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My cat has a skin rash and bald spots. What are the causes and fixes?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | Russian Blue | Female | spayed | 5 years and 1 month old | 20 lbs

Hi, my cat 4 years old has a skin rash and is creating bald spots. Is there anything I can give her or change to make it better?

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1 Answer

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Answered By Jessica Desrosiers

Veterinary Technician

Published on February 23rd, 2021

Unfortunately, there a lot of causes behind skin rashes and hair loss, which is why it is important to bring Duchess to a vet for a workup. Rashes can be caused by issues such as parasites (fleas, ticks, lice, ect) which can cause a bite allergy -- and does present similar to the picture you provided. Other causes of rashes can include bacterial or fungal infections, underlying illnesses, food or environmental allergens. I would treat Duchess for any fleas and also be sure to thoroughly wash all bedding, clean her environment, vacuum floorboards, etc. You can also try an allergy medication while treating for the fleas to help reduce irritation while she heals (your vet can give you the correct dosage for Duchess' weight and size). Using an old T-shirt or an Elizabethan (cone) collar to keep her from licking and chewing the irritated area can also help reduce the chances of an infection taking hold. It's still a good idea to schedule a vet visit even if you are doing home treatment. This can help rule out any other causes, and your vet can monitor progress on the allergy/flea treatment to make any adjustments if needed.

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