My cat's coat seems to itch like crazy, and when I go to scratch her fur, she turns into psycho cat--?

Question

My cat has some dry flakes in her coat, back towards her tail. She is too fat to reach her tongue back there to groom herself. I am thinking of having her fur shaved around that area. What is wrong with her? Why does she act so aggressively when I itch her? She also licks me when I brush her coat. I've changed her cat food to Royal Canin, and Nutro dry food, and I add some of this Dream Coat oil from the Health food store to her wet food in the morning. It hasn't been long enough to know if it's making a difference yet. Also, she throws up hair balls every week, and it seems as though in the last year, she developed these 2 new ugly habits. She is 8 years old, and I had the vet examine her and her blood work came back fine. Next step would be x-rays.....I don't want to do that if I can get some answers on-line first. Has anyone else had this "itchy" problem with their cat? What's the best thing for hairballs? Would shaving be good or bad-She's strictly an indoor cat..help

Answer 1

i would take her to the groomer for the coat, they can give her a medicated bath and get her fur shaved, it will help, and the hairballs i would brush her more, and get felolax from the vet.
and talk to them about a real "diet" cat food because its the weight that is most likely causing all this,

Answer 2

Obesity in cats can lead to many health problems and shorten life expectancy. Please ask your veterinarian to help you develop a new feeding program for your cat to help her safely shed unwanted pounds. Purina makes a "lite" diet for adult cats that works well, as do other brands. The trick is to decrease the fat intake and amount of food, while ensuring your cat still has a balanced diet and receives the minerals and proteins she needs.

Her skin may be tender towards the back end and gently washing it with a warm moist wash cloth and a drop of cat shampoo may help. make sure you use a soft bristled pet brush on her to help remove excess hair. make grooming time fun by offering toys or cat nip. begin sessions for only a few minutes a day and gradually work up time. your cat will become used to brushing and may even welcome the help. it's also a great pet-owner bonding experience.

-RVT

Answer 3

You've already answered your question. Your cat is too fat to properly groom herself and it doesn't matter what kind of food you give her it still won't make her able to groom herself.
And if you aren't grooming her regularly she probably has some nasty matted hair that is pulling at her skin. Consider putting her on a diet, your vet should have told you that first thing. Reducing her weight will overall improve her health and allow her to resume grooming herself and you'll soon find less hairballs too.

Answer 4

because of your cat being overweight, I would put her on a weight loss diet. Well that's easy said and with the experience I had wit mine, the best way is to make her exercise. Mine was crazy by catnip and me playing with her making her exercise. The vet told me I'm nuts but she lost 6 pounds so far. You just need to be going. Additionally put her on advantage flea medication. Mine had some fleas I could not easily see. Advantage helped her. If not bath her weekly. I understand cats hate water, but to help the scratching I would bath her in some really soft shampoo as long as there are no open sores or wounds. Moreover I experience using different flea medications they work different and each cat needs to develop their own used to getting too. So try the flea medication and you find one that works. That being said flea meds such as advantage frontline, revolution are working for various parasites, it is just not named on their label. This is my personal opinion and experience, so if you try different flea meds its at your own risk

Answer 5

My cat is also over weight and has this problem. Due to not being able to groom this spot the skin is not cleaned and flakes. I usually try to give the cat a oatmeal bath to sooth his skin. He also suffers from alleges.This seems to help.

Answer 6

Yes, had a kitty that did that as well. Not uncommon for indoor cats to over-groom.

Use hair ball remedy from pet store and brush her regularly. Sounds like dandruff.

I think you are doing everything correctly regarding the diet.

Answer 7

that is exactly how my cat is, it must have something to do with being over wieght because my cat is too. I was thinking about washing it will flake shampoo haha. but i think the best thing you can do is shave it and then maybe put a lil lotion on it because it is dry. it's kinda gross actually lol.

Answer 8

I don't know about the ichy problem but you can go to petsmart or petco or somewhere like that and they sell grass patches to keep by your cats food .they chew it and it really makes a differnce with furballs. thats why cats like to chew in houseplants.

Answer 9

I don't know whats happening.. but I think you should just bring her to the vet..