Can A Cat Collar Cause Hair Loss?

However, poor collar fit isn’t the only possible hair loss cause. It can also be a symptom of an allergy, either to the collar’s material, flea treatment, or anything else.

Sometimes, hair loss under the collar is just a coincidence and is triggered by other factors that need further inspection.

If the hair loss results from the collar, taking it off for a good while usually helps resolve the problem. However, some cases require treatment.

Allergy to Material

Cat collars are typically made of rubber, nylon, or leather. While allergies to specific materials are rare, the risk is always there. Sometimes, the problem isn’t the primary collar material but plastic or metal buckles.

Hair loss is a common allergy symptom in cats, so you might want to inspect your cat for other abnormalities. The symptoms fall into three categories: topical, respiratory, and gastroenteric.

Usually, contact allergies cause topical symptoms, including skin rash, hair loss, and itchiness, either localized or generalized all over the body.

Your cat might scratch its neck excessively or rub it against surfaces to relieve the itchy sensation.

Contact allergies sometimes cause respiratory symptoms like sneezing, watery eyes, and nasal discharge, but gastroenteric symptoms are unlikely.

An allergy is unlikely if your cat’s skin doesn’t appear inflamed or itchy and you notice no lethargy or fever. However, if you suspect your cat might be allergic to the collar’s material, remove the collar immediately.

Note that contact allergies are the least common type of feline allergies. You can bring your cat to the vet to ensure it’s an allergy, but diagnosing contact allergies in cats is often tricky.

The vet should first rule out other potential causes of the problem. They will ask you about your cat’s health history and symptom onset.

Then, they might perform a patch test where the suspected material is placed on a patch and taped to your cat’s skin for two days. Contact allergies in cats aren’t curable, but you can treat them with corticosteroids and antihistamines.

However, usually, treatment is unnecessary because the symptoms go away once you remove the trigger.

The Collar Is Too Tight

Another possible reason cat loses hair under the collar is that the collar is too tight. That’s the most plausible cause of the problem because many owners fasten the collar too snug fearing their cat will remove it.

You can determine that your cat’s collar is too tight by sliding a fingertip underneath it. If you have trouble doing it, you need to loosen your pet’s collar. Your cat should be able to move its head without resistance.

Constant rubbing of the collar against the cat’s skin breaks the hair at the skin level, causing hair loss. In severe cases, a tight collar can prevent a cat’s fur from growing back because it damages hair follicles.

A tight collar acts like an abrasive, similar to sandpaper. The skin under the collar can also become dry and irritated from constant friction.

An overly tight collar causes more problems than hair loss. It can also hinder oxygen supply into the cat’s brain and damage neck muscles and nerves.

Place two fingers between your cat’s neck and the collar for a correct cat collar fit. This simple trick will ensure that the collar isn’t too tight and won’t cause hair loss or discomfort but also isn’t too loose.

If your cat is still growing, don’t forget to adjust the collar size regularly. However, professionals don’t recommend using collars for kittens because they aren’t heavy enough for the breakaway mechanism to release.

The only way to resolve the hair loss problem, in this case, is to take off your cat’s collar and let the hair grow back. Only then can you put on the collar again, ensuring it fits properly.

Allergy to Flea Collars

Sometimes, cats have bald spots under the flea collar because they are allergic to the medication or the collar’s material. The symptoms of allergy to flea collars in cats are similar to signs of contact allergy.

A flea collar allergy is very likely if your cat’s neck is inflamed, irritated, itchy, and the hair is falling off. Your cat might scratch the neck or rub it against surfaces.

The reaction can be local or generalized all over the cat’s body. Some cat flea collars only release the chemicals around the neck, while others spread the medication along the body to protect it fully.

Rarely, flea collar allergy may cause respiratory symptoms like sneezing, coughing, runny nose, watery eyes, and yellowish discharge.

Unfortunately, diagnosing contact allergy in cats isn’t simple, and determining whether it’s the medication’s or material’s fault is even trickier.

A vet might suggest you perform a patch test by taping the suspected allergen to your cat’s skin for 48 hours. However, you can avoid it by removing the collar immediately and checking whether your cat’s skin condition improves after some hours.

In most cases, contact allergy symptoms in cats go away on their own without veterinary intervention. Some cats may be prescribed topical ointment to assist in healing.

The Cat Wears the Collar for Too Long Non-Stop

Even if your cat’s collar isn’t too tight and the material is delicate, it still creates friction, causing hair breakage. Cats wearing collars for years non-stop might have permanent fur damage because friction harms hair follicles.

Some online sources say cats should always wear collars if they have access to the outdoors for identification purposes. No one likes risking losing their cat, but you shouldn’t risk your cat’s health either.

A microchip is a much better way to ensure your cat won’t get lost than a collar with an I.D. tag. The procedure doesn’t hurt, and any vet can identify your pet and find out who the owner is with a quick scan.

It’s still a good idea to have your cat wear a collar with reflective panels or a bell if it walks outdoors. However, you should remove it when your kitty is at home to give its neck some rest.

This also refers to flea collars. Remove the collar when your cat is home and inspect its fur for fleas using a comb. You can leave the collar on if the vet prescribed it because your cat is already infested with fleas.

It May Not Be the Collar’s Fault

Sometimes, a bald spot on a cat’s neck may not be the collar’s fault. The most common cause of bald patches on a cat’s fur is parasites, such as fleas and ticks.

Symptoms of fleas in cats include scratching, skin irritation, bald patches, excessive grooming, and black speck on the fur.

The signs can be localized or generalized. In severe cases, the cat may have anemia due to blood loss and be lethargic.

Bald patches can also be a sign of an allergy caused by something other than the collar material or flea medication. For example, your cat might start losing fur after switching to a new food brand.

The neck is the most affected by allergies area, along with the feet and head. Stress can also lead to hair loss on the neck, but it rarely causes skin irritation and other topical symptoms.

Alopecia in cats can be triggered by skin infections, either bacterial or fungal. The symptoms of skin infections in cats are similar to those of allergy, so it’s best to seek veterinary help to rule out the problem.

A bald patch sometimes results from a scar. If your cat walks outdoors, it’s at high risk of injuring itself. You might not have noticed the wound because it was hidden under the collar and only paid attention to hair loss.

However, in this case, the hair loss will be strictly localized. Other possible causes of hair loss in cats include autoimmune diseases and hormonal disbalance.

How to Avoid Hair Loss from a Cat Collar

Preventing a problem is usually easier than dealing with it, so you should learn how to avoid hair loss from a cat collar. Start by ensuring that the collar fits properly and isn’t too snug.

You should be able to place a finger or two between your cat’s neck and the collar. If you have a long-haired cat, allow more space because friction will damage the fur.

However, the collar shouldn’t be too loose because it can get caught somewhere. Remove the collar whenever your cat is at home unless a vet has prescribed it against fleas.

Choose collars from natural materials if your cat is prone to allergies or has hypersensitive skin. Ensure that the collar has no sharp elements that can damage your cat’s skin by rubbing against it.

Ideally, the collar’s inner surface should be smooth. If any elements are protruding, they should have smooth angles.

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