What is wrong with my cat?

Question

Well technically it's not mine because it's a stray cat. when it was born it's coat was shiny and black, but a few months ago it started to constantly scratch behind it's ears, and then the hair behind it's ears starts to drop. since the past week it has became worse and now there's not much hair on it's face anymore. what do you think is the cause of this?

Answer 1

My bet would be mange. If you can, get it to a vet or a ASPCA type facility to get it treated. Mange is VERY contagious, and the cat has to be in serious discomfort. It can even kill animals if it is left untreated.

Good luck, please get the kitty some help soon!

Answer 2

Could be a multiple of reasons. Are you letting the cat live outside? If so that's not a good thing and you will always trouble of some sort.

Just an educated guess tells me your cat could have bad fleas or mange or even worms.

Be willing to take your cat to the vet for a check up. He/She needs it desperately and any one of the three things as well as others can easily be treated there. (You won't be able to do this yourself because first off there's there's the diagnoses and second the meds are prescription)

After you've done that adopt your new kitty and bring him indoors never to let him out again. He's going to hate that for a month or two but sooner or later they all get use to it.

Meow!

Answer 3

First off, you need to give your cat a bath. They have pet shampoos at your local store that can leave your cat's fur very soft and smelling wonderful. It also moisturizes the skin under the fur. Sergeant's Fur-So-Soft is good, but there are lots of brands. You'll love how soft and good smelling your kitty will be. (Flea shampoo is the second option but go for the moisturizer.) Then, you need to use flea powder or flea drops. Flea drops is a lot easier, and the ones at WalMart aren't expensive. You also will need to clean the mites out of the cat's ear. You will see what appears to be ear wax. You use a Q-Tip with mite drops to wipe all of the stuff out of there. You have to do it again next month if they return -- until they are gone. Finally, it can be the cat food. My cat's fur got very dry so I switched from Purina Cat Chow to Purina One, and her fur softened right up. You'll see on the bag that it says "good for fur." It has ingredients like fish oil or whatever.

It sounds like it may be mange also. Animals lose their fur with mange. I've heard of dogs getting mange, but I haven't heard of a cat getting it. I suppose it is possible for a cat to get it. I've never dealt with mange before, but it is treatable. Good luck taking care of your stray cat.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mange

http://sergeants.com/products/detail.asp?pr_a=1&pr_p=&pr_c=&results=12&index=43

http://sergeants.com/products/detail.asp?pr_a=1&pr_p=&pr_c=&results=12&index=71

http://sergeants.com/products/detail.asp?pr_a=1&pr_p=&pr_c=&results=12&index=1

Answer 4

It sounds like the cat has mites or fleas. Look for scabby patches, or small bugs on the fur, you might need to take the cat to a vet or bathe it in a flea shampoo...make sure it's safe for cats.

Answer 5

could be ear mites look inside the ears if it's all black or dark brown and dirty looking then it's probably ear mites any way it still needs to see a vet to be treated.

Answer 6

It could be any number of things from diet or fleas to worms to allergies (ya, cat's have them, too) to... who knows. Take it to a vet if you can afford it. Poor little gaffer.

Answer 7

Kitty could have a skin infection and should be seen by a vet as soon as possible.

Answer 8

if i was you ill take the cat to the vet. even though he/she is not yours. because you are the only one who could help out the poor cat! well he/she might be loosing his/her hair because he/she doesnt eat well. please help this cat! there are places were you could take him/her for free. just remember that you could save his/her life!

Answer 9

it is a cat, cut your loses