Is my cat's damaged fur a sign of illness or a medical issue?

This could be a skin infection caused by a fungus (ringworm), or bacteria or an old injury. Since ringworm is contagious to people and other pets in the house, I suggest you have this examined by your veterinarian to rule out a fungal infection. In the meantime do wash your hands after handling your kitty. Your vet will want to take a brush sample from the spot and culture it and until the culture has grown, will probably give you some medication to treat it.

I would recommend that you have Mani checked out by a vet. Some types of infections can be very itchy, but from the pictures I would be more concerned about allergies, fleas, mites, ringworm, etc. All of which can also get a secondary bacterial infection. I can't think of a specific disease that fits what your other cat died of, but cancer or severe autoimmune or inflammatory conditions come to mind. A vet will be able to examine Mani and may collect a few samples for microscopic examination to make a diagnosis.

[Allergies](https://www.petcoach.co/cat/condition/feline-allergies/) are the most common cause of hair loss and [excessive grooming in cats](https://www.petcoach.co/article/excessive-grooming-in-cats-what-it-means-and-how-to-help), but there are several other medical causes as well - including [fleas](https://www.petcoach.co/article/5-tips-to-get-rid-of-fleas/), bacterial or fungal infections, or skin mites. I would definitely start your cat on a good monthly spot-on product such as [Advantage II](https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/cat/cat-flea-and-tick/cat-flea-and-tick-drops/advantage-ii-once-a-month-cat-and-kitten-topical-flea-treatment-over-9-lbs) to make sure fleas are not the problem - you can get this over the counter at many pet stores. If this doesn't resolve the problem, you will need to have your cat examined by a vet - he/she can do some testing if needed to diagnose the problem and get your kitty the appropriate prescription medications to treat it. Behavioral causes, such as stress or anxiety, can also lead to overgrooming. [Calming supplements](https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/category/cat/cat-training/cat-training-calming-aids/calming-cat-supplements) or [pheromone products](https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/brand/feliway) can be found at the lcocal Petco. If these do not improve the condition, your veterinarian may recommend prescription strength remedies.

The most common sign of a thyroid problem in cats is weight loss. Hair loss around the tail could be secondary to a skin infection, fleas, allergies, etc. The best thing would be to schedule an appointment with your vet for a physical examination to determine the cause and treat. Your cat may need an antibiotic and/or an anti-inflammatory to treat.

The cat pulling out fur could have fleas, allergies, skin infection, mites, etc. He should be examined by a vet to determine the cause and best treatment. He may need an antibiotic, anti-histamine, corticosteroid, or other medications. Your other cat may have an upper respiratory infection and/or eye infection. She should also be seen by a vet for treatment as she may need an antibiotic and eye drops. Please have your vet take a look at both of them so treatment can be started.

You cat seems to have a large amount of dander in addition to the 'lines' in the hair. The lines in the hair may be due to a large amount of greasiness to the fur. The dander and greasiness may be secondary to infection (pyoderma), sterile inflammation, or a sign of metabolic problems such as kidney issues, diabetes, nutritional problems, or others. It would be reasonable to make an appointment with your family veterinarian for a physical examination. They may recommend some testing of the skin, bloodwork, or other things based on their consultation with you and their physical examination.

Hello, and thank you for your question. Fur pulling can be a behavioural response to stress, or it could be due to a medical problem such as itching from bacterial infection, ringworm, mites or fleas, or allergies. Contact with a male human is unlikely to be the cause. More common causes of stress would include any new human (male or female), new pets, change in environment, stressful noises, or stress due to pain. I would start by eliminating any potential stressors, if present. You can also try using a feline pheromone spray called Feliway, which can help to reduce stress in cats. If this does not help, I would recommend getting him seen by the vet. They can perform some skin tests such as a skin scraping, cytology, or fungal culture, to rule out a medical problem, and prescribe appropriate medical treatments if so. I hope this helps, and that your kitty feels better soon!