Question: Dotty, my middle-aged calico cat, is losing the hair between her eyes and ears. It doesn’t seem to bother her, and her coat is thick everywhere else. What is causing this?
Answer: Dotty may have feline pattern baldness, or preauricular alopecia — thinning of the hair between the ears and the eyes — which is a fairly common condition in cats. Other than having sparse hair in the affected areas, cats with this condition look normal. They don’t scratch or rub, the skin isn’t red or bumpy, and the hair doesn’t fall out easily when tugged. If Dotty does develop any of these signs, talk to her veterinarian. If not, wait until her next wellness exam to ask about her sparse facial hair.
Ask the Vet is written by veterinarian Lee Pickett, VMD. Send questions to [email protected] and read more at saturdayeveningpost.com/ask-the-vet.
This article is featured in the March/April 2021 issue of The Saturday Evening Post. Subscribe to the magazine for more art, inspiring stories, fiction, humor, and features from our archives.
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