Cat hair loss – when should I see a vet?

Updated 2026-09-30 · 1 sources

Based on: PDSA

Book a vet visit

This is not usually an emergency on its own – contact your vet if it lasts, gets worse or your cat seems unwell in any other way. In cats, hair loss is more commonly linked to a problem that causes overgrooming than to fur simply falling out.

When to contact a vet What to do now

Contact a vet if you see any of this

A rash, scabs or patches of dark skin
Dry, scaly skin
Itchiness
Overgrooming
Losing whiskers
Lethargy, or sleeping more than usual
Drinking more than usual
Eating more or less than usual

What you can do now

Contact your vet.
Note when it started, how often it happens and what else you see.
Take a photo or short video to show the vet.
Keep fresh water available.
Let your cat rest somewhere calm.

Don't

Do not give your cat any human medicine.
Do not wait if it gets worse.

What it can mean

Hair loss can appear as bald spots, patchy fur or a generally thin coat.^[1] It is more commonly caused by a problem that makes a cat overgroom than by fur falling out on its own.^[1] It can be linked to itchy skin, stress, pain, skin infections, hormone disease, scars, ringworm or breeding.^[1]

Other signs that can come with it

Weight gain
Weight loss
Changes in appetite
Bumps or scabs
Dandruff

Possible causes

Itchy skin
Stress
Pain
Skin infections
Feline eosinophilic granuloma complex
Hormone disease
Scars
Ringworm
Over-grooming
Fleas

What the experts say

“Overview. Alopecia (fur loss) can develop as bald spots, patchy fur or as a generally thin coat. Alopecia can be because of a condition that causes fur to fall out or (more commonly) because of a problem that causes your cat to over groom.”
— PDSA [1]

If your pet is struggling to breathe, has collapsed, is having a seizure or can't stand up: go to the nearest vet now.

Not sure how serious it is?

OkPaw asks a few quick questions about your pet and tells you in 30 seconds whether it can wait. Free on Google Play for Android.

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Common questions

What is alopecia in cats?

Alopecia is fur loss in cats.^[1]

What can cat hair loss look like?

It can look like bald spots, patchy fur or a generally thin coat.^[1]

What can cause hair loss in cats?

Hair loss can be linked to itchy skin, stress, pain, skin infections, hormone disease, scars, ringworm or breeding.^[1]

Sources

PDSA

How this page was made: written with the help of AI from the sources below, then checked claim by claim against those sources. Urgency levels follow OkPaw’s fixed safety rules. It is guidance, not a diagnosis. How we write our pages

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