Why does my cat's fur split in half under her neck? Is it normal?

Hello, thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. From the photo there does not appear to be any bald spots, however, it is not a very close up view. Honestly, unless there are bald spots and/or she is scratching the area I would not be too concerned. If the problem persists though (like for a few months) then you should take her to your vet for an exam. Some reasons there could be changes in the hair coat: 1. Diet - the special diet she is eating may be causing some nutrient imbalance. You should talk to your vet about putting her on a supplement for her coat (like fish oils) as this may help. 2. Skin Allergies - even if she has never had any symptoms of allergies before, they can develop over time. If this was the case though, I would expect hair loss and/or scratching, redness of the skin, etc. If you are not seeing any of that then this is not as likely to be the problem. 3. Fleas - again, I would expect hair loss and scratching. If you are not noticing that, then this is also not very likely to be the problem. 4. Stress - even if you don't think your cat is stressed, she could be. Try to see if you could think of anything that could be causing stress like visiting family, stray cats hanging around outside, you got a new pet, new furniture, etc.... 5. Thyroid disease- either a low or high thyroid can cause problems with the hair coat. Your vet can do a blood test to check for this. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is possibly normal. However, it is too difficult to know that just based on this picture as it is a bit blurry. I would recommend you consider sending another picture so that this can be looked at more closely. We are looking forward to hearing from you again. Best of luck!

Hello, congrats on the new kitty! It is normal to have a small area of thin hair in front of the ears, such as what you're seeing in Brownie, so that is not a concern as long as Brownie isn't acting abnormal by scratching excessively at the ears or showing other signs of discomfort. His hair otherwise looks nice and thick in the photos so I suspect he has normal shedding, which you can help control with regular brushing. However, if there are patches of distinct hair loss, or if he seems itchy, then you should have a vet take a look to make sure he doesn't have a skin condition requiring medication. Hope this helps.

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Cats tend to have hair thinning on the sides of the head just above the eyes. As long as the skin is not red, thickened and there are no raised bumps, this is likely normal. If the hair thinning / hair loss continues / worsens, then I would recommend having a veterinarian take a look at Apples so that the most appropriate diagnostic and treatment recommendations can be made. I hope this helps!

Hi there! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! There is a variety of reasons that can explain alopecia or hair loss. The causes can easily be differentiated by the clinical signs associated with it and the physical exam findings. If Wendy is only showing some hair loss without scratching or overgrooming then it could conditions such as alopecia areata that can affect cats and usually resolves on its own. If there is evidence of scratching and you start noticing some redness or irritation associated with it, then other conditions such as allergies are possible. If you notice her overgrooming herself in that area then it could be something like psychogenic alopecia which is more of a behavioral issue. I think that since she is not having overt clinical signs and it is mostly hair loss, I think it is possibly transient and could resolve on its own. You can monitor this closely and if it does not resolve or it worsens then have her examined by your veterinarian. Good luck!

This appears to be normal. It is though head to tell by photos. I'd get him checked if it seems off. When they bend, there hair does separate like that. If he is itchy, losing clumps, biting at skin, etc., I would definitely get it checked

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Nala. I do recommend that she sees her veterinarian. The changes can be a component of her allergic skin disease. It could also be a new problem such as ringworm. Her veterinarian will ask more detailed questions regarding her diet, exposure to other cats and changes in her environment on the island. I hope this information helps!