Cat pulling its hair out in chunks – what to do next

Are you finding clumps of cat hair all over the household? Cats do spend a good amount grooming themselves but it absolutely isn’t normal if they are pulling their hair out in chunks. Here are some reasons why they may be suddenly doing this.

Stress and anxiety

Stress and anxiety can result in sudden behaviors that lead to hair loss (also known as alopecia). Cats are quite sensitive to change. The pulling of hair could be a result of various changes, big or small. It could be due to an introduction of a new cat. It could even be because of a rearrangement in furniture.

If the vet rules out physical illness as a cause of alopecia, you may want to try a couple of things to help your cat settle down. Pheromone diffusers like Feliway, for example, always do well in calming anxious cats.

Skin allergy

Allergies could be a cause, especially if your cat is only pulling out hair from certain parts of its body. Allergic reactions could occur due to food or environmental allergens. Have you introduced any new foods or treats to your cat? Or have you introduced anything new to your cat’s routine? For example, cats can be allergic to certain flea treatments. Changing it back to something suitable may stop the cat from pulling its hair out in chunks.

Hyperesthesia syndrome

Your cat might have Hyperesthesia syndrome if it’s pulling its hair out from certain parts of its body, such as the area right in front of its tail. The condition refers to cats that have increased sensitivity to certain parts of their skin. Touching it may trigger behaviors like hair-pulling.