Hair Shaft Dysplasia – Cat

Hair Shaft Dysplasia is a disorder that affects the structure of hair, causing broken/split hairs, hair loss and potentially skin discomfort. In domestic cats, two different recessive mutations to the gene DSG4 can cause hair shaft dysplasia.

Affected cats experience general hair loss within the first months of life, particularly along the ears, face, back and legs. Their hairs are short and often split or broken, with bulbous swellings on the shafts on microscopic examination. Likewise, affected cats’ whiskers may be short and broken.