| Title: | Meower Power is Valuing Differences |
| Notice: | FELINE_V1 is moving 1/11/94 5pm PST to MISERY |
| Moderator: | MISERY::VANZUYLEN_RO |
| Created: | Sun Feb 09 1986 |
| Last Modified: | Tue Jan 11 1994 |
| Last Successful Update: | Fri Jun 06 1997 |
| Number of topics: | 5089 |
| Total number of notes: | 60366 |
My dearly-loved little cat Panda is losing clumps of fur from her
hind legs. This isn't shedding: she's not losing a cloud of indivi-
dual hairs but rather little clumps or tufts of fur. (I find them
on the sofa or the floor where Panda's been). There are patches
of bare pink skin on each leg, but no fur loss anywhere else. I'm
pretty sure she isn't pulling the fur out herself and she does not
seem to be scratching excessively.
Panda is a seven-year-old, indoor-only, short-haired cat. Other
than the mysterious fur loss, she seems to be in excellent health
and robust appetite. She eats Iams dry, Hills Reducing Diet (her
sister Ninja's on a diet), and an occasional can of 9 Lives or spoonful
of ice cream. She's had all her shots.
Could the fur loss be caused by stress? We've had lots of company
and visitors in the past month; we're also having a garage built
and the noise and strange people might upset Panda, as she's very
possessive about *her* house. But if she were stressed-out, wouldn't
her personality be different? I haven't noticed any change. Or might
this be some kind of hormonal/thyroid problem?
Can anyone "shed" some light on this?
Karen
| T.R | Title | User | Personal Name | Date | Lines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1844.1 | only the vet can tell | SKITZD::WILDE | Time and Tide wait for Norman | Mon Oct 10 1988 14:29 | 7 |
It could be any of the things you have mentioned - however, first and foremost option is to eleminate physical problems - another words, get her to the vet ASAP and get the blood work used to identify chemical imbalances done. You might also consider mites - guests CAN import such things from their animals - not likely, but possible. | |||||
| 1844.2 | Impacted Anal Sacs? | ZEKE::HUTCHINS | Feathered Obsessions Aviary | Wed Oct 19 1988 12:22 | 14 |
This is a long shot, but...since the hair loss is limited to the
hind leg area...have her anal glands expressed! This is one GROSS
job--let the vet do it!
Many people don't think cats have anal sac problems, just dogs.
But, I found out in short order, that cats have a real problem with
impacted anal sacs (when I was a technician...)
What kind of litter are you using? By all means, go to the vet,
then let us know right after you go, what the out come was. OK?
Thanks!
Jean
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| 1844.3 | Stress | SALEM::LEARD_K | Thu Oct 20 1988 09:52 | 19 | |
The vet examined Panda and says the fur loss is almost certainly
stress-related. Not worms, thyroid, or clogged anal glands (thank
heavens that sounds gross). The fur loss is limited to the outside
of her hind legs, in a neat little strip running the length of each
leg. Only fur next to these areas is loose.
The vet said, but did not recommend, that we could give Panda Ovaban
or Prednisone to calm her down/limit any pain or inflammation. But
this treatment seemed overly aggressive and the drugs had some spooky
side effects. So for now we're lavishing her with attention (our
cats get lots anyway!) and affection. Also, some of her stressors
are gone: the garage-building is finished and those *big men* with
their *noisy equipment* are gone. And the piles of dirt are gone
- some of the neighborhood cats regarded them as the world's largest
litter box and Panda hates to see a strange cat in her yard.
She seems to be doing better; I'm finding less fur on the carpet
and furniture. Thanks for your concern.
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