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Why is my kitten losing facial hair, whiskers, and has ear discharge?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | Siamese | Female | unspayed | 3.6 lbs

Hello, My kitten has facial alopecia i think,she lost a lot the past week,is it transmittible to humans? She always sleeps on my head.she burned a part of her whiskers over her eyebrows so i cut a little bit of them.now she lost all of them to the root,is that Normal?also noticed brown discharge inside her ears.thank you. First 2 pics are from today,last one is a week ago

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Linda G, MS, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on February 12th, 2019

Hello. Unfortunately, your pictures never came through, but this might be something best left to a hands on examination with a veterinarian. Hair loss could be from the burn, but it can also be due to a bacterial infection, mange mites ( demodex ), or even ringworm, which is contagious to people. More than likely, she lost the whiskers also to the burn. I do not think you trimming them caused the disappearance. If the follicle (root) was not damaged, the whiskers should grow back. And the brown discharge in the ears may just be extra ear wax & dirt, or a sign of an infection or even ear mites. So, you have several reasons to take Sofia into a veterinarian. Everything can be sorted out pretty quickly, & if she needs any medications or treatments, the right ones will be sent home. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

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Other Answers

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    Answered By Dr. Massimo Orioles, DVM, Cert AVP, MRCVS

    Veterinarian

    Published on February 12th, 2019

    Could you please repost your question and attach the second picture as well? I can see only one (which looks fairly normal). Generally speaking only alopecia caused by ringworm would be possibly transmittable to humans.

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