Why does a kitten's whiskers break: the main reasons and what to do

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12/16/2021 owner reviews

While the coat color in these pets is controlled by genes, where they have solid colors, cat whiskers do not seem to follow the same pigmentation patterns.

This raises the possibility that these pets have whiskers that are different from their coat color. In fact, most people say that their cats have white whiskers.

You might also want to check them out on your furry friends and tell us what color they are.

In addition, there are breeds that have completely black whiskers, such as the Bombay cat, and this is how they look natural. There is nothing abnormal about them.

• Why do cats' whiskers turn black?
• What determines the color of a cat's whiskers?
• What does a black whisker mean on a cat?
• Can orange cats have black whiskers?
• What cat breeds have black whiskers?

How can an owner harm a pet?

Before deciding what to do to fix the problem, the owner must find out why the cat's whiskers are breaking.
It is necessary to check all the conditions of keeping the animal: whether it consumes enough fluids, whether the air in the room is too dry, change the shampoo or bathe less often. It is necessary to check the pet for the presence of parasites, or carry out routine deworming if the last procedure was carried out more than 4 months ago. We suggest you read: What to do if your domestic cat scratches you badly. Is it possible to get rabies if you are scratched or bitten by a cat: we answer in detail

The cat or kitten must be examined for fungal infections: independently, or taken to a veterinarian

When these causes of whisker loss are excluded, you should pay attention to the pet’s nutrition. The cat's diet should contain foods containing vitamins, Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids and minerals in balanced amounts.

Calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, sodium and iodine must be present.

The purchased food may not meet the requirements, so your pet will need to take vitamin and mineral complexes.

Very often the owner himself is the cause of the animal’s poor health. He provokes this by performing the following actions:

• Mustache plucking.
• Shortening of the vibrissae.
• Trimming your mustache to make it grow faster and thicker.

How to treat

Kitten owners try to help their pet as quickly as possible and use “human” ophthalmic medications, which are stored in the medicine cabinet. However, not all medications are suitable for pets.

If a kitten has red eyes, from which a viscous secretion is released, this is one of the symptoms of a complex disease that only a veterinarian can identify. While you are experimenting, time passes, the baby loses strength and the chance for a quick recovery!

Therapy is determined by the doctor after a visual examination of the animal and tests. Treatment depends on the underlying disease and consists of a number of measures:

• removal of secretions and hardened crusts;
• use of eye drops and ointments;
• taking antibiotics and antiviral drugs;
• increasing immunity;
• compliance with the drinking regime.

To restore vision and fight the disease, you should adjust your pet’s diet and increase the content of nutrients: calcium, zinc, phosphorus, magnesium, selenium and others. In addition, the animal may refuse food due to wounds on the oral mucosa. In this case, you should refuse dry food and give your baby crushed food.

If the cause of purulent discharge is an injury or a foreign body gets into the eye, the doctor will treat the wound, eliminate the irritating factor and cleanse the eyelids of frozen exudate. Further treatment consists of regular washing, treatment with antiseptic and anti-inflammatory solutions, as well as the wound healing agent Korneregel. Antibiotics are prescribed if necessary.

It is recommended to wash your kitten's eyes up to 5 times a day using:

• weak solution of potassium permanganate;
• herbal decoction (sage, chamomile, St. John's wort or calendula are suitable);
• green or black tea;
• diluted boric acid (1/4 teaspoon of powder in 1/2 cup of warm boiled water);
• furatsilin solution (1-2 tablets per 1 glass of warm water).

After cleansing, you should apply one of the following medications to your eyes:

• "Iris"
• "Maksidin"
• "Neoconjunctivitis"
• "Diamond Eyes"
• "Leopard"
• "Lachrikan"
• "Tsiprovet"

You need to know what to put in your kitten’s eyes, since the most effective medications are prescribed for various diseases. That is why the treatment regimen is developed by the doctor, but the accompanying measures (washing, removing pus, other manipulations) are carried out by the pet owners themselves at home. Drops are used 3 times a day, placing 1-2 drops in each eye. To carry out the procedure, you should fix the animal’s muzzle, pull back the lower eyelid and apply the drug to the mucous membrane.

In some cases, it will be necessary to treat the eye with antibacterial tetracycline ointment. When treating purulent conjunctivitis, which manifests itself as a result of a respiratory disease, along with symptomatic treatment, the doctor will recommend immunomodulators and antibacterial drugs.

If the cause of purulent discharge from the eyes is blepharitis, you should show the animal to a doctor as soon as possible to determine the etiology of the disease. It is also recommended to balance the kitten’s diet, since ordinary vitamin deficiency provokes this disease. Treatment is standard (washing, drops, medications to maintain immunity). If there are a lot of crusts on the eyelids, then before washing you need to soften them with Vaseline.

If a kitten is diagnosed with “purulent” conjunctivitis, then therapy should be comprehensive. In addition to local eye treatment with medicinal solutions and the use of drops (ointments), a course of antibiotics is prescribed.

Infection with parasites is one of the possible causes of purulent discharge from the eyes of a small kitten. The animal is prescribed anthelmintic drugs along with daily eye treatment.

There are many reasons for the painful condition in which purulent exudate oozes from a kitten’s eyes. Timely identification of the underlying illness is the first step towards the recovery of your beloved pet.

Why do crusts appear on the nose of cats?

Wounds and crusts on a cat’s nose are a consequence of dermatitis, an allergic reaction or an infectious disease. At home, it is impossible to make a diagnosis on your own, since this requires a culture of the flora from the nose and an analysis of scrapings.

Nose injuries

The crusts on your cat's nose may be brownish or black. This symptom is characteristic of a fungal infection, an inflammatory process in the nasopharynx, or an allergic reaction. The most harmless cause of crust formation is considered to be household injuries.

The fact is that a healthy cat's nose is slightly moist. This prevents the normal restoration of damaged skin, so wounds can take a long time to heal.

If the owner is absolutely sure of the nature of the crusts, it is necessary to help the pet’s body recover as quickly as possible. To do this, it is recommended to treat your nose with an antiseptic several times a day.

A dark crust on the nose, which is accompanied by discomfort and is a consequence of skin damage, should not be a cause for concern. In this case, no treatment is required; the crust will fall off on its own when the tissues are completely restored.

Treatment with an antiseptic is only necessary if weeping erosions or crusts appear at the site of the wound, blocking the respiratory tract.

Dermatological diseases

Crusts on a cat’s nose can be the result of skin pathologies and dermatitis. These diseases are caused by fungi and bacteria. To accurately determine the cause of the formation of crusts, it is necessary to undergo a series of tests, including a nasal microflora smear and skin scraping from the affected area. The doctor will also illuminate the animal with a special lamp, which allows you to quickly determine the presence of fungal infections.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=_f7JN2cIdrI

Treatment depends on the type of disease. For fungal infections of the epidermis, antimycotic drugs are used. Treatment is carried out using ointments and solutions for treating the nose. In case of a bacterial infection, the crusts should be treated with antibacterial drugs, for example, Levomekol ointment.

For dermatological diseases, antiseptic treatment of the affected area is mandatory. This is necessary to prevent secondary infection. For this purpose, a solution of chlorhexidine or miramistin is used.

Wounds and allergies

Sores and crusts on a cat's nose and around the lips may be the result of an allergic reaction. Typically, such symptoms appear in response to food allergens, but damage to the skin of the nose can be caused by contact with household chemicals.

For treatment, special antihistamine drops are used. You can buy them at a veterinary pharmacy. If the allergic reaction is moderate, it is enough to eliminate the irritant for the symptoms to subside. No specific treatment is required; it is enough to avoid contact with the allergen in the future and treat the crusts with an antiseptic to prevent infection.

Calcivirosis

If a black crust suddenly appears on your cat’s nose, you should take a close look at the animal’s behavior. One of the dangerous cat diseases is calcivirosis. Animals are usually vaccinated against this disease, but street cats that accidentally enter the house may not be vaccinated. Symptoms of calcivirosis:

• wounds and crusts on the mucous membranes of the mouth, ears and nose;
• conjunctivitis and tearing eyes;
• damage to the paw joints;
• increased body temperature;
• swollen lymph nodes;
• labored breathing.

Perhaps what caused the cat to have ulcers on his lips?

To treat calcivirosis, you should consult your doctor about the use of medications. There is no universal treatment regimen for this disease; therapy is selected depending on the symptoms and age of the pet.

Crusts on the nose should be lubricated with chlorhexidine or Lugol's solution twice a day. To make breathing easier, the nasal passages must be treated with special drops.

How to warn?

The problem can be prevented by promptly treating your pet for fleas.
When whiskers quickly break off, cats experience discomfort and nervousness, since one of the main functions for animals—the sense of touch—deteriorates. If there is a genetic factor, the whiskers will grow back on their own quite quickly, but if the reason for the loss of the tactile organ lies elsewhere, then it will take time, treatment and preventive measures to restore the growth and strength of the whiskers. Thus, in order to prevent subsequent shedding of the antennae in cats, you will need to monitor the hygiene of your pets, periodically treating them with products that have a detrimental effect on fleas and other pests. The pet should stay in a room with optimal humidity and a regular flow of fresh air

It is important for cats to drink enough liquid, so they should always have a tray with clean water. Veterinarians recommend vaccinating cats against viral infections, carrying out helminth prophylaxis once every 3 months, as well as adjusting the diet depending on the age of the animal, and at the first sign of a pet’s health problems, do not self-medicate, but contact a specialist

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Progression of chronic rhinitis

Regardless of whether the infection is viral or bacterial, the first discharge is watery and thin, and after 24–72 hours it becomes thicker, colored, and may acquire an unpleasant odor. In advanced stages of the disease, purulent discharge is observed.

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Common causes of sneezing and chronic rhinitis in cats:

• Upper respiratory tract infection.
• Allergies or irritation of mucous membranes, for example, from smoke, dust, cleaning products, air fresheners, household chemicals.
• Diseases of the oral cavity and teeth.
• Foreign object in the nasal passage, polyps, neoplasms.

The cause of nasal discharge that periodically appears and goes away may be worms. Moreover, there are parasites whose eggs mature in the respiratory tract. The larvae hatch and begin to move, which irritate the respiratory tract, causing coughing, nasal discharge, sneezing and general malaise.

Secondary chronic rhinitis in cats

Cats are created to be unique and versatile. Wild animals keep their senses and teeth constantly clean. Domestic cats receiving an adapted diet do not have this opportunity. It is for this reason that more than 80% of cats over the age of 6 suffer from:

• Caries.
• Tartar.
• Various gum diseases.

Dental problems are a common cause of chronic nasal discharge in cats. Contact your veterinarian if you observe the following symptoms:

• Careful chewing or refusal to eat.
• Salivation.
• "Champing."
• Unpleasant odor from the mouth.
• Discharge from the eyes.
• Cough.
• Temperature increase.
• Ulcerative gum disease.

Another alarming symptom is noisy breathing through the mouth. Most often, open-mouth breathing indicates complete blockage of the nostrils. A similar picture can be observed when:

• Nasal congestion.
• Reporting.
• Neoplasms, including polyps.

Nasal infections can affect both your cat's overall health and her sense of smell. Nasal infections of a viral and bacterial nature can be “identified” by the following symptoms:

• Sneezing.
• Souring of the eyes.
• Refusal of food.
• Fever.
• A sharp decrease in activity.

Copious nasal discharge is observed with the following viral diseases:

• Herpes.
• Rhinotracheitis.
• Plague.

Causes of loss

If the owner has noticed that the cat’s whiskers are falling out, and in addition, she looks confused, you need to find out the reasons why this is happening.

Lack of vitamins in the cat's body

In particular, this may be a lack of the following vitamins: A and D. And there may also not be enough collagen in the body of your four-legged pet. Obviously, it is not enough in the cat’s diet.

Usually, if the whiskers and vibrissae fall out, the fur also falls out. The condition of the animal's claws may worsen.

Hormonal disbalance

Usually accompanied by problems with appetite and general malaise. As a result, the problem is not only you with whisker loss, the whole appearance of the pet can hardly be called attractive.

Skin diseases

Mycoscopy, various types of dermatological diseases, notoedrosis, and other skin diseases that accompany symptoms such as inflammation, severe itching, can also cause whisker loss in cats.

Fungal infections

Among them are trichophytosis and microsporia. In addition to fur, the mustache is often “involved” in the disease process. The result is their fragility and, most often, loss.

Skin damage

If you mean injuries, cuts, scratches, then they can also cause the cat’s whiskers to fall out. Often these lesions cause weakness, loss of appetite, and itching.

For deep cuts, consult a veterinarian.

Allergy

With a non-food allergy, such a reaction can occur to absolutely any substance. There may also be consequences in the form of breakage and loss of whiskers and whiskers.

If you are allergic to any food, your cat's hair will begin to fall out, and its whiskers may begin to fall out.

Hypo- and hyperthyroidism

Thyroid dysfunction is another reason why a cat may lose its whiskers or vibrissae.

A cat with any of these diseases begins to lose hair and whiskers, behaves too nervously and actively; with hyperthyroidism, appetite increases. Additional symptoms are not the most pleasant - diarrhea, constipation and vomiting. Self-medication will only worsen the condition of the pet. Therefore, you should definitely see a specialist with your cat.

Physical impact

If this means children’s “pranks” or even the actions of adults who decided to trim a cat’s mustache in order to make it “more beautiful,” then this is simply a crime. One that, unfortunately, is not punishable by human justice, but will definitely return someday. Because a cat whose mustache has been trimmed by “kind” people cannot sleep peacefully; its gait becomes unsteady and lame.

Changes also occur in the psyche, which can lead to insanity. Will the cat recover from something like this that can only be called atrocity? Depends on her mental characteristics and her strength.

Do cats need extra long whiskers?

The cat's whiskers will grow as long as she needs. If the mustache grows too long, it will naturally break and fall off. Old age should not cause your cat's whiskers to fall out.

At a minimum, the whiskers should be the same width as the cat itself. This means that larger cats tend to have longer whiskers. The world record for the length of a Maine Coon cat's whiskers is 19 centimeters.

A cat's long whiskers serve several purposes. However, it is a myth that cats rely on their whiskers for balance. The cat's tail helps maintain balance. Cats use their whiskers for the following purposes:

• Understanding the size of objects
• Negotiation area in the dark
• Hazard Warning
• Estimating the distance before the jump
• Prey movement detection
• Expressing moods and emotions

Whiskers are one of the most important parts of a cat's anatomy. This is why you should never trim your mustache by hand, no matter how long it is.

Why do cats' whiskers turn black or white?

The color of the whiskers directly depends on the color of the animal itself. They can be white, black, red or several colors at the same time. Usually a black cat has black whiskers, but sometimes white whiskers are normal. In some breeds they turn black over time.

If a cat with a white mustache has acquired a black color, this phenomenon also does not mean anything terrible, just a normal change in hair pigmentation. You should be wary if the color, on the contrary, changes to white. Sometimes this can be a symptom of a disease. Therefore, even with a slight deviation, it is worth consulting with a veterinarian.

It's hard to imagine a cat without a luxurious mustache! However, nature did not invent them for beauty. Century after century, whiskers have helped cats survive in the wild, and today house hunters cannot do without them either. So what is their function? About this in our article.

What is the correct name for a cat's whiskers and what are they?

Cats' whiskers grow not only under the nose, but also on the forehead, near the eyes, on the chin and even on the paws. More precisely, it is correct to call them not “whiskers”, but “vibrissae”. These are sensitive, hard hairs, longer than the coat. In total, there are about 40 such hairs on a cat’s body, and only 24 of them are on the face.

Unlike simple hair, vibrissae are surrounded by hundreds of nerve endings and muscle fibers, and their root goes deep into the tissue.

Each whisker is a separate organ of touch, which continuously transmits a signal to the animal’s brain 24 hours a day. Vibrissae are present not only in cats, but also in many other mammals, including dogs.

Why does a cat need a mustache?

Vibrissae pick up the slightest vibrations in the air and help cats navigate in space. With such “devices”, even at night in an unfamiliar room, the cat will not crash into objects, will always smell the mouse and accurately calculate the jump distance.

Vibrissae help the cat understand whether food is safe. In the wild, the hunter seems to wrap her whiskers around a caught mouse, determining whether the prey is dead and whether it is possible to start eating. In a similar way, your pet analyzes food and treats at home

Caution in such matters is never superfluous!

Vibrissae serve for cats to communicate with each other and with humans. An attentive owner will always determine the mood of the pet by the position of the whiskers.

Is it possible to trim a cat's whiskers?

Is it possible to shorten cats' whiskers? Any specialist will answer: under no circumstances. The vibrissae are an important organ, the loss of which will result in extreme stress for the cat. A cat that suddenly loses its whiskers will become less aware of space and will feel defenseless and vulnerable until new ones grow.

Adults must explain to children that pulling out a cat's whiskers is prohibited. In addition to loss of function, it is also very painful, since the whiskers, unlike wool, are rooted deep into the tissue. Cat whiskers must remain untouchable!

What to do if your cat's whiskers fall out?

Now we know how important whiskers are for a cat. But what if they suddenly started falling out? Should we sound the alarm?

From time to time, the vibrissae are renewed in the same way as animal fur and human hair. Therefore, if you notice a fallen or broken mustache at home, there is no need to worry. This is fine!

It’s another matter if the vibrissae fall out and break in large numbers. This is a signal that something is wrong with the body. Perhaps it is a matter of seasonal adjustment, or perhaps an internal illness. Don't ignore the problem and contact your veterinarian.

Mustache hairs are extremely sensitive

The roots of a cat's whisker hair are located much deeper in the skin than the hairs of its fur, and the area around the roots is very rich in nerve endings and blood vessels. This gives them such sensitivity that they can detect the slightest vibrations in the air. Because of this sensitivity, cats may experience pain if their whiskers get caught on something, such as when eating from a small but deep bowl. Pressure on the whiskers can be alarming, so use wide plates or flat feeders for food.

Why hairs fall out

If it’s not just another change of coarse hairs, then why does a cat’s whiskers fall out – a question that inexperienced owners often ask online

Loss of whiskers occurs due to disorders in the animal’s body, so it is important to recognize the symptoms in time and take action

Overactive thyroid gland

Hypothyroidism usually occurs in older cats. This disease affects all body systems and leads to increased metabolism. In addition to the loss of the mustache, other signs are observed:

• wool properties deteriorate;
• the animal is hyperactive and noticeably nervous;
• appetite increases with weight loss;
• the pet experiences increased thirst, which it constantly strives to satisfy;
• sometimes diarrhea and vomiting occur.

Dermatological bacterial infections and parasites

The roots of the whiskers, compared to the roots of the fur, are located quite deep in the skin. They are surrounded on all sides by nerves, blood vessels and sensitive muscles. The development of a bacterial skin infection or the proliferation of parasites in the facial part of the head often explains why a cat's whiskers fall out. Such pathologies, accompanied by unbearable itching, are easily identified during an initial examination of the skin.

Diabetes mellitus (diabetes insipidus)

These disturbances in the hormonal system lead to changes in metabolism. Diabetes mellitus in middle-aged and elderly cats is usually indicated by such signs as increased thirst and frequent urination, excessive appetite against the background of general exhaustion of the body. The pet needs immediate help, otherwise the patient’s condition will worsen, and the loss of the antennae, compared to other problems, will no longer be noticeable.

Food allergies and non-food allergic reactions

The cat's body, like the human body, can react completely unexpectedly to some foods. Loss of whiskers and fur, accompanied by itching, redness of the mucous membranes, profuse salivation and discharge from the eyes - a condition caused by an allergic reaction.

Non-food allergies can be triggered by a variety of chemicals, certain types of plants and other objects that appear in a cat's environment. It is sometimes very difficult to determine what exactly caused the rebellion in the body; you have to use the method of elimination. The course of treatment will require the use of antihistamines.

Metabolic disorders

When any illness appears, the metabolism in cats quickly makes itself known both in young and old age. The resulting pathologies manifest themselves as a rise in temperature, fluctuations in heart rate and other changes in the general condition.

In any case, you don’t need to think long about why your cat’s whiskers are falling out - a veterinary clinic specialist will explain in detail what to do in this situation.

Other reasons

What affects the condition of the nose is that

• The cat lives in a room that is overly heated, or the fluffy prankster often warms his sides on the heating radiator. Therefore, from such an abundance of heat and stuffiness, his sense of touch will be warm and dry;
• the cat actively plays, gets mischievous, and at the same time receives good physical activity, from which his body’s thermoregulation begins to work intensively, his nose and ears warm up;
• the pet is very scared. When stressed, he breathes with his mouth open, his heart beats quickly, as if from a long run, and his nose becomes hot;
• furry friend is already in old age. His dry, warm mirror is the norm.

Prevention of oral candidiasis

Preventing oral candidiasis in children is the responsibility of the mother, consisting of the following points:

1. Maintaining personal hygiene, taking a shower every day, cleansing the breasts before feeding;
2. Hygiene of children's items: dishes, pacifiers, pacifiers;
3. Refusal to take a mother and baby bath at the same time;
4. Use of a pacifier only by a child. If a mother is a carrier of Candida fungi and puts her baby's pacifier in her mouth, this can lead to infection;
5. Child consumption of fermented milk products to protect the immune system.

Prevention of oral candidiasis in adults involves the following measures:

• Timely treatment of chronic ailments;
• Maintaining normal immunity;
• Taking care of the health of teeth and gums, visiting the dentist on time;
• Proper care of dentures, high-quality oral hygiene;
• Maintaining an active lifestyle, frequent exposure to fresh air;
• Consumption of dairy products, fruits and vegetables.

What should the owner do?

In order not to wonder why a kitten’s whiskers break, it is enough to follow a few rules:

• Buy high-quality food, balanced with essential vitamins and minerals. Since a deficiency can lead to loss of vibrissae or disruption of their integrity.
• For a kitten’s diet, it is better to choose natural food consisting of meat, offal and vegetables. Vegetable oil and eggs can be used as additives.
• During adolescence, microelements are especially important: calcium, magnesium, potassium and others. On the recommendation of a doctor, you should choose a complex that has the optimal ratio of these elements.
• If mineral imbalances are detected, Gamavit is a good choice. Your veterinarian will tell you how to take it and why.

When fed with high-quality industrial feed, the animal does not require additional vitamin complexes.

Is mustache loss dangerous?

Since whiskers for a cat are not just decoration, but the main organ of touch, their loss will cause certain problems. Without them, the animal becomes defenseless at night for at least a month and will not be able to foresee the likely danger and determine the size of surrounding objects.

Broken mustache

The loss of whiskers is not only unpleasant for the animal, but in some cases may indicate diseases: hormonal imbalances, exhaustion or obesity, urolithiasis or kidney failure.

Why do crusts appear?

Mechanical damage

A red or brown spot on a kitten's face is the result of injury. A healthy pet's nose is always slightly moist, as a result of which when a wound appears, it takes a long time to heal. If the owner is sure that the problem is related specifically to mechanical damage to the skin, then it is worth treating the affected area with antiseptics several times a day. In this way, it is possible to speed up the process of disappearance of the stain and prevent infection from entering the wound.

Veterinarians warn that antiseptic solutions are required if a weeping erosion or crust appears in the cat’s wound area, which prevents the pet from breathing normally.

Infectious diseases

A sign of an infectious disease may be the animal’s reluctance to eat any food.

If a cat's nose darkens or a light-colored stripe appears on it, this may be the result of an infection in the wound. Such a disorder can be recognized by the altered state of the pet. The kitten becomes lethargic and does not want to eat, including its favorite treats. In a severe form of an infectious disease, as a result of which a black spot appears on the nose, the following symptoms are observed:

• gagging;
• diarrhea;
• dehydration of the body.

In case of such an illness, you should not delay going to the veterinarian, especially if the cat has not received all vaccinations. An infectious disease is fraught with serious complications. A black crust that forms near a kitten's nose can develop into a rotting wound and lead to other dangerous consequences that result in the death of the pet. It is impossible to cope with the problem at home on your own, since the animal requires long-term therapy in a hospital setting.

Skin diseases

Often behind this symptom lies a fungus that has infected the pet’s skin.

Some owners do not pay much attention to this problem, thinking that the cat simply has a dirty nose. But often the cause of the disorder is a dermatological disease of varying complexity. The source of the disease are fungi and bacteria that actively multiply. To select treatment, your pet must undergo laboratory tests to determine the causative agent of black spots in the nose area. Different groups of medications are prescribed to treat the crusts that appear. It is equally important to regularly wipe your cat’s nose with antiseptics to prevent re-infection.

Allergic reaction

Black spots on a cat’s nose or in the lip area can appear as an allergy to various irritants. In most cases, dry crust occurs due to the consumption of certain foods, as a result of which the kitten has an allergic reaction. But sometimes the problem is related to the contact of a pet with household chemicals. To eliminate stains in the nose area, you need to take antihistamines, which are purchased at a veterinary pharmacy as prescribed by a veterinarian.

Does calcivirosis affect?

With this disease, characteristic wounds can be found in the animal’s mouth.

A white spot or black nose in a cat sometimes appears against the background of a disease of infectious origin. The disease most often occurs in pets that have not been vaccinated. Calcivirosis is accompanied not only by a spot on the nose, but also by other symptoms:

• wounds of various sizes in the mouth and ears;
• inflammatory reaction of the conjunctival membrane;
• increased tearing of the eyes;
• damage to the joints of the cat’s limbs;
• heat;
• enlarged lymph nodes;
• labored breathing.

Veterinarians note that if a cat has calcivirosis, it is necessary to use special drops that dissolve the crusts and allow the pet to breathe normally.

Why does a cat need mustaches and eyebrows?

Why does a cat need whiskers? They are an important organ of touch. Many animals that feed on their mother's milk have similar adaptations.

The hardest and longest whiskers of a cat help the animal navigate in space. These hairs are located on the cheeks, on both sides of the nose, above the eyes, on the chin and tail.

Cat's whiskers also have another name that is not known to everyone. Scientifically, they are called vibrissae. Cats touch different objects with them to determine their size. For example, before climbing into a hole, a cat checks with whiskers whether it is of sufficient size.

The pet may not have them at all. Due to the nature of the breed, hairless cats may have broken whiskers, curled or not have them at all.

Sometimes the absence of vibrissae occurs in furry representatives of the cat family. This is due not only to the breed, but also to a kind of mutation.

The whiskers on the paws and tail are not so long; they can be distinguished by their greater rigidity. The number of rows of a cat's whiskers determines how well they navigate the world around them.

What is the danger?

If this condition progresses, the animal will soon begin to have problems with coordination of movements.
Whisker loss is a serious problem for cats because they are important sense organs. If they fall out profusely, it becomes difficult for the pet to navigate in space, especially in the dark. His confidence decreases and problems with coordination of movements arise. Owners notice that the cat's gait changes over time. If a pet loses the ability to sense external objects, this can lead to its death.

Why does a cat's whiskers fall out and is it normal? A cat's whiskers are falling out - causes of loss

There are several reasons why a cat's whiskers fall out. If an animal behaves strangely, bumps into objects or shows anxiety, and the owner notices fallen or broken whiskers, the cause may be a pathological process developing in the body. The most common causes of whisker loss in cats are:

• Acute deficiency of vitamins and minerals in the body. Loss or increased fragility of the vibrissae occurs as a result of a lack of vitamins, especially fat-soluble ones - retinol and ergocalciferol. Fragility may also be caused by a lack of collagen in your pet's diet. In addition to the fragility of the whiskers, there are disturbances in the structure of the coat (dullness, loss), the claws peel off, and an unpleasant, repulsive odor can be heard from the oral cavity. The occurrence of such symptoms requires consultation with a veterinarian and diagnostic measures. It may be enough for your pet to adjust its diet by adding vitamin and mineral complexes to its main food.
• Thyroid gland dysfunction. Problems in the endocrine system always negatively affect the functioning of the entire body. One of these pathologies is hypothyroidism. This is a pathological process caused by decreased activity of the thyroid gland. Most often diagnosed in elderly pets due to a general slowdown in the body's metabolic processes. With hypothyroidism, the animal’s whiskers not only fall out, but seem to crumble. The coat also undergoes changes, the animal shows anxiety, appetite increases, and polydipsia (increased thirst) occurs. The pet may suffer from anorexia. Hypothyroidism can be characterized by dyspeptic disorders - eruption of gastric contents, profuse diarrhea. Self-medication in case of hypothyroidism can cause death of the animal, so it is recommended to consult a qualified doctor. This will allow us to assess the degree of neglect of the pathology, as well as develop an adequate treatment regimen.
• Pathologies of the skin. Skin diseases that arise as a result of fungal pathologies or the activity of pathogenic bacterial microflora, especially in the area of ​​the pet's face, also provoke whisker breakage. Vibrissae can fall out in a cat if it is affected by notoedrosis or microsporia. This is due to the fact that the cat’s whisker follicle is located deeper than the hair follicle. In addition to the loss of whiskers due to a fungal or bacterial skin infection, symptoms such as itching and restlessness are observed. As a result of scratching the skin, wound surfaces are formed.
• Food allergic reaction. A food allergy in a cat provokes disruption of the internal organs. The skin and coat are primarily affected. Whiskers and hair fall out in the head area, with further scratching and the formation of crusts. It is necessary to eliminate the factor that provokes the allergy. A veterinary specialist will help carry out differential diagnosis and give recommendations for treatment.
• Injuries resulting from fights with relatives. Domestic cats constantly defend territorial boundaries. Therefore, fights between relatives occur quite often. In order to cause inconvenience to its opponent and show its superiority, the cat rips out the enemy's whiskers by the roots or bites them. If fights occur between two cats living in the same house, it is recommended to separate them, carefully monitoring the fights. Pets that do not have breeding value are recommended to be neutered.

The cat's nose has darkened

Prescription/withdrawal of medications is prohibited

ATTENTION! RULES FOR OPENING A TOPIC IN THE CAT DISEASES SECTION IMPORTANT!!! When creating your own topic, the first message is MANDATORY! is to indicate the following information: 1. Gender, age and exact weight of the animal 2. Castration/sterilization 3. Dates of last vaccinations 4. Dates of last deworming, name of the drug 5. Description of nutrition, urination and stool 6. BODY TEMPERATURE (measure!) 7. DETAILS! symptoms of the disease 8. Results of tests performed WITH LABORATORY STANDARDS, examination results IN THE COLUMN! (for those who are in an armored train: each laboratory has its own standards, they are different, it depends on the reagents, materials, equipment. Therefore! DO NOT FORGET TO INDICATE THE STANDARDS! This is necessary for a quality consultation! We also need ALL INDICATORS, not just those , which have a deviation from the norm! Analyzes are read in conjunction with each other!) 9. Prescribed drugs indicating dosages, frequency and method of administration IN THE COLUMN TEXT should be easy to read, divided into paragraphs. Remember, one animal - ONE topic, do not write in other people's medical histories. ALL POINTS ARE REQUIRED! If the rules for formatting a topic are not followed, the administration has the right to close/delete it without explanation! You can receive fast and high-quality help only if you have all the above points in your message! RULES OF COMMUNICATION ON THE FORUM

If black dots appear on a cat’s nose, owners should not immediately worry. Such spots may be ordinary moles that people also have. But still, when a kitten has dark or white crusts around its mouth, it is recommended to show your pet to a veterinarian. Often the problem is associated with a skin disease and requires urgent treatment. At home, it is impossible to determine why a cat’s nose darkens, but a veterinary clinic will help determine the cause through a series of diagnostic examinations.

What diseases lead to the loss of vibrissae?

Those who want to understand why a kitten's whiskers break should be aware that the root of this problem may lie in health problems of the pet.

An animal may begin to lose its whiskers if it is diagnosed with a food allergy. In such cases, not only the mustache, but also the hair may fall out. To get rid of these symptoms, you need to contact a veterinarian and undergo all tests to identify the allergen.

Hypothyroidism can also cause mustache loss. This disease usually affects older animals. It leads to disruption of metabolic processes occurring in the cat's body. Typical symptoms of hypothyroidism include loss of whiskers and fur, hyperactivity and increased appetite. In some cases, this disease may be accompanied by vomiting, diarrhea and weight loss.

Features of alopecia areata in men

In most cases, men do not pay attention to increased hair loss due to short haircuts. Therefore, for a long time they arrive in confidence that everything is normal with their hairstyle, missing the first signs of pathology

Only when it is impossible not to notice the disease - bald spots appear on the head - do they begin to sound the alarm.

Doctors have not yet figured out the exact causes of the nesting form of alopecia. Different chronic diseases and pathological conditions lead to hair loss in different patients. But the result is the same - hairless areas of round or oval shape appear on the head. Along the edges of the bald spots, the hair is shortened, with broken ends. The skin in such places is reddish and appears inflamed.

The basis of the disease is damage to the hair follicles. Sometimes pathology is also observed on the nails. In addition to the scalp, other areas of the body are also affected. Eyebrows and eyelashes may noticeably thin, and hair on the chest or back may disappear.

The disease develops rapidly. Sometimes a week is enough for a completely hairless area to appear. It proceeds unevenly - stages of remission may alternate with relapse periods.

Doctors note that alopecia areata is the most complex form of baldness. It is difficult to treat as it is associated with chronic diseases. Often the only treatment option is hair transplantation. But this path is not a guarantee that new outbreaks will not appear in the future.

Men of different age groups are susceptible to pathology. There are 4 types of nested forms of baldness:

in men from 20 to 40 years old.

The most common type of alopecia areata. With treatment, hair is restored within 6 months. Complete baldness rarely occurs;

in children

. Occurs in 10% of patients. The disease progresses for a long time and can take up to 10 years. Hair return is slow and difficult, taking more than a year. The result of the pathology can be complete baldness;

age up to 20 years

. The rarest type of alopecia areata. It is developing rapidly. In half of the cases it threatens complete hair loss;

in men over 40 years of age

. Develops slowly. Complete baldness occurs extremely rarely.

There has been a connection between the appearance of the nesting form of baldness and hair color - brunettes suffer from it more often than blondes.

Pet size

You can distinguish an ordinary street cat from a purebred cat by its size. The vast majority of simple murkas do not exceed 50-75 cm in length (80-105 cm with tail). At the same time, the body weight of a cat varies between 4-6 kg, and that of a cat - 2-4 kg.

Pedigree animals can weigh much more - 15-20 kg, and be very tiny, whose weight does not exceed 1.3-2 kg.

Big cats

Giant cats belong to the following breeds:

Breed of large cats Maine Coon

• Maine Coon (see photo above). The largest breed of cats, males weigh from 5.9 to 8.2 kg (castrated - up to 12 kg), and females from 3.6 to 5.4 kg (sterilized - up to 7.5-8.5 kg). The height at the withers in adult cats reaches from 25 to 41 cm, and the total length with the tail is up to 120 cm (tail length up to 36 cm).
• Turkish van . Adult cats weigh on average from 6 to 9 kilograms, females - from 4.5 to 6 kilograms. The length from the nose to the tip of the tail is from 90 to 120 cm, the height at the shoulders is 35-40 cm.
• Maine Coon . The largest breed of cats, males weigh from 5.9 to 8.2 kg (castrated - up to 12 kg), and females from 3.6 to 5.4 kg (sterilized - up to 7.5-8.5 kg). The height at the withers in adult cats reaches from 25 to 41 cm, and the total length with the tail is up to 120 cm (tail length up to 36 cm).
• Norwegian forest. The breed has a so-called “triple” base coat with a thick undercoat and characteristic long outer hair along the ridge and on the tail, which has a water-repellent property, large ears with tassels, a long fluffy tail, reaching a length of up to 3/4 of the length of the cat’s body.
• Chartreuse. The physique of animals is dense, strong; males reach a weight of 6-7 kilograms, females - 4-5 kilograms. Wool is allowed to wear any shades of blue, but a light gray-blue tone is preferred.
• The Kurilian Bobtail is a short-tailed cat with a pom-pom tail.
• Savannah is a large cat. Its height at the withers reaches 60 cm, and its weight reaches 15 kg. Distinctive features of the savannah are an elongated body, an elongated neck, long legs, large round ears and thick spotted fur.
• The Siberian cat
  is a breed of semi-long-haired cat. The Siberian cat has semi-long thick hair that does not allow moisture to pass through, medium-sized ears, and a fluffy tail. The color is different.
• British Shorthairs
  are short-haired cats. As a rule, these are strong and robust cats. They come in medium to large sizes.
• The Pixie Bob is an artificially bred breed of cat that looks like a lynx.
• The Egyptian Mau
  is a short-haired, medium-sized breed of cat with a spotted coat. Their spots are found not only on the fur, but also on the skin.
• Ragdoll
  (eng. Ragdoll - “rag doll”) is a breed of large semi-long-haired cats. The average weight of cats is 4-6 kg, adult cats 7-10 kg.

Little cats

You can determine whether the purchased kitten belongs to mini-cats by comparing it with representatives of the following breeds:

Small cats of the Munchkin breed

• Munchkin . You can’t walk the catwalk with such short legs, but small legs left a big mark on the history and formation of small cat breeds.
• Napoleon (the result of crossing munchkins and Persian cats). Typically weighs about 2.5 kg.
• Bambino (the result of crossing this time short-legged munchkins and hairless Canadian sphinxes). The lower weight bar is 2.2 kg.
• Lambkin , a curly-haired lamb cat. An adult lambkin can weigh 1.8 kg.
• Skookum. The ancestors of this breed include the already familiar Munchkins and LaPerm cats, the ones with such long and wavy hair.
• Dwelf , a hairless breed created according to the formula: Munchkin + Canadian Sphynx + American Curl. The weight of these babies rarely exceeds 3 kg.
• The Singaporean cat is a breed of short-haired cats of small size and oriental type, with smooth hair and a golden-cream color characteristic only of this breed.
• Minskin. A breed of short-legged cats, the main feature of which is their fur; it is thick, dense, of excellent texture, which grows in islands on an almost naked animal.
• Kinkaloo is an extremely rare cat breed. Today there are only a few cats of this type in the world. A breed of cat developed by crossing Munchkins and American Curls. Kinkalows are distinguished by their curled ears and short legs. By the way, for reference, a Kinkalow cat sometimes weighs 1.3 kg.

Cat's whiskers as a sensory organ

Vibrissae are a kind of navigation system that provides mustachioed striped animals with orientation in space and perception of the three-dimensional world around them. Using their whiskers, they “feel” objects, just as people do with their fingers. On the head the vibrissae are located:

• in 4 rows near the nose above the upper lip;
• above the eyes in the “eyebrow” area;
• under the chin;
• on the cheeks.

The role of vibrissae. Vibrissae allow you to accurately determine the size of the hole into which the cat can crawl. If the sensitive “antennas” on the muzzle, thrust into the hole, rest against something hard, the animal immediately retreats.

Sensitive hairs of a slightly different type can be found in murkas:

• inside the ear;
• on the inside of the wrist;
• between the toes;
• on the tail.

Dimensions.

Individuals born with low vision or blind are endowed with particularly prominent vibrissae, exceeding 8 cm in size.

For what reasons can cats' whiskers fall out?

Nature dictates that Sphynx cats do not have mustaches.

To begin with, it should be noted that in adult animals there is a natural and natural replacement of the whiskers and, when a long hair falls out, a new one grows in its place after some time.

Seasonal whisker loss in cats is normal!

But, if the owner notices that his pet’s whiskers are broken off or they have become shorter than before, then he should immediately start looking for the causes of this problem.

The most common causes of mustache loss and brittleness

Too frequent water treatments can cause your cat's whiskers to fall out.

• The indoor air is too dry. This is especially true in winter when the heating or heaters are turned on.
• Frequent water treatments can also cause your pet's whiskers to become brittle and begin to fall out.
• Using low-quality shampoo while bathing a cat is another reason for hair loss.
• Impaired metabolism can also negatively affect a cat's appearance. It can be caused by adolescence, hormonal surge or stress.
• Another reason for this problem can be caused by a lack of water.
  Your furry pet should always have access to clean boiled water. Lack of water can also cause brittleness and hair loss.

All of the above factors can cause a cat to lose its long, luxurious whiskers, so it is advisable to eliminate them.

Poor nutrition

An unbalanced diet can lead to a brittle mustache.

Unbalanced and incorrectly selected food can cause your pet's hair to become brittle, soft and lose its elasticity.

If the owner prefers to feed his pet ready-made food, such as dry granular food or canned cat food, then you should not skimp and buy the cheapest.

Giving preference to natural food, you need to choose only fresh and high-quality products. You cannot feed cats cottage cheese or kefir made from powder and chemical additives or surrogate meat substitutes.

Health problem signal

If your pet used to have beautiful and long whiskers, and then suddenly began to fall out and break, you should start worrying about the health of the animal.

Very often, fragility and loss of whiskers indicate that the cat is not in good health.

• Allergy. Furry creatures may be allergic to any food product, which is accompanied by hair loss, indigestion or watery eyes. Often allergies occur to milk or fish.
• Avitaminosis. If your cat has a monotonous diet, she may lack beneficial vitamins and microelements. Animals should receive sufficient amounts of calcium, magnesium, taurine and biotin.
• Presence of parasites. Infection with parasites (fleas, ticks or worms) is in itself dangerous for a cat. But in rare cases, parasites can also pose a hidden threat. Some cats may be allergic to flea saliva, which leads to decreased immunity and, as a result, whisker loss.
• Fungal diseases. Infection of the animal's skin with various fungal microorganisms causes peeling, itching and loss of hair, whiskers and eyebrows.

Causes and mechanism of disease development

The reason for the failure of the keratinization process of epidermal cells in cats has not been established. Therefore, experts identify several factors that contribute to this phenomenon and lead to the appearance of black spots on the fur of cats. These include:

• increased secretion from the sebaceous glands of the epidermis;
• sticking of food debris to the beard or skin on the cat’s chin;
• decreased immunity after severe infectious diseases, as well as during the rehabilitation period after injuries or operations;
• dysfunction of the endocrine glands;
• intoxication phenomena caused by diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, liver and pancreas;
• allergic reactions;
• skin pathologies;
• dermatophytoses;
• demodicosis;
• improper care of the animal's skin and fur;
• some infectious and parasitic diseases;
• severe or prolonged stress.

Important! Owners must carefully monitor the cleanliness and integrity of the dishes from which the animal eats and drinks. Pathogenic microorganisms accumulate in chips, scratches and cracks, then enter the pet’s skin and can easily provoke inflammation and cause sores on the chin of cats.

The mechanism of comedones formation in cats occurs in 5 stages:

1. Increased secretion from the sebaceous glands (sebum).
2. Blockage of the ducts of the sebaceous glands with a mixture of sebum and dead epithelial cells.
3. Formation of open cysts (comedones) at the mouth of the hair follicle.
4. Oxidation of the contents of comedones in the presence of oxygen. Visually, this is marked by the appearance of black dots on the cat’s skin.
5. Opening of comedones.

If comedones open into the external environment during injury by an animal, infection occurs and purulent inflammation develops. But sometimes cysts greatly increase in size, become inflamed and open into the dermal cavity. In this case, surrounding tissues are involved in the process. The cat's immune system tries to prevent the spread of pathogenic microflora and releases a huge number of white blood cells. When they die, they form purulent exudate, which accumulates in the internal cavity and then tends to come out. Clinically, this is manifested by the formation of abscesses, severe itching and even pain. Scratching the abscess leads to secondary infection, the formation of non-healing ulcers, which, when dry, form scabs on the cat’s chin.

Important! Attempts by cat owners to open comedones or abscesses on their own without following antiseptic rules often lead to re-infection and the development of complications.

Why do mustaches break?

There are not many reasons to help you understand why your pet’s whiskers break:

• The main reason is the kitten's unbalanced diet. The animal must receive all the substances necessary for full functioning.
• Physiology can help answer the question of why kittens' whiskers break off. All kittens that have reached the so-called “transitional” age, at a certain period, their antennae break and fall out. At this time, consultation with a veterinarian is important, as you need to help your pet cope with the load.
• Another answer to the question of why a cat’s whiskers are damaged is the presence of a fungal infection.
• The presence of helminths also leads to a similar problem.
• Sometimes such questions arise when the animal does not fully absorb the minerals and vitamins in the feed. This is due to a violation of the mineral balance in the kittens’ body.

Diagnosis and treatment methods

The therapeutic course for spots on the nose is selected by the veterinarian based on the diagnostic results. The main thing in making a diagnosis is a laboratory test to determine the pathogenic microflora that caused the rash on the face. Blood and urine tests may be required. For black spots, local treatment is prescribed, but for advanced cases of the disease, an integrated approach is required using medications from different groups.

Among the antiseptics, Miramistin is suitable for animals.

When rashes on a cat’s nose are associated with an allergic reaction, drugs with antihistamines come to the rescue. For daily treatment, antiseptics are used, such as:

How to prevent your mustache from falling out

In order for your cat to wear magnificent, hard and healthy whiskers to your delight, you need to take measures to prevent their loss:

• regularly wash and treat the cat’s fur for parasites;
• develop a diet and feeding regime suitable for your pet;
• eliminate possible allergens in a timely manner;
• follow the vaccination schedule against viral infections;
• undergo preventive examinations;
• do not prescribe self-medication;
• ensure that vitamin preparations are always available;
• provide good care and suitable living conditions.

All novice breeders need to understand that a cat’s whiskers should not be trimmed. Without them, it will be difficult for the animal to navigate street conditions and home territory at night. Pulling a cat's whiskers is a habit that the owner needs to get rid of in order not to cause unnecessary inconvenience to the pet.

By following the recommendations given, you are unlikely to panic and search for the answer to the question of why your cat’s whiskers break or individual hairs often fall out.

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