Cat losing fur from legs-anyone has an idea?

[winnybella]

My 13yo cat's 4 legs are basically bald on the back. He seems healthy otherwise, if a bit skinny. Fur on the rest of body nice and shiny. He's not very active so I'm wondering if it's just from laying down so much?

We spent a lot of money on our other cat with kidneys issues, so I've been dithering about taking this one to the vet, especially as he seems ok otherwise.

Anyone's got a clue?

have you changed any cleaning products in the house recently could be an allergy and at 13 the skinny part could be hyperthyroidism as this is one of the symptoms all i can suggest is have a hunt round online and see if there are any answers on the vet forums or sites may give you a clue

Thank you. No, haven't changed cleaning products don't really use any on the floors and anyway, he spends most of the time sleeping on the bed or sofa.

Hyperthyrodoism...hmm. Are cats treated for that?

I had a neutered tom with this problem. In his case it was a side effect caused by hormone imbalance after neutering. The cure was simple - he needed a daily hormone pill

You should take him to the vet

Ok, thanks, will do.

My Mum's cat had an overactive thyroid. He started pulling the fur out on his back. Other symptoms were that he was starving and thirsty all the time, but getting very skinny and his coat was very out of condition. Oh and he got very vocal.

It was controlled by a daily tablet.

Have you checked for fleas. One of our cats got horrible bald patches on back of its rear legs and also his tail from trying to lick it too much due to irritation from the fleas. The fur took a long time to grow back.

When I was a teenager, our cat had an underactive thyroid and was prescribed thyroxine tabs - her first symptom was going bald round her tail.

Interestingly, my mum also has an underactive thyroid , and was on the same tablets as the cat! I don't know if the fur was falling out round mum's tail,though!

Thanks everyone. I don't think it's the fleas, we live in a city and they are indoor cats. But the thyroid sounds plausible. In any case I wanted to check whether it could be a sign of something serious rather than just age or wearing the fur off by spending 23 hours a day on the sofa. Will take him to the vet.

Oh, the joy of trying to lure him to his cage. And then stuffing him into it.

They will want a blood sample to begin with.

Ha ha ha. Um, I hope they'll tranquilise him for that. My other cat is totally fine with the vet. This one, forget it.
Hope he's ok, damn it. We lost his sister to breast cancer

I'm sure you would have mentioned if there was a urinary problem but if he does have accidents then wee can 'scald' the skin and cause hair loss.

Hmm, no, no accidents except pooing on the floor when displeased

Actually, DP just said that the psychocat behaved well at the vet last time

It's really that he seems to have lost a bit of weight over the last year or so and the lack of hair on legs. Otherwise he seems happy enough, eats well, doesn't drink lots (as in too much as the other cat did before we had his kidneys under control)...one poster mentioned hormone imbalance after neutering, but he was neutered 12 years ago...hmm. Will try to see the vet tomorrow. I'm broke right now, though and it'll be 100 euros, easily.

Just looking at him and his fur is lovely and shiney everywhere else You know like when people get thyroid problems, it often affects eyebrows and hair on head etc etc...never mind, vet it is

My neurotic indoor cat has no fur on her back legs or tummy. I took her to the vets a while back and she said as the skin is healthy and she has no other "symptoms" that it is probably nervous grooming. She is very OCD so I believe this to be true. From time to time she seems to chill out a bit and her fur grows back but then she'll stress about something and the manic cleaning habits return and the bald legs are back!

Hi there, I've just happened upon this post and wondered if you ever found out what caused your cats fur problems. i ask as my wee Henry has just developed this problem within the past 6 months and we are none the wiser as to what's causing it. Hes had the steroid injection and although it helped the first time it's not as effective now. I do hope you got to the bottom of it and your wee cat's ok now. tia

My parents cat has just had its thyroid removed yesterday. It had all the same symptoms as described above. When collected later that day she was sat up and is recovering well. Although pissed off she isnt allowed out. She also had flees as the flee treatment bought from the pet shop just isn't working anymore. They tried the tablet treatment last year but she responded badly to it.

My cat has loads of fur missing and the vet said flees, again that the threatment we had been biying was no longer working, but the vet flee treatment hasnt made a difference. Back to the vets on saturday.

He's been to the vet and he's not got any fleas. He'll be going back soon as he'll need the steroid injection again. Thanks x

Hi. My cat is 17 she is mostly an indoor cat and like yours apart from sleeping all day. Is well looked after. Has lost a bit of weight. Is a little slow now. But the fur on her legs has gone extremely thin to just about covering her skin. No other symptoms. If you find out anything. Pls let me know.