Our 2 year old rag doll, Oliver, is loosing a patch of hair on his back. He is mostly grey on his back but a patch fell out and the underlying hair and skin is very dark. It appears that there is dark hair growing back in the spot. The vet was not concerned and said just wait and see what happens. The only change over the last 6 months was a change from regular Royal Canin dry cat food to the light version because the vet felt he was getting too heavy at 14 lbs. He has lost a little while on the light food; he was weighed at 13 - 7 a couple of weeks ago. Has anyone else had a similar problem or not a problem, whatever??
I do not know the reason he lost a patch of fur (the most common being a wound), but pointed cats will darken in the area of fur loss. When the fur grows back in the normal color will return.
Is the patch of fur loss also with scaps and bumps on the cats skin? Does your cat seem to scratch or chew on certain areas of the back?
I have seen a cat with the above symptons and having ringworm ruled out the vet just said it was probably allergies. He didnt seem to care too much. There was no food change at the time but this can build up in a cat until the symptons develop. The owner changed the food to one without corn or wheatmeal to more natural sources. Cant hurt either way.
There is nothing "unnatural" about wheat and corn and some cats have allergies to particular meat sources as well, if those are considered "natural."
I, too, am thinking that it's potentially a food allergy.... Otherwise, could Oliver be stressed about anything new in his environment?
Our Miss Cassie Blue was loosing all of her fur at the nape of her neck, when her breeder decided that it would be best for Cassie to rehome her rather than keep her (she was advised by their vet that the cattery may have been causing Cassie too much stress). I suspected all along that it may have been a food allergy, but we will never know, as Cassie is no longer in that environment and has been given a completely different food since coming to live with us.
In the four months that we have had her, her hair has grown completely back and the color is starting to blend in with the rest of her (it, too, was initially darker).
Ragdoll momma Wrote:I, too, am thinking that it's potentially a food allergy.... Otherwise, could Oliver be stressed about anything new in his environment?
Our Miss Cassie Blue was loosing all of her fur at the nape of her neck, when her breeder decided that it would be best for Cassie to rehome her rather than keep her (she was advised by their vet that the cattery may have been causing Cassie too much stress). I suspected all along that it may have been a food allergy, but we will never know, as Cassie is no longer in that environment and has been given a completely different food since coming to live with us.
In the four months that we have had her, her hair has grown completely back and the color is starting to blend in with the rest of her (it, too, was initially darker).
Thanks for all the information. We have changed Olivers food today and we we see if things change. We have gone back to his original food which is the Royal Canin Indoor 37 for cats older than 1 year. I had called the Royal Canin info phone line and spoke to a nutrionist and she had recommended going to the light food. Would like to know if most male Ragdolls are in the 13 pound range or heavier. Oliver is 13/7 and the vet is happy. He was a little concerned when he was 14 pounds and gaining. That's why we went to the light food. Oliver also enjoys Greenies now and then, probably 10 or more each day and he begs for them. Other than that, it's all he eats.
I find it interesting that your vet thought your raggie was overweight at 14 lbs. Considering that they are large cats overall, and that he is still only 2 years old and has some more growing to do (ragdolls mature slowly and usually finish around 4 years). I hope JanH comes in here because I think he posted a link somewhere on how to tell if your cat was overweight. If you can feel their ribs and see their "waist" then they aren't considered overweight. All ragdolls do have a fat pad on their tummies which some vets unfamiliar with the ragdoll breed may consider as a sign of a raggie being "overweight". Of course, ragdolls come in all sizes, and it is possible that 14 lbs is overweight for yours, but males tend to be bigger than females and my girl who is 13 lbs is not overweight at all. But then again, my other girl weighs in at 8lbs is very petite, but not malnourished either.