Disorder - Hypotrichosis

Organ Systems Involved
Integument

Alternative Names
Hairlessness; Alopecia

Presenting Signs

Hypotrichosis is the disorder in which a cat has a less than normal amount of hair in a part of the body that is usually haired. It can be localised to one area of the body or may be widespread. Affected cats still have tactile hairs (whiskers or sensory hairs) and eyelashes. Cats are born with hypotrichosis if they have inherited a defect in the embryological development of their hair follicles. Skin thickening and pigmentation may occur along with a greasy discharge from glands on the skin. Hypotrichosis causes cats to be more sensitive to sunburn and skin cancer, hypothermia and lesions on their exposed skin.

Breeds Affected
Abyssinian
Birman
Burmese
Sphynx


PubMed References
Hypotrichosis

Contributor
Claudia Quai