Why is my cat losing fur in clumps instead of shedding evenly?

Normal shedding is diffuse: loose hairs on furniture and in your brush, evenly across the body. Fur coming out in actual clumps, or bald patches appearing in a specific spot, points toward something more targeted, most often over-grooming from stress or an itch, a fungal infection like ringworm or a flea allergy concentrated where fleas tend to bite. The pattern of the hair loss is a genuine clue: symmetrical thinning on the belly and inner legs usually means self-grooming, while a single irregular patch is more often infection or a skin lesion underneath.

When to call a vet: Patchy or clumped hair loss (as opposed to even shedding) should be examined by a vet rather than managed with more brushing.