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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

1844.0. "Fur Loss" by SALEM::LEARD_K () Mon Oct 10 1988 13:28

    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
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1844.1only the vet can tellSKITZD::WILDETime and Tide wait for NormanMon Oct 10 1988 17:297
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.


1844.2Impacted Anal Sacs?ZEKE::HUTCHINSFeathered Obsessions AviaryWed Oct 19 1988 15:2214
    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
    
1844.3StressSALEM::LEARD_KThu Oct 20 1988 12:5219
    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.