Why Is My Cat Pulling Their Fur Out?

Excessive grooming to the point of hair loss (called psychogenic alopecia or overgrooming) is one of the most common dermatological complaints in cats. Cats are secretive groomers, so owners often notice the bald patches before they see the actual pulling behavior.

Allergies are the leading cause: flea allergy dermatitis (the #1 skin disease in cats — a single flea bite can trigger weeks of intense itching in sensitive cats), food allergies (typically to protein sources like chicken, fish, or beef), and environmental allergies (pollen, dust mites, mold). Allergic cats are incredibly itchy, and they respond by overgrooming specific areas until the fur is gone.

Stress and anxiety cause psychogenic overgrooming — essentially the feline equivalent of humans biting their nails or pulling their hair. Triggers include: new pets in the household, new baby, household moves, loss of a companion animal, changes in routine, outdoor cats visible through windows (territorial stress), and boredom.

Parasites beyond fleas: Demodex mites, Cheyletiella mites, and ringworm (a fungus, not a worm) can all cause localized hair loss and overgrooming.

Pain can cause localized overgrooming at the site of the pain — a cat with a bladder problem may overgroom the lower belly; a cat with joint pain may overgroom over the affected joint.

The pattern of hair loss provides clues: symmetric bilateral alopecia (belly, inner thighs) often indicates allergies or stress. Localized patches may indicate parasites, ringworm, or pain. Head and neck scratching suggests food allergy or ear mites.