Thinned fur patch under one armpit in 7Y Female

[LadybugsMama]

hi all! I noticed my baby Ladybug (7Y female) has a patch of thinning fur under one her armpits. I first noticed this in September, when I had dropped her off at my parents for a few nights while my partner and I went out of town. she did not like staying there and I imagine maybe overgroomed herself out of stress.

since then, I realized the patch appears to have grown. she is acting like her usual self and eating, going potty, etc. like normal. I have not noticed her overgrooming, though.

if this is something else than overgrooming, would there be any signs? is it worth taking her to vet (which she hates) over, just to be sure? I’m thinking yes, but also don’t want to cause her stress unnecessarily if possible!

sorry for the terrible photo—she suspected something was up when I started trying to take pics haha

ty

Sorry, photo wouldn’t upload!

 

[FeebysOwner]

Hi! Personally, since nothing else is remiss with Ladybug, I would just monitor it for now. I know you said the patch may have grown, so see if you can start taking pics to log the expansion by dates. No lumps/bumps in that area?

Continue to check her overall for other spots to crop up. And, scrutinize her as thoroughly as you can for overgrooming in case she is actually doing that.

Taking her to the vet with no other symptoms probably would mean a default dose of steroids just to see if it stops it. I suppose if there is an actual bald spot (couldn't see that in the pic), the vet could take a skin scraping for testing, but these are just a wild guesses on my part.

Maybe other members will come along soon with some additional thoughts.

 

[LadybugsMama]

thank you for your reply!! I managed to get a better photo now while she’s sleeping on my lap (in the bathroom of all places lol…)

I think I’ll keep her appointment for next Tuesday, just given how big the thinned patch appears to be, but I’m glad she isn’t exhibiting any other worrying symptoms or behaviors. it may just cost $100 for peace of mind!

 

[FeebysOwner]

I can't say I blame you for proceeding with a vet appt. You are in the best position to know what is right for you and Ladybug. Let us know what happens!

 

[stephanietx]

I would probably also be going to the vet, especially with the size of that thin patch. Is it like that on the other side or is the other side normal?

 

[LadybugsMama]

Just that one side, which is why I flagged it! if it were both sides I would not have probably noticed or just thought it was her fur pattern!

thanks for the vet support—I’d obviously do anything for her, but hate taking her to the vet since she gets so scared.

 

[stephanietx]

Keep us posted on what you find out. I'm invested now.

 

[LadybugsMama]

Will do! her appointment is next Tuesday <3

my best guesses (as not a vet lol) are either allergies or stress! we shall see, and hopefully nothing that can’t be quickly addressed xx

 

[FriendofFerals]

Looks like overgrooming to me. If fleas are ruled out, allergies are next. Could be environmental or food-related. It's a process of figuring out which. My old man cat has allergies to gums and preservatives in canned food (but apparently not to actual proteins) and he has environmental allergies to everything indoors, including anything with a scent (detergents, soaps, cleansers). I never use plug-in air fresheners or candles but he'll have asthma from the smell of a chicken cooking in the oven.

He has psychogenic alopecia also, which is habitual overgrooming and hair pulling as a stress response. This happens when the allergies flare and he goes overboard trying to calm the dermatitis. He's on prednisolone for overall inflammation, allergies and IBD, and amitriptyline for the OCD overgrooming behavior. Even so, he has flare-ups and must wear the soft cone of shame to interrupt the habitual behaviour. Seems a few weeks of every year he has to be monitored and "coned" whenever I'm not around to monitor and then he breaks the habit.

Sometimes also, my vet said, they can pull fur and overgroom in the chest and armpit area as a response to arthritis. I don't think that's the case with mine, but just another possibility to keep in mind.

 

[LadybugsMama]

Updating for anyone interested -- Ladybug went to the vet this evening for a very costly visit!

The vet confirmed she had overgroomed under her armpit, but also appeared to have thin fur on her belly, too. She also has lost a pound since she was last in for her rabies vaccine in September.

Her thinned fur patches, though, do not have any scabbing or signs of infection nor irritation—which is good, but perplexing.

Tonight they did bloodwork to hopefully rule out anything serious like thyroid issues, etc. My fingers are crossed that comes back okay <3

We also took home preventive medicine (Revolution) in case she has mites (no signs of ringworms or fleas).

Lastly, she is now going to take Gabapentin twice a day for pain, in case she is in pain and overgrooming due to that.

My best hope is that all of her bloodwork looks normal, and perhaps this is an anxiety issue that can be addressed with either Gabapentin or something else, like Prozac, since she has always been a nervous kitty.

I'm sure going to be nervous until I get a call about her bloodwork results. She is the first cat that has ever truly been fully mine as an adult, and I just can't imagine anything happening to her. Please keep Buggy in your thoughts xx

 

[stephanietx]

I'm glad she had a check with the vet, but sorry you didn't get any conclusive news...yet. Do you run calming agents in your home such as Feliway or Comfort Zone diffusers? That may help some. My boy was on Prozac and I didn't like how it turned him into a zombie at first, but the longer he was on it, the less zombie-like he was.

 

[LadybugsMama]

An update on my baby: blood work came back normal! I cried tears of relief haha. She is still overgrooming, but maybe a little less so. I’m going to continue with the Gabapentin and may consider a surgery suit as well. I just bought her a new cat tower for the bedroom and a new water fountain, so I’m hoping maybe some new things will excite her and help to break the cycle.

It’s likely either anxiety or a condition whose name I can’t remember, where she has phantom itches or really sensitive skin. Nothing has broken skin or scabbed yet so I’m grateful for that.