My cat has a new patch on his ear, head, and neck. What happened?

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question. It looks like it could be from an injury if there is a scab on it. A scab means it's healing, so I would just keep an eye on it for now. If you see signs of infection, it gets bigger, it starts to bother her, or it doesn't appear to be healing, then have Fatina seen by a vet. I hope this helps!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It is superficial enough that I think it is possibly going to heal on its own with more time. My concern is that it could also get infected. Try to keep the area as clean as possible and try to prevent her from scratching at it. If no improvement is noted in the next few days or it is worsening, have her evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. Good luck and have a great day!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is likely due to an ear condition such as ear infection or ear mites for instance making him itch and cause self-trauma. However, this could also be something like allergies. This cannot be diagnosed just based on a picture and would require a veterinary evaluation. I recommend you consider taking him to a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. The issue could be identified and treated. Good luck and have a great day!

Hi there! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! There is a variety of reasons that can explain alopecia or hair loss. The causes can easily be differentiated by the clinical signs associated with it and the physical exam findings. If Freckles is only showing some hair loss without scratching or overgrooming then it could conditions such as alopecia areata that can affect cats and usually resolves on its own. If there is evidence of scratching and you start noticing some redness or irritation associated with it, then other conditions such as allergies are possible. If you notice him overgrooming himself in that area then it could be something like psychogenic alopecia which is more of a behavioral issue. I think that since he is not having overt clinical signs and it is mostly hair loss, I think it is possibly transient and could resolve on its own. You can monitor this closely and if it does not resolve or it worsens then have him examined by your veterinarian. Good luck!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I am afraid that based on its appearance this could be something like a growth. This could certainly be something else like an infection. There is no way of knowing what it is just based on its appearance. This is often differentiated by a test called a fine needle aspirate (FNA) which is a pain free, inexpensive and easy procedure which in most cases will help reach a diagnosis. Sometimes a biopsy is needed for a definitive diagnosis. I recommend that you have her evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. I am really hoping for something benign. Good luck and have a good night!

Hello, and thank you for your question. It looks like Doobie has caused some trauma to the bald patch from scratching. Possibilities include a skin infection (bacterial or fungal), ear infection, parasites such as mites, or underlying allergies. I would recommend taking Doobie to the vet to pinpoint the underlying cause. They may recommend an ear swab to check for an ear infection, and a skin scraping to check for mites, At minimum, they can prescribe antibiotics and anti-inflammatories to treat the itchiness. In the meantime, I would place an e-collar (cone) on Doobie's head to prevent him from scratching the area further. I hope this helps, and that he feels better soon!

Hello. It is very difficult to know exactly what this might be, but it does resemble a healing abscess. If she is constantly licking the spot, then you might want to put a light Elizabethan collar on her to prevent further self-trauma. But, if she is not bothering the area, then just keep an eye on this for the time being. Anything you put on it will just get her licking it off & perhaps doing more damage to the skin. Any additional concerns, it is best to have your veterinarian physically examine the skin for additional possible treatment. Thanks for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.