my cat is scratching himself bald?

Question

he has fleas we keep giving him baths but he still scratches im thinkin his skin is dry from the shampoo,i dont want to shampoo him for awhile... is there any special kind of conditioner to bath him in to moisterize while getting rid of some fleas? he is getting worse and there are scabs all around his neck...

he is an indoor cat, i have another one that goes outdoors and also has fleas but he's not scratching as bad as my other..

Answer 1

Take him to the vet!

He might even have a food allergy or a parasite. It's best to get him checked out. Explain the details to your vet. Some cats have bad allergic reactions to flea bites.

Good luck!!

Answer 2

First of all, don't give him baths. The best thing to use for fleas is Frontline for Cats. You put a few drops of liquid on the back of his neck once a month and that's it. Works great. If you can't afford it, use the same type of medication. Try Hartz. You should be able to get either one at any pet store. I get mine at Petland. Baths are inconvenient, ineffective, and kind of cruel. There is no reason to do it.

If the bath is drying his skin, stopping the baths will solve the problem. However, it sounds like ringworm. Get an over the counter athletes foot cream. Seriously, it lists ringworm on the label as a treatable condition. Put the cream on the scabs twice a day. If it doesn't start to clear up within a week, you can also get the liquid (not powder) spray for athletes foot. Try using that in addition to the cream, all over your cat to get any spots you might have missed.

I would take him to a vet if you don't see improvement in a week or so, ok? Good luck.

Answer 3

this is actually very comon. there are a couple of things it could be first off unless this is an old or sick cat you don't need to give him bathes cats clean them selves. (most cats don't like water anyway.) but if for some reason you cat you want/need to bathe him use a differant soap. another thing is the fleas. try a flea collar they always work best for me another thing is it may be the flea drops if you are using Hartz SWITCH IMMEDIATELY they have a chemical they will eat your cats hair. i work at a store which sells them and i actually recomend people avoid the brand all together. the Hartz flea collars cause the most problems. but yea always research or brands for putting them on or cats.(Google hartz victims and pass the word) if these two things do not work simple mention it to your vet on his next check up. it is nothing that will kill your cat. just a little dry skin. try to find a shampoo with no frangance or may one for cats wit sensitive skin you will probably have to go to a pet store to find them.





when choosing flea protection the ingredients to be wary of are organophosphate insecticides (OPs) and carbamates, both of which are found in various flea and tick products. A product contains an OP if the ingredient list contains chlorpyrifos, dichlorvos, phosmet, naled, tetrachlorvinphos, diazinon, or malathion. If the ingredient list includes carbaryl or propoxur, the product contains a carbamate. According to the NRDC, the potential dangers posed by these products are greatest for children and pets. There is reason to be concerned about long-term, cumulative exposures as well as combined exposures from the use of other products containing OPs and carbamates. The NRDC's report does list Hartz under flea- and tick-control products that have been found to contain OPs.

DON'T BUY:
Hartz
SERGEANT'S
Summit Pet Products
Zodiac
Bio Spot

Answer 4

To many baths will take the protein out of the hair on your cat. I have a cat that pulls his hair out an we don't have fleas. Fat Fitz has allergies real bad I changed his food to science diet for sensitive skin an I went to pet depot an bought drops for air born parisites. But if you do have another cat coming in from outdoors he might be bring in the fleas.

Answer 5

You might want to contact a vet or a groomer for some professional help. You're right that shampooing can dry out your cat's skin and make things worse, if that's possible. I've never had a flea problem with my cats, but I suspect that either a vet or groomer could alert you to a better way to deal with them.

Answer 6

it is possible that your cat is allergic to flea bites, mine was. i would invest in some good flea shampoo and a product like advantage and do both cats!! you should also do your house chances are they aren't only on your cats. the only way to solve the problem once and for all is to treat everything. washing baseboards with bleach is very important because they like to hide there. don't forget to wash bedding, srpay with flea spray and try not to miss anything, the invested time and money is well worth it. It doesn't take long for the situation to get out of control.

Answer 7

Dam you got your hands full with worry.

Scabs itch too when the wound starts getting better so if you could get a collar on that would be ideal..Steroids are something my old cat had to take she itched and scratched herself to the point that the wounds she created were becoming infected with ganghorean she died of complications related..Those wounds have to stay clean and they must have a chance to heal but then again i am not a vet..Good Luck! I feel so bad for you..plz tell me how your cat comes along..Sometimes i just wished i could sedate her to keep her from scratching but you can only do so much..God Bless!

Answer 8

Use a topical medication, such as Frontline, Revolution, or Advantage. This will kill the fleas much more effectively than shampoos, and it won't dry kitty out.

Answer 9

advantage .. once a month on the back of the neck for all animals.. Won't have to bath or worry about indoor/outdoor cats ..
Your house probably has fleas also!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 10

Why not go the vet, & get advantage its for flees. But if you wait to long, the flees will get in your carpet. And then they will be biting you. its like $12 for the advantage, one treatment will get rid of the flees.