just want to know ahead of time. My 12 years old cat has bald spots all over her body (even tail), and she has no parasites on her. What could be the cause? Pet's info: Cat | Mixed Breed | Female | spayed | 12 years old | 10 lbs

Ricardo Fernandez, DVM · Accepted Answer

Hi there! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! There is a variety of reasons that can explain alopecia or hair loss. The causes can easily be differentiated by the clinical signs associated with it and the physical exam findings. If Mimi is only showing some hair loss without scratching or overgrooming then it could conditions such as alopecia areata that can affect cats and usually resolves on its own. If there is evidence of scratching and you start noticing some redness or irritation associated with it, then other conditions such as allergies are possible. If you notice her overgrooming herself in that area then it could be something like psychogenic alopecia which is more of a behavioral issue. I think that if she is not having overt clinical signs and it is mostly hair loss, it is possibly transient and could resolve on its own. You can monitor this closely and if it does not resolve or it worsens then have her examined by your veterinarian. Good luck!

Why is my 12-year-old cat losing hair and has bald spots everywhere?

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