When Fur Goes Missing: Alopecia in Cats, Dogs, and Rabbits

Hair loss in pets always looks more dramatic than it actually feels, at least at first. One day your cat has a perfectly normal coat and the next there is a suspicious bald patch that makes you question everything you have ever done as a pet owner. Alopecia is simply the medical term for hair loss, and in cats, dogs, and rabbits it can appear as smooth bald spots, uneven thinning, or areas that look like they were quietly overgroomed while no one was watching. Sometimes the skin underneath is red and angry, sometimes it looks completely normal, which somehow makes it more unsettling. The confusing part is that many pets with alopecia feel absolutely fine, are eating, playing, and acting innocent, which is why hair loss often gets brushed off until it starts spreading.

In cats and dogs, alopecia is rarely random and almost never just cosmetic. Allergies are one of the biggest players, whether environmental, food related, or flea related, and yes, fleas still count even when you cannot find a single one. One bite can be enough to trigger excessive licking and hair loss, especially in cats. Parasites and fungal infections can cause bald patches before intense itching even starts, which is why owners often swear there is no scratching involved. Hormonal imbalances tend to cause more symmetrical or progressive hair loss and may be the first visible sign of an internal issue long before blood tests are done. Stress also deserves real credit here, because anxious pets, particularly cats, are very capable of grooming themselves into baldness while pretending everything is completely fine. Diet plays a quieter but important role too, as nutritional deficiencies or food sensitivities often show up in the coat before anything else looks abnormal.