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Conference misery::feline_v1

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

4535.0. "FUR LOSS ?" by XCUSME::KENDRICK () Mon Apr 08 1991 17:22

    I am writing this note for my sister, who's cat is losing her fur along
    her tummy.  Now I know the cat should be taken to the vet and if it was
    my cat she'd have been there weeks ago but my sister's husband is
    unyielding on this topic.
    
    Smokey started to lose her fur on her ears and she would scratch them
    furiously to the point of making tiny scabs.  My nephew went to the pet
    store and they recommended some type of cream to put on the affected
    area.  I never saw the cream so I can't say what it was.  This seemed
    to help.
    
    When I was over this weekend, my niece showed me Smokey's tummy.  The
    cat has almost completely lost her fur on the lower half of the abdomen
    and along a line moving up towards the chest so that if she was on her
    pack with her legs spread it would look like a diamond of almost bare
    skin.  The skin looks okay, not really pink like my cats' tummies but
    it doesn't look inflamed and there's no scabs or signs of scratching.
    Smokey does not scratch that area and shows no other symptoms.
    
    My first reaction is mites and my cat care book agrees with this and it
    also points to the possibility of poor diet, stress or perhaps kidney
    problems.
    
    Again, I know the cat needs to go to the vet but in lieu of that, does
    anyone have any suggestions or similar experience as to what this might
    be?  Smokey is about 11 years old, spayed, and she has a
    congenital problem with her urinary tract which makes her prone to
    infections.  She also has major problems with fur balls.
    
    Thanks,
    
    Terry
    
    P.S.  I did see a tiny scab on her ear which was red and about the size
    of the head of a pin.  I still think it might be mites - what do  you
    think?
    
T.RTitleUserPersonal
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4535.1XCUSME::KENDRICKMon Apr 08 1991 17:256
    RE .0
    
    I meant to say I think Smokey has mange, not mites.
    
    Mondays.......
    
4535.2Only a vet can *definitely* diagnose the problem...BOOVX2::MANDILEMon Apr 08 1991 17:286
    Mite be mites, too! (Sorry, couldn't resist!)
    
    Or, maybe flea allergy.  Has her food brand been changed recently?
    
    Lynne
    
4535.3SANFAN::FOSSATJUMon Apr 08 1991 17:3111
    The only experience I've had with fur loss on the tummy was with my
    motherinlaw's cat.  She started losing fur sometime after she was
    spayed and needed a shot due to a harmone unbalance. I don't know
    exactly if this can happen further on down the road but the cat should
    be check out to see if it's an allergy, a harmone unbalance or some
    thing else.  Can you sister sneek her out of the house when he's at
    work?
    
    Good luck,
    
    Giudi +3
4535.4More informationXSTACY::PATTISONpart-time punkTue Apr 09 1991 08:5910
    Terry,

    See also notes 2994.* ... for various notes about fur loss. I had the
    same question last week, as you'll find.

    Also try SHOW KEYWORD BALD*/FULL. 

    D���

4535.5check for wormsAIMHI::UPTONTue Apr 09 1991 11:3712
    
    
    	When I got my last kitten she had some fur missing behind her ears
    	and when I took her to the Vets he said it could be Ring Worms
    	(yuck!) because that is a sign of them.  She was tested and she 
    	didn't have them, but if it is very contagious to humans.  I would
    	think that would make your relatives take her to the Vet!  As it was, 
    	my kitten's missing fur by her ear was due her littermates being 
    	too rough with biting and playing.
    
    	-d
    
4535.6a few more ideasWR2FOR::CORDESBRO_JOset home/cat_max=infinityTue Apr 09 1991 13:3817
    The keywords that I could find were bald_spot and hair_loss.  Try both
    of them.
    
    There are lots of different things that can cause hair loss.  
    
    1)flea allergy (you don't have to see a flea on the cat for it to be
      this)
    2)body mites
    3)fungus (ringworm)
    4)Feline Endocrine Alopecia (basically a hormonal problem)
    5)hypothyroidism (low thyroid)
    6)vaccine reaction (generally a small localized spot on the shoulder
      blades following vaccination)
    
    Best bet is to have a vet examine the cat.
    
    Jo
4535.7over above the issue of suffering...TYGON::WILDEwhy am I not yet a dragon?Fri Apr 12 1991 15:389
if mange is the problem, please make your sister aware that one form of mange
is contagious to/from humans....specifically, scoptic mange is scabies, a
very irritating rash-like symptom in humans.  If the cat has something like
this, it is imperative that the vet determine if the problem is transmittable
to the humans in the family...or if it possibly came FROM the humans in the 
family.

It is not uncommon for children to get parasites from one another at school...
the cat may be showing the symptom before the humans are aware of it.
4535.8CRUISE::NDCPutiput Scottish Folds DTN:297-2313Mon Apr 15 1991 10:102
    I didn't know that cats got mange.  I thought that was a canine
    ailement.
4535.9not all mange is the same...FORTSC::WILDEwhy am I not yet a dragon?Mon Apr 15 1991 14:315
>    I didn't know that cats got mange.  I thought that was a canine
>    ailement.

Cats can also be affected....scoptic mange is caused by little mites and
they are not that species specific...they even use humans!
4535.10WR2FOR::CORDESBRO_JOset home/cat_max=infinityMon Apr 15 1991 14:5415
    There is also another type of mite that cats can get.  They just call
    them body mites (I can't remember the technical name for them but they
    are different than the mites that cause mange).  Anyway, for awhile
    there a lot of cats were getting them at shows, so lots of folks were
    bathing their cats in Rotenone shampoo as a preventative.  The body
    mite scare seems to be over now.
    
    Jo
    
    PS - NDC, isn't it Patriot's Day back there? What are you doing
    working? :^)  I know, you just didn't want us West Coasters to feel
    left out. ;^)  BTW, I heard on the radio that New Englanders get an
    extra day to file their taxes due to PD!  No fair!!
    
    
4535.1124 hours to "T" day..SOLVIT::IVESMon Apr 15 1991 15:399
    Jo -  The only reprieve the Mass taxpayers get is the MASS STATE TAX
    normally due today not the Federal one.  Tim works in Mass and we don't pay
    that one until the clock strikes midnight. He works at Dascomb road
    in Andover and they work today, NO holiday for them. Could be the
    same as Nancy.
    
    Barbara
    
    
4535.12Most MA sites have today offEMASS::SKALTSISDebMon Apr 15 1991 17:495
    Actually, it is a holiday in Maine, also, and I believe that they also
    get an extra day to file their state taxes. NH will be celebrating Fast
    day sometime this week, I think.
    
    Deb
4535.13CRUISE::NDCPutiput Scottish Folds DTN:297-2313Tue Apr 16 1991 09:074
    No, I was at home yesterday.  I was just having a hard time getting
    started so I decided to log in and read Feline with a cup of coffee
    while I got going.  I did also have to submit a job.
      Nancy
4535.14What did you say the date was?SOLVIT::IVESTue Apr 16 1991 12:3116
    I apologize.... my radio station steered me wrong, (along with 
    lord know's how many more). The folks that live in Mass do have
    an extra day to file BOTH their state and federal taxes.
    
    I don't believe in giving my money away in taxes any faster than
    I have to but we don't wait till "T" day to do the taxes just paying
    them.
    
    DEC NH doesn't consider Fast day a holiday. Mostly the banks and
    law offices are closed. DECies in NH get a choice day and a personal
    day, plus the regular holidays. Fortunately DEC, NH celebrates Memorial
    day with the rest of the country NOT the State of NH who celebrates
    it on MAY 30th, regardless to what day it falls on. Boy what a mess
    that makes things.
    
    Barbara
4535.15WR2FOR::CORDESBRO_JOset home/cat_max=infinityTue Apr 16 1991 13:424
    Not to take this down a rathole, but what the heck is "Fast" day??
    Do you all have to fast for the day, or do you just rush around?? ;^)
    
    jo
4535.16SANDY::FRASERMonsters remonstrated...Tue Apr 16 1991 14:0810
	Fast Day is one of those silly hold-over holidays.  It seems that
	once upon a time, the governor of NH was very, very sick, and the
	people believed that if they all fasted, he might get better.  I
	think he died anyway, but for some reason (probably because Mass.
	has Patriot's day, and NH is not to be outdone), the 'holiday'
	remained.

	Sandy, who wouldn't think it was silly if she got the day off as
	a paid holiday :^}
4535.17The old timers way..SOLVIT::IVESTue Apr 16 1991 14:1520
    This is my belief on Fast Day.
    
    The New England farmers after a long winter of eating everything
    they had stored from the harvested crops of the previous year and
    before spring planting thought they should fast for a day to keep
    in mind what it will be like if the crops don't do well.  Sort of
    a real incentive to plow and plant well and hope the necessary rain
    and sun are provided from above. (Not too much just the right amounts.)
    Most of the day was spent in prayer, either in church or in their
    homes.
    
    Most "Old" New Englanders were very serious and very much introverted
    except with their "own kind." (Which would NEVER include someone who
    was not born in New England or the next state in some instances.) If
    they subjected themselves to some kind of pain it made them a better
    person. (I can write this as I "WAS" born and bought up in New England
    and lived most of my life here, but don't seem to match any of the
    above.)
    
    Barbara , who lives where the best lobsters in the world come from.
4535.18JUPITR::KAGNOI'm51%Pussycat,49%Bitch-Don'tPush it!Tue Apr 16 1991 14:363
    Personally, I like Jo's definition of fast day the best... all of us
    rushing around!  Typically New England!! :^)
    
4535.19The things one remembers from 4th grade!EMASS::SKALTSISDebTue Apr 16 1991 18:119
    Actually, the first defination was correct. I believe that the ill
    person was Gov. Bennington, who was either the 1st or second governor.
    Because he was so ill, a statewide day of prayer, fasting and putting
    aside one's chores was declared in hopes that he would regain his health.
    I believe that he died shortly thereafter. However, it is nice out this
    time of year, so the tradition of putting aside of one's chores has
    lived on. 
    
    Deb
4535.20Feeble attempt at humorWR2FOR::CORDESBRO_JOset home/cat_max=infinityTue Apr 16 1991 18:196
    Geez, you guys get all the luck.  I would fast for a day if it meant an
    extra day off when the weather was so nice!!  Patriot's Day, Fast Day.
    I think we will have to come up with a California holiday...how 'bout
    "Radical Waves Dude" Day??? :^D
    
    Jo
4535.21Silicon Valley de-pressurize day?TYGON::WILDEwhy am I not yet a dragon?Wed Apr 17 1991 21:376
>    "Radical Waves Dude" Day??? :^D
    
or maybe, "hit the malls" day?  "Avocado is like a necessity" day?  or
"be cool 'cause you're in California" day?  We could go on and on....

		yes, I DO know that I need therapy..why do you ask?