Alopecia in four kittens caused by abnormal maternal licking behaviour.
METHODS
Abnormal maternal behaviour has been reported in cats, but is generally not included among the causes of alopecia in kittens. A litter of four kittens, 2 months old, was referred for evaluation of facial alopecia of differing severity. The 2-year-old queen was unaffected. Dermatological examination of the kittens did not find any infectious cause. Trichograms showed broken hair shafts with longitudinal splitting. Congenital alopecia was unlikely based on the clinical presentation. A behavioural consultation revealed abnormal grooming behaviour by the mother, who chewed and removed the hair from the kittens. The kittens were separated from the queen and alopecia resolved within a few weeks.


CONCLUSIONS
To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of alopecia caused by abnormal maternal licking behaviour. Abnormal maternal behaviour should be considered in cases of alopecia affecting a litter of kittens, when infectious and congenital causes have been ruled out.
Clinica Veterinaria San Siro, via Lampugnano 99, 20151, Milano, Italy. nati83@libero.it.
N
N
Fanton
Clinica Veterinaria San Siro, via Lampugnano 99, 20151, Milano, Italy.
M
M
Michelazzi
Clinica Veterinaria San Siro, via Lampugnano 99, 20151, Milano, Italy.
L
L
Cornegliani
D000505:Alopecia / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000523:psychology*; D002415:Cats; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D009771:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Q000523:psychology
alopecia; cats; dermatology; maternal behaviour