Hair loss, excessive licking, flat red spot

It was recently discovered that my ten and a half year old spayed cat, Athena, has this thing on her left thigh. She has been removing the hair and licking it quite a bit. Not sure if it's some kind of bug bite (or worse)... I will be taking her to get checked as soon as I get my pay, but if someone can please calm my nerves until then, I'd appreciate it.

Hello - Im afraid that theres a multitude of possibilities for this 'hot spot' and that the more it's licked, the harder it is to tell how it started off.  Buster collars etc can be very helpful but if you can imagine a body part itching intensely and not being able to get to it, you'll appreciate that treatment / drugs might be important.  Your pharmacyst may be able to provide some advice in that line - some of them will help with over the counter treatment for animals now (phone ahead), but obviously the sooner you can get to your vet, the better.  MTF

Anyway, you asked what it could be:  sometimes it's self-soothing linked to underlying pain eg to a joint or muscle but not necessarily the one directly under the licking, eg the thigh might be easier to lick than the anus.  Or to pain around the undercarriage, pancreas, hip, intestine, bladder, tail or spine or eg constipation.  Fleas can sometimes cause these reactions but most commonly would expect it to be more diffuse.   Tick bites, bee stings etc;  allergy (but its unusual for that to be focal); ringworm; ulceration eg secondary to certain concerning internal diseases;  secondary to a superficial scrape or bite wound; cancer;  Ringworm.  Im sure that there are dozens more possibilities.

The trouble with intensive licking is, that it can start as a very small thing but quickly perpetuate, especially if pain, frustration or fleas are involved.  The other trouble is that it's not always obvious to the vet at the outset - although they could examine the patient and get more context, which should help to narrow it down.  I know that this is very easy to say, but it may orove more urgent than it appears and we would reccommend seeing the vet as early as you can.  It sometimes helps to call and ask for the case to be triaged by a nurse, in which event they might review the context and discuss time scales in which it is best to be seen.  Please will you let us know how things turn out?