tortishell skin question?

Question

I have four cats. Their ages are 7, 6, 4 and 3. None of my cats have problems but one. The 7 year old has always been fat but eats the least of any of them. She has always had dandruff and runny, glossy eyes. Within the last 6 months or so, she had developed ONE scab on her side. I thought it might have been from where one of my other cats may have accidently hurt her when they were playing. But now I don't think that at all. The scab was red and looked like the hair either grew into it or across it. Last week the scab fell off and there was a pink area left an no hair about the size of a dime. I've been watching it and it seems like the scab is growing back on top of the same area. I can CONFIRM that my cats don't have fleas. They have never been out side their whole lives and I don't have any animals that do! She doesn't scratch at it ir any other part of her body. I don't know if its because she is too big to reach it. But she recenty started to make a chatter noise and go crazy if I scratch any near the scab like it feels good and relieves the itch. Can any one give me some kind of advise as to what this is? I'm thinking it is an alergy but I'm not sure to what. I have always fed the IAMS weight and hairball control. I have always put Arm & Hammor litter down. Nothing in their lives has changed that I'm aware of. Thank you in advance for any help!!! I have search and read a lot online about people wasting so much money jumping the gun and just running to the vet when they have been able to solve their proplem with others answering them. If this doesn't work, I will take her though! Thanks again!!!

Is there an an ointment or cream I can use that won't hurt them?

Chalice-If you will read what I wrote, I never said that I won't go to the vet. I take my cats for yearly check ups every year! I just wanted to see if anyone else experiences the same problem so I could have a heads up or common solution! My vet is aware of my cat's dandruff and runny eye problem. They have confirmed that she doesn't have fleas! They told me that she has allergies. They told me to stop bathing her so often and the dandruff would calm down and it hasn't. They told me to use human allergy eye solution on her and that helps! My cats are way and above taken care of. I have also rescued all four of them from near death situations! I have spent, in total, about 3,000 on them since I've had them just in vet visits and rescue bills!!! I'm a great cat owner and am often joked on by friends on how spoiled my cats are. Because I don't have kids, I pretty much pamper them above and beyond!

Answer 1

It might be ringworm, which is a fungus and very contageous to both animal and human. Your vet will need to treat it.

Check out this website

http://www.cat-world.com.au/Ringworm.htm

Answer 2

Is that your evidence for your cats not having fleas - that they've never been outside?! That doesn't keep animals safe from fleas!!! Fleas can enter houses quite easily!

Show me a medical question that someone's posted where they've had some useful advice offered them. Often people may THINK they've had some useful advice - but this is not the place for medical questions!

This cat needs to see a vet. Runny eyes, overweight despite not eating much and a reoccuring scab - how do you know it's not an immune mediated problem? Even if it WAS 'just an allergy' - how to you propose to find out what it's allergic to? Certainly doesn't sound like an allergy.

If you want an ACTUAL answer to this problem, you'll go to a vet. You don't HAVE to follow the medical advice they give, but at least you can be sure it's actual good advice. You can get good guidance for the price of a consult fee.

Chalice

EDIT: Yup, I would say Maeve's answer pretty much just backed up my answer. What has her cat's problem got to do with yours exactly? Plus, she didn't want to help her cat with its hormone problem? Charming.

Answer 3

I have a 9 year old tortie that is pretty chubby and has had her fair share of dandruff problems. Now, you said that it was a scab? Are you sure that she didn't have like a mat or something that got irritated? I am trying to think of possibilities, I am no vet but I have had cats and dogs my whole life. I have two torties and they are the most expressive cats I have ever had, and with the biggest personalities!! I have noticed that they both seem to have breathing problems, kind of like a soft wheeze every now and then. It could be allergies making them weeze, and it could be allergies causing the scab on your cat. You could call your vet and describe the scab and maybe they could recommend an ointment or something you could put on it. Good luck!! And say hi to your kitties for me! =]

Does your tortie have an attitude? The younger of the two that I have is so like possessive. If I stay the night at my boyfriends house or am away from home for a long time, she will go into my brathroom and shred my toilet paper! Every single time!!! It is like her way of letting me know that she is p*ssed that I abandoned her. And if I accidentally shut her out of my bedroom at night she will open the door, yes my cat can open my bedroom door!!


**Edit: Hey Maeve! My torties totally have it!!! =] Yours??**

Answer 4

Oh stop the crap and excuses. She has never been healthy! TAKE THE CAT TO THE VET! You said yourself that she has always had what YOU call "dandruff" (which could be something more serious) and runny eyes. That poor cat. YOU need to stop making excuses, stop being cheap, stop wasting time on the computer whining to unqualified strangers, and get up off your butt and take your cat to the VET!! Your cat may well have not only a skin disease but something much more.

I would NEVER consider taking my pet to the vet a "WASTE!" Not of time nor money. Incredible that you would even say such a thing. A responsible pet owner you are not! At the very least she would get her yearly checkup. By the way, just WHEN HAVE any of your pets had their checkups, or teeth cleanings?!

Stop letting her be miserable and suffer. Take her to the VET!

Answer 5

I have a 10 year old Tortie who also has similar skin issues. She's a chronic licker and chewier on herself - and her front legs have gone pretty much bald. I have also found bald patches with small scabs on her tummy area.

I have taken her to 3 different vets and they all told me similar things:

She has kind of a nervous tick with the licking and chewing until bald. Like how some people chew on their nails or pick at skin. It's harmless, and just a little quirky thing she does. One of the vets told me that if the hair loss bothers ME, I can put her on hormones to make the hair grow back. Obviously, I have NOT but her on hormones. When I notice a scab, I rub a little Triple-Antibiotic Ointment on her.

She is a happy, healthy cat - with just a little tick. Since you and I and a poster above ALL have Torties with this issue, I wonder if it has to do with that specific type of cat........

Answer 6

It could be ringworm. I know my cats have had it before and sounds almost the same. Or if you notice that it is on her dominant side that she sleeps on it might be a bed sore. I would try an anti itch cream, and a cream with oatmeal or cocoa butter to sooth the skin.

Answer 7

try looking up ringworms. they are a parasite that lives on the skin and can be killed with anti-fugus medicine. like the kind you would buy for athletes foot.