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Cats/skin problems

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Expert: - 9/17/2009


Question
My cat has had skin problems for a few months now.  He is very itchy and works on himself often - to the point he is chewing himself and has red marks on his belly and inner back legs.  He also has patches on his back that he works on that are a bit crusty.  I do not think those are scabs.  My vet who comes to the house to give them their yearly shots has done all she can for him - without a lab.  She gave him a shot that cleared it all up that lasted for 1-1/2 weeks - she said it should have lasted 3 months.  I took him to another vet who prescribed Gel Fuciderm which only seems to occasionally help.  He is also terrified of people - he is a stray who adopted me about 6 years ago.  He hides as soon as he hears someone coming up the front steps.  So, I think he is also a bit neurotic and maybe some of the skin problem is stress.  Is there anything else I can put on him?  The vet I took him to suggested allergy to fleas - but he has no fleas.  My other cat, who is 18, has no symptoms that he has.  Please help - he is in such discomfort!  (He wakes me up at night with his licking/biting himself.)  Sometimes he is just relaxed and seems normal - but the bite marks are there.  Thanks.

Answer
Zoe,

Your kitty may have food or environmental allergies. There is an antihistamine that's safe to give your kitty, but you'd need to consult a qualified vet for the name of the drug and appropriate dose for your cat. It's also possible that this kitty has developed a condition called psychogenic alopecia, essentially this means he's pulling his hair out, picking at his skin and overgrooming as a result of psychological issues. If the cause of your kitty's discomfort is psychological effectively treating the problem and completely stopping the behavior can be very difficult (some vets have had success with psychotropic drugs but I recommend this only after you've tried less invasive and risky options). Beyond attempting to alleviate his symptoms using an antihistamine in the short term my recommendation would be to seek the help of a homeopathic veterinarian. I've found that sometimes when tricky issues like this come up and conventional treatments have failed homeopathic treatments prescribed by an experienced practitioner with appropriate training can be surprisingly effective. My own veterinarian is a homeopathic vet who pairs conventional medicine and homeopathy, she's absolutely wonderful and I've seen some incredible things happen when she's given my cats different homeopathic remedies. If you have any further questions, concerns or you'd like me to clarify anything in this answer, please feel free to contact me again and I will do my best to help you out.

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Ali

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I am the proud guardian of 5 mixed breed cats ranging from 12 weeks to 13 years old and one purebred ragdoll. I have 20+ years experience working with mixed breed cats from a variety of different situations. I have fostered cats/kittens with special needs/behavioral issues. I have rescued/rehabilitated/re-homed a variety of stray/abused cats. I can offer advice on managing feral cat colonies, rehabilitating strays and finding them forever homes. I can help you to determine whether a cat is stray or feral, there IS a significant difference. Improperly introducing a new cat/kitten can result in aggression between newly introduced cats because cats are territorial by nature and they don't like sudden changes in their environment. To learn more about a peaceful way to introduce a new cat into a home with other cats please check out my previous answers on this subject. Proper nutrition for cats can be confusing, I recommend checking out catinfo.org which was created by a veterinarian (Dr. Lisa Pierson) who takes a common sense approach to explaining feline nutrition. Cat behavior and instincts are different from those of humans, I can help you understand your cat's needs so that you can meet them adequately and have a balanced, psychologically and physically sound kitty. Cats vary in personality, energy level and intelligence, different approaches may be required to achieve results in terms of training and interaction with your feline companion. An intelligent, high energy cat must be kept busy or they will make their own fun. I am NOT a licensed veterinarian and I can't offer medical advice. If your cat is ill/injured my advice is always the same: get prompt medical treatment provided by a veterinarian. If finances are an issue I will try to find resources in your area that can help with medical costs or make other choices to ensure the welfare of your cat.

Experience

I have fostered feral and stray cats, rehabilitated and homed cats that many people recommended euthanasia for. I am willing to make an effort to do the research and ask questions because I care enough to find solutions to behavioral problems rather than giving up. I have an interest in the use of alternative therapies to help provide the best possible care for all cats and I can say in all honesty that I've seen some incredible things happen for some incredible cats and their human caregivers when the right alternative therapeutic modality is used by a qualified veterinarian with expertise and experience in the field.

Education/Credentials
I've earned my diploma as a veterinary assistant with honors.

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