Ever since we brought him home from a kitten he's gone out and come back cut up. HWe used to think he was getting stuck in the hole in the bramble hedge and tearing his skin that way but he is doing it to himself. He has ripped open a 3" flap of skin on his shoulder, his back and he has to constantly wear a bucket/cone so he can't rip open behind his ears.
The vet gave us some anti itch cream but it doesn't seem to help.
He obviously has an allergy to something but its not fleas, worms or tics. We did notice more [if thats possible] scratching after he had some wet food so there must be something in the gravy so he is on dry, sensitive cat food.
Poor thing isn't allowed out til he stops cutting. He's 2 this year and hasn't been out of the bucket/cone since he was less than a year!
2007-01-31 09:43:50 · 10 answers · asked by jennie w 1 in Pets ➔ Cats
Its most likely an allergic reaction to foods. Many animals are now being diagnosed with an allergy to corn which is in nearly all animal foods. Pets can be allergic to many food ingredients, just like humans btw.
Look at the ingredients on the wet food you gave him and see what was in there. Then try to find foods without those ingredients.
We were having troubles with our dog. I went out and read ingredients and came home with 3 different dog foods, hoping that one of them would be safe. One was beef, One was chicken, and another was corn-free. I put each in a cereal bowl and placed them on the floor. They all looked the same to the eye. Over the last few days, I've rotated the bowls so the foods were in different orders. My dog has picked the corn-free one each night and refuses to eat the other dog foods, even though I can see that she's hungry.
If it is allergy related (and I think it is), you should be able to get dosing instructions from your vet to try out benadryl on your cat. You'd have to make sure you gave the right amount per your cat's weight btw, so make sure you contact your vet.
If it is food allergy related, baths, powders, creams won't work. They may temporarily soothe the area, but they won't heal it or keep your cat from itching so hard it cuts itself.
2007-01-31 22:18:53 · answer #1 · answered by V 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is a very uncommon problem, but my mom has a kitty that had this same issue and it took a year to heal, but she is better now. Have the vet give her cortisone shots and ask for a special medicated soap to wash the area every three days. Get rid of the cone and put a doll sized t-shirt on the cat to prevent scratching and further irritation. The cat keeps picking at it which prevents it from healing. Once it heals, the kitty will be fine. Good luck. :)
2007-01-31 09:53:42 · answer #2 · answered by snowangel_az 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
some women eat coal when there pregnent due to there body subliminally telling them that they need a chemical that is in coal or they crave other things and so on.. well the problem with cats is they have a very delicate dna. lions in africa that live in a large volcano basin all started to die when they could not breed with other packs of lions and there dna pool was weakend from inter breeding so a lioness will sneak out of its pack to breed with another pack to stop damage to its dna.. so what this means is if your cat is lacking in a certain nutrient that makes it intollerent to a certain thing then try mashing up all different kinds of things like cucumber and put it in front of it and the cat will instinctivly know what nutrient its short of and eat it dont mix anything with the plates just one thing at a time like mashed carrot or beet root. i think cucumber is a common one that cats will crave though so try that first.. if that fails try looking at list of nutrients and what food or supplement they come from an see if the cat likes it lol. hope this helps an your cat gets better.
2007-01-31 09:58:53 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
POOR KITTY!
he could be getting in fights with other cats. he could be trying to get into places where he cant fit and gets scratched up thats unlikely though....im not sure... you should go around your house and patch up any holes and cut down grass and prickly bushes and try to find a way to keep him away from that bramble hedge.
and let him go out with out his cone for 30-60 mins. they call him back in (or go find him if necesary) if he isnt scratched up then give him a treat if he is then you might just have to rethink another plan.
hope it works!
good luck!
2007-01-31 10:39:13 · answer #4 · answered by Ginny 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Are you sure he is not just distressed, animals will often tear out their own fur/feathers because of boredom, worry, homesick, loneliness. This sounds like a step up from this common sickness. Presenting the cat with toys, scratch towers and just generally playing with the cat may help. One last suggestion, are you sure it is not a local tommy cat fighting your cat?
2007-01-31 09:52:40 · answer #5 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My mother had a cat that would pull his fur out in chucks. After a trip to the vet she was given something that might help your kitty also; antidepressants. Your cat may be experiencing stress, mood swings, or depression that needs to be treated.
2007-01-31 09:56:56 · answer #6 · answered by Maybe I am a smartass..so what 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You need to go back to the vet. Or maybe try a different vet. Your poor cat must be miserable.
2007-01-31 11:57:16 · answer #7 · answered by citrus punch 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He needs counseling. Have him attend some self-esteem classes. Don't let him have access to any sharp objects.
2007-01-31 09:47:39 · answer #8 · answered by DAKal 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
maybe he cant be in grass or weeds
2007-01-31 09:49:22 · answer #9 · answered by kat_luvr2003 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it could be ur carpet or furnishings?
2007-01-31 09:47:27 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋