Petco Text Logo
Petco Pet Logo

  • Two Easy Ways to Start Earning Rewards!

Why is my indoor cat missing fur on his arm after going outside?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | Mixed Breed | Male | neutered | 4 years and 2 months old | 12 lbs

We were petting Beanz & saw this today. Yesterday he went outside, & he’s an indoor cat. Thankfully he’s acting normal & perfectly fine & isn’t showing any signs of discomfort or pain when we touch this area on his arm. What could it possibly be? How is he randomly missing this patch of fur?

This question includes photos that may contain sensitive content. Click to view.

View more to consider that the photos may include sensitive content.

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

Image profile

Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Veterinarian

Published on October 19th, 2020

If Beanz went outside yesterday, then he could have been injured causing this missing patch of fur. Because he's otherwise acting normally, I'd just keep an eye on it for now. If it appears to cause him pain, appears worse, or looks infected, have him seen by a vet. I hope this helps!

Vote icon

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Questions

Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My outside cat has a small patch of fur missing from the top of his head. It doesn't seem to bother him nor is it bleeding but it worries me. What do you think might have caused it?
Hi there! Thanks for using Boop by Petco! 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 Freckles 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 him overgrooming himself in that area then it could be something like psychogenic alopecia which is more of a behavioral issue. I think that since he is not having overt clinical signs and it is mostly hair loss, I think 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 him examined by your veterinarian. Good luck!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
I was on a 5 day holiday and I came home and my cat back was like this
It could be Alfie hurt himself, or he may have been overgrooming because he was stressed due to you being gone. I would keep an eye on the area for now. If it gets worse or doesn't appear to be healing, have him seen by a vet. I hope this helps!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
Hi! This morning I noticed my cat is missing a large patch of fur, I know it wasn’t there yesterday. He’s a strictly indoor cat. I’m wondering if he had just got stuck under something in my house. I thought I should get another opinion online since m
This definitely looks likes a trauma area, where the hair was ripped out. I would monitor it for now, especially if Reggie doesn't seem to be bothered by it. It should start to heal and fill in if this was an isolated incident. However, if you start to notice other bald patches pop up, then a vet visit is needed to have some skin testing done and find out the underlying cause (fleas, mites, etc). I hope that Reggie recovers well. Best wishes and take care.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
I noticed to bald spots on my cats front legs.. checked everywhere else and he was ok. Should I be worried? Or what could this be? He has always been an indoor cat. Recently I built him an enclosure so he can go out to watch the squirrels all morni
Thank you for contacting Boop by Petco with your question about Kitty and for providing a picture, it's very helpful. I'm wondering if he snagged some fur on the enclosure causing the fur loss. He may have gotten excited seeing the squirrels and moved suddenly, causing some fur to snag and pull out. I would just keep an eye on it for now. If it gets worse, appears infected, or starts to bother him, then I would have him seen by a vet. Best of luck.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My kitten has developed an irritated bald patch on his neck. He's 13 weeks old
There could be a few things that may have caused these spots on Beans. From the picture, it looks like it may be infected. You can apply a thin layer of Neosporin twice a day, but if it isn't better in a couple days, you should see a vet for additional medications. Possible initial causes for the irritation include mites, fleas, ringworm, a reaction to topically applied medications, or a wound caused by another cat. If you see Beans scratching this area with his back paws, it means it is very itchy - try to prevent him from further damaging the skin by covering the area with a small pet or baby shirt, or you can try to put socks on his feet.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My cat (1 year old male) has a weird rough hairless patch on his left shoulder. He spends half the day outside. But he doesn't go very far. It has a dehydrated bumpy appearance. And it is gray in color.
This could be demodex or other mites, from rubbing/catching on something, a small skin infection, or something else. See your vet to get a better diagnosis and the right treatment. Best of luck to you and Benito!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
I have an outdoor cat that is about 9 months old. He disappeared a week ago, which was very unlike him because all he has ever done is lay around on our screened in porch and is super lazy. He's always drank a LOT of water and was kind of plump altho
Poor Zippers! He could have gotten into a fight on his travels, causing the fur loss from that area. Bites from another cat can cause small and hard to see wounds, and are often unnoticed until an abscess form. I would take Zippers into the vet for a health check just to make sure he is ok.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My cat has been progressively losing hair for the past month, he has lost a ton of weight even though he eats twice as much, he never plays anymore instead he just sits ( very uncomfortablely) for hours on end, I have no idea so i’ve downloaded reddi
This is concerning, and weight loss despite eating can be a sign of a medical condition like diabetes. The hair loss could be due to fleas, mites, or allergies. You need to have Bean seen by a vet for these issues, and I recommend getting blood work and a urinalysis done. I'd take him into a vet today.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
I have a cat he's about 5 years old. I noticed he has a patch of hair loss on his back. I'm not sure what it could be but it looks as though it is wet. I don't think it hurts him because I have felt around it and he didn't react as if he were in pain
has any topical medicine for fleas been applied recently? They do have reactions that can cause hair loss after application in that area. Another thought is if he rubbed against something to cause irritation and he is licking the fur to make it wet and pull more hair out. If it is non painful and there are no open wounds and he is acting normal, I would watch it for a day or so. If it bothers him or gets larger then I would have him checked, if not the hair should regrow on its on
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My cat is 10 yes old and is indoors/outdoors. Recently he started to lose his hair on his lower back while feeding him a new type a food. Once I stopped feeding him the hair loss stopped. Several weeks later he began losing his hair along his stomach
Your cat's hair loss is probably due to allergies. Since he does go outside I would recommend that he have flea control every month. I would also recommend taking him in to see your vet so they can make sure there is no skin infection present, because if there is he will need some antibiotics to help it clear up. Your vet may also prescribe something to help with the allergies as well. With these treatments your cat's hair should grow back.
Updated on September 24th, 2025

Related Searches

Cat Food Cat Supplies Wet Cat Food Skin & Coat Supplements for Cats Cat First Aid Cat Allergy & Itch Relief Cat Health & Wellness Cat Hairball Control Flea & Tick Solutions for Cats Pain Meds & Arthritis Relief for Cats Suitical Cat First Aid NaturVet Cat Allergy & Itch Relief Suitical Cat Health & Wellness HomeoPet Skin & Coat Supplements for Cats PetAlive Cat Allergy & Itch Relief Pumpkin Patch Up! Cat Health & Wellness Fera Pets Skin & Coat Supplements for Cats VetriScience Skin & Coat Supplements for Cats NaturVet Skin & Coat Supplements for Cats Dermalone Cat Medicine
image
Have A Vet Question?

Book an appointment with the pros – our expert vets are here to help.

Book Now

Sponsored