Cat contstantly washing and scratching and has scabs around neck and head? Hair loss on back of legs?

We've de-fleaed her several times but she still does it!


She's almost 9 years old and she had this once before but the vet said it was stress related to grief (because we had a cat that died) but we have another cat now who we've had for about a year and they seem very happy together, so whats the problem?


Could it simply be persistant fleas?Cat contstantly washing and scratching and has scabs around neck and head? Hair loss on back of legs?
Has the vet checked for fleas? If the vet did not find fleas, treating for fleas is useless.


Even though you've had the new cat for a year now, there could still be stress going on in the older cat.


Try a Feliway Diffuser. It releases a cat pheromone that calms cats. However; it does not work on all cats. Try it for 2 full months before deciding it doesn't work.Cat contstantly washing and scratching and has scabs around neck and head? Hair loss on back of legs?
I had a cat with a very similar sounding problem. If it is the same thing then it is fleas causing the problem. Assuming we're talking about the same thing, my cat's problem was caused by an allergic reaction to flea bites. Take the cat to the vet (maybe a different vet, because the previous answer doesn't sound like they actually checked into it). Mine just got given a course of antibiotics and it cleared up.
She might have mange but that's my guess if it is not fleas! My brothers cat had that and they had to give her a special chemical bath. But no matter what it is take her to the vet and suggest these possibility's (sometimes they need a little help)!lol! Hope this helps!


-ricki( ;
could just be allergies.. It is the summer and lots of things can trigger allergies..





my dog scratches and bites herself in the summer and she loses a lot of fur..
This could be the result of multiple treatable conditions.





Fleas -- check for fleas, flea dirt, eggs, etc. If you cannot find any, have your vet check. If it is fleas, see end of answer for solutions.





Allergies -- she could be allergic to something in her surroundings, her kitty shampoo, flea treatments, etc.





Stress -- cats will often clean obsessively when stressed, leading to scabs, bald patches, irritated skin, and other symptoms you have described.





Mange / Fungi / Parasites -- you need to have the vet check for mane and other skin diseases. If he has already looked at the cat, it is unlikely that she has any of the above, but make sure she was checked. Some forms of parasites can lead to scarring, permanent hair loss, severe discomfort, and various other issues.





Now to treatments. If you cannot find fleas, stop all flea treatments, dips, otc medications, etc. Wait for one month, and see if the symptoms clear up. If they do, you likely do have an allergic cat. Introduce these things back into her life slowly, one at a time with two to three week breaks between. If symptoms return, the last thing you introduced to her is her allergen.





If this didn't work, ask your vet for a shampoo for dry skin. They have oatmeal baths for cats, that have done wonders on my cat's flaking problems, itchiness, and patchy fur. Wash her monthly according to the instructions, or ask her groomer to wash her with this shampoo. You should see improvements within a week or two.





Still don't have any results? Your cat may have dietary issues, considering her age it is unlikely, but have her checked more closely to see if there are other health issues not related to her skin, that could be causing stress.





If you have a clean bill of health, you are likely dealing with a stressed out cat. The solutions for this are a great deal more difficult. To begin, provide your cat with a safe place. Try a cardboard box with a hole cut into the side. Make sure she has a blanket or bedding, and place the box in a secluded corner in a quiet part of the house. Make sure she has access to the box at all times, and make sure she can still get to her litter and food. Remove other stresses as much as possible, try not to vacuum around her, separate her from other pets (unless she is attached to them), don't force attention on her, let her come to you when she wants something.





Hopefully something will help. Good Luck