Why does my outdoor cat have red skin and no fur on her legs?
Updated On September 23rd, 2025
Pet's info: Cat | American Shorthair | Female | spayed | 2 years old | 9.5 lbs
My cat showed up one day with huge red marks on her back legs and stomach. Basically all the fur is gone. No wounds or scratches. She is an outside cat and I live I'm michigan
2 Answers
Most Helpful Answer
Published on February 19th, 2019
Poor girl! I cannot say for sure what caused these but it looks like she needs to be seen by your vet. Your vet will be able to take a closer look to what the cause may be and whether or not they need to be addressed with some meds like antibiotics, burn creams, or pain meds. The fact that the hair is gone and the skin is really red makes me think of some type burn (cold or heat) or an allergy of some sort or even over grooming. I worry if left untreated, it could get worse or keep spreading. If she is itching, you could try Benadryl but keep a close eye on her. I hope this helps. https://www.petcoach.co/canigive/cat/benadryl/
2Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Related Answers from Veterinarians
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Published on October 29th, 2017
This is a common problem with cats that are overweight. Gently shaving and cleaning the area with a warm, wet wash cloth should help. You can apply a small amount of topical triple antibiotic ointment with hydrocortisone. That should help with the irritation. I would also recommend putting her on a weight loss plan if she's not already on one. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
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