My cat has a bald spot near his nose. Is he rubbing it too much?

Question

Our cat (who we recently adopted from a shelter) has developed a bald spot next to his nose. I haven’t seen him doing so, but I’m guessing that he may be rubbing his face. Pet's info: Cat | Domestic Shorthair | Male | neutered | 1 year and 7 months old | 12 lbs

Shaneez Wallani, DVM · Accepted Answer

Hair loss can be caused by bacterial, parasitic or fungal infection, dietary or environmental allergies or sensitivities, immune system disorders, or a combination of the above. In cats with hair loss like Dunkin has in the picture, one common cause can be infection by mites that can live in the hair follicles and lead to hair loss, and secondary bacterial and fungal infections that can develop. Another potential cause can be a fungal infection due to ringworm. I recommend making an appointment to have Dunkin seen by your veterinarian to help determine the cause of the hair loss as soon as you can. The vet will likely want to look at a sample from the area (taken by a procedure known as a skin scraping) and examined under the microscope to determine what kind(s) of infection may be present and to figure out what medication is appropriate for treatment. Good luck!

My cat has a bald spot near his nose. Is he rubbing it too much?

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