Cats can lose fur for a variety of reasons, including disease or simply over grooming. However, if your cat has areas of fur loss, they should be looked at by a veterinarian, no matter what you may think the cause is.
Irritation from autoimmune disease typically looks very different from irritation due to trauma or scratches. However, both should be looked at by a veterinarian if they don’t go away after a few days and appear infected.
Depending on what type of autoimmune skin disease your cat has, its blisters or ulcers may be large or small. They may open up or remain inflated. They may be numerous or your cat may only have a few. Whatever type of blisters the cat has, they should be looked at by a veterinarian.
While it is important to get your cat looked at and treated, you do not need to bring your cat to a veterinarian immediately if you see one bare patch or blister. Instead, call your veterinary office, explain your cat’s symptoms, and make an appointment for the cat to be looked at.
If your cat needs a skin biopsy, they will be sedated and a local anesthetic block or anesthesia will be used.
Pemphigus complex - usually causes blisters at the cat’s mucocutaneous junctions, including the mouth, eyelids, lips, nostrils, and anus Bullous Pemphigoid - includes itchy and large red welts and hives, which often appear before blisters and ulcers on various parts of the body Systemic Lupus Erythematosus - a rare condition in cats that includes fever, stiffness or lameness, and blood abnormalities Discoid Lupus Erythematosus - rare in cats, causes loss of pigmentation around eyes and lips
Additionally, if there is an underlying bacterial infection, your cat will also likely be prescribed antibiotics. In most cases, autoimmune skin diseases are controlled, not cured. This means that your cat will likely be on a treatment regime long term.
