Hair loss on front legs.

Question
I have three cats. One, a male is six years old and from a pet center with short hair. The other two are females and have long hair and came from a farm as kittens about five years ago. I recently (two days) discovered that her two front legs have hair patches missing. They are all indoor cats and this one has always been skiddish of other people. Never comes out unless it just our family. She is happy, eating, going to the bathroom, coughs up the occasional hairball but nothing serious. Not itching or frantickly licking? Seems content. There is some fur there that is mostly peach fuzz and in two stripe like patches going up and down along the front of the two legs.any ideas as to what is going on? I am concerned because I am seven months pregnant and my husband and I have a two year old at home.

Answer
Leanne,

This sounds like an overgrooming situation due to itching.  You need to work with your vet to find out why the itching.  It could be a change in food, an allergy to something (food or fleas?), a sensitivity to body mites, or who knows what?

Although I am not a vet, I would not think it is anything that would be contagious to humans.  However, I would get this kitty to your vet to try to find out what is going on.

If the hair is coming back and the patches are not getting re-established, it might just be a passing thing?!?!?!

Best regards... Norm.