1. Hair Loss
Hair loss must be differentiated from the cat hair shedding. Typically, cats shed twice per year and this is a natural process of renewing the coat. However, if the hair falls out outside the shedding seasons, there might be something wrong with your cat.
Hair loss may be caused by:
- Allergies to food, medication or injections, flea bites, pollens, dust or chemicals or sun
- Parasites; these cause itchiness and the cat scratches and licks his coat excessively
- Stress
- Boredom and loneliness
- Hyperthyroidism
- Hereditary alopecia
- Autoimmune diseases
- Bacterial infections
- Chemotherapy
- Cushing's disease (an excess of corticosteroids in the cat's body)
- Cat skin rash
- Cat dermatitis
- Nodules or swellings on the surface of the skin
Typically, you will notice that the amount of dead hair is larger than usual and there might also be bald patches.
2. Unhealthy Looking Coat
When the cat's diet is poor in nutrients, the coat may have a dull, unhealthy look. The skin and hair of the cat are perfect indicators of the cat's health. If there are toxins in the body or the cat has an illness, the skin and coat will look unhealthy.
A dry coat may mean that your cat's skin does not respond well to the shampoo that you are using. Opt for a gentle shampoo that contains oatmeal, as this ingredient can soothe the skin and give shine to the coat.
You need to visit the vet, because the appearance of the coat may be a symptom of a disease or a signal that you need to change your cat's diet.
A poor diet may also cause cat skin rashes and this may also lead to hair loss.
Add supplements to your pet's food; opt for omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids that will benefit the coat and skin of your cat.
3. Greasy Coat
A greasy coat points to hormonal imbalance. If the thyroid gland is hyperactive, this will cause excessive secretion of sebum and the hair will look greasy. Thyroid imbalance also causes hair loss.
4. Matted Hair
Matted hair is more common in longhaired cats. In order to treat a cat for matted hair you will need a pair of scissors and a soft a brush.
To prevent matted fur, you need to use a brush on a regular basis. You may also opt for a professional grooming saloon.
5. Change in Color
The cat's fur may change color.
Color change in coat may be caused by hormonal imbalance, food allergies or parasites, which all make the cat lick his coat more often than usual causing discoloration. The saliva of the cat causes the fur to change color in red or orange hues.
In rare cases, the growth of reddish tinges may indicate a severe problem such as protein loss, kidney failure, liver failure or intestinal disease.