A Case of Pili Torti in a Young Adult Domestic Short-Haired Cat
February 2013
in “
Veterinary Dermatology
”
TLDR A young cat had a rare hair condition with twisted hair shafts but stayed healthy.
In 2012, a 1-year-old castrated male domestic short-haired cat was reported to have pili torti, a rare hair shaft disorder where the shafts are flattened and twisted. This was the first case documented in a healthy young adult cat. The cat exhibited symmetrical multifocal alopecia but no other health issues. Microscopic and scanning electron microscopy examinations confirmed the presence of pili torti and unusual spiral-shaped roots, with no evidence of mites or dermatophytes. Although the cat's hair partially regrew over two months, the hair shaft abnormality remained, and the coat was coarse and waved. The cat stayed healthy throughout a one-year follow-up. This case adds to the understanding of hair shaft disorders in cats and their parallels to human conditions.
