my cats legs are going bald !

[mata hari]

I have a lovely smooth haired white cat, he is a male and was been spayed about 8 months ago. Lately his back legs at the top (looking at the cat tail on) look as though they are going bald. I cant see any sign of this happening anywhere else on his body. He doesn't seem unduly worried by it, and continues with the endless round of grooming as normal. I dont think it can be fleas as I have dosed him with the stuff you buy from the vet and put on the nape of the neck. My other cat seems to be OK. Any ideas?

[josaphine32]

If it is definately not a Flea allergy it may be Hormonal there is a cat up my road that goes bold from time to time they get tablets from the vets that helps,

[mata hari]

Oh really! Thanks for that! Then I will I will definately take him too the vet then if he doesn't improve soon.
Mata

[Eastender]

Hi, I have a cat that does this. She licks her legs and her sides until they are almost bald. I have taken her to the vet and it is hormones. They treated her the time I went to the vet but then they said if it carried on they would have to do test and I really dont want to put her through that. Anyway sometimes she lets the fur grow and then all of a sudden she will start licking her fur again.. When she starts this my other cats try and keep away from her because then she will start on them lol

[felinechums]

Just a wee point - don't mean to be a smart @ss but couldn't resist pointing it out - males get castrated (removal of the testicles), females get spayed (removal of the uterus and ovaries).
Hope your cat is soon back to his glorious self.

[mata hari]

Thanks Eastender,
Well looks as though the hormones have it then!!
I am keeping a close eye on him.

and Felinechums,
please forgive my little 'faux pas' regarding terminology, the hot weather is melting my mental capacity!!

[shalforette]

My cat did this and my vet told me it was hormones but a s soon as we moved house it stoped and the hair grew back. I rang the vet an he said it could have been stress. There was alot of other cats where we used to live and now they have alot more of their own space. I am not suggesting you move! but have a think if any thing has changed or if there is a new cat on the block.

[hope28]

It's probably searching for the family jewels. This is common with any male after this type of operation. You should see my husband's legs.... He's got no fur either. :-)LOL

Seriously...I have a female cat who's total grooming herself naked on her belly down to her legs. Apparently, she is depressed according to the vet.

Just keep giving your cat some reassurance that it's ok and give it more attention than normal.

[Hillogs]

This happened to one of my long haired cats following castration, he was prescribed Ovarid tablets by the vet and the fur grew back. Each course of tablets lasted quite a few months. He had to be treated quite a few times until it finally stopped happening. It was many years ago so there are probably different tablets available now.

[Belle Fast]

My friend's cat had this and the vet put it down to anxiety and prescribed diazepam (valium) for a bit, which sorted it.