Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi - I took my cat, Murray, in for his vaccinations and check-up yesterday, and the vet found a patch of fur that appears to be thinning. (The vet called it "male-pattern baldness," LOL.) I hope it doesn't get much worse! Is there anything that can be done to help it? Maybe brushing him less often?

Thanks!
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I love my kitties!

hubpages.com/hub/The-cats-meow

P.S. - I found out that hyperthyroidism can be one cause of thinning fur, and my cat has been losing weight lately (about a pound, at least). Though the weight loss could be just because I changed his food. But hair loss plus weight loss might indicate hyperthyroidism, possibly? Should I look into that?

>>Hi - I took my cat, Murray, in for his vaccinations and check-up yesterday, and the vet found a patch of fur that appears to be thinning. (The vet called it "male-pattern baldness," LOL.) I hope it doesn't get much worse! Is there anything that can be done to help it? Maybe brushing him less often?
>>
>>Thanks!
>>-----
>>I love my kitties!
>>
>>hubpages.com/hub/The-cats-meow
-----
I love my kitties!

hubpages.com/hub/The-cats-meow

If your vet examined your cat before vaccinating him, he would likely have suspected hyperthyroidism if the cat:
had a ravenous appetite but was losing weight,
had a racing heartbeat,
was over 10 years old.
Some cats seem to have thinning hair between the eyes and ears, even when quite young, but that is more a characteristic of the cat than a symptom of a disease.
I hope the vaccination was a 3 year rabies shot, for that is the only shot an adult cat should get. No others are necessary, and some are positively harmful.

>>If your vet examined your cat before vaccinating him, he would likely have suspected hyperthyroidism if the cat:
>>had a ravenous appetite but was losing weight,
>>had a racing heartbeat,
>>was over 10 years old.
>>Some cats seem to have thinning hair between the eyes and ears, even when quite young, but that is more a characteristic of the cat than a symptom of a disease.
>>I hope the vaccination was a 3 year rabies shot, for that is the only shot an adult cat should get. No others are necessary, and some are positively harmful.

Hi - my cat is only six or seven or so (not sure, since he was a stray), so my vet says hyperthyroidism is unlikely at his age. His heartbeat was fine. He has been losing weight, though he does eat well (but it's not a "ravenous" appetite) - I hope that the weight loss is just because I changed his food. The thinning patch of fur is on my kitty's back. He doesn't lick or scratch back there (doesn't really groom himself back there), so the hair must be falling out on its own. Does it sound like anything I should be concerned about? My vet didn't seem too worried. Though he said I could have some lab tests run if I wanted, for routine diseases.

The shots were for rabies but also a couple of other things that I don't remember that my vet vaccinates cats for every three years. Not leukemia or anything like that, since he's an indoor-only cat. It was a three-in-one nasal administration.

Thanks.
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I love my kitties!

hubpages.com/hub/The-cats-meow