So all started months ago. My Scottish Fold (Dee Dee) suddendly got some bald patches on his face and lost whiskers. At first we thought that it was the result of his fighting with my older cat, but then noticed that he had a severe case of ear mite, and ear infection due to the mite. We took him to SPCA, where he got treated for like 2 months. In the mean time, he wore a plastic collar to prevent him to scratch further.
After his ears recovered, we removed the plastic collar. He compulsively groomed himself, and even left bald patch on his body. Also kept scratching on his face. We took him back to SPCA, however they have no idea about what it could be. The vet said that may be allergy. However, the vet has given him some allergy medication and didn’t work.
Here are their conditions:
- They are feed on Purina Pro Plan salmon, and had never have problem before. We tried changing then to Sensitive Skin & Stomach, with is made of lamb, but didn’t help.
- We had changed the litter, but then changed it back to the one they used before, which was Tidy cat.
- Their plate is plastic, but I couldn’t change it to ceramic or metal bow, since it is attached to their automatic feeder. I am cleaning it everyday.
- I am giving them boiled water now.
- Since then, I put on a baby shirt on him, so that he would not be able to lick himself. However, each time I take it off, so that he could groom himself, he would compulsively lick on a spot, leaving it bald and red.
- I didn’t want him to be unconfortable wearing the plastic collar all the time, so I removed it. He still scratch a lot, and specially when he wants attention or want to be fed. Seems that he know that he would catch our attention each time he scratch, so we are trying to ignore him in order to discourage the behaviour. I checked his ears and they are clean. I am cleaning them every week anyway.
- As for the apartment, We haven’t moved anything, the place hasn’t changed.
- He has been with us since 2 month old, and he is now 3 year old. My old cat has been here before him, and usually she would not fight with him unless provoked. Usually Dee Dee is the one that would chase her till she fight back.
- They are all neutered and spayed.
- He is getting his dosis of Frontline Plus monthly.
Now, we don’t really think it is allergy, since the allergy medication didn’t work, even for the duration of the treatment. I think it is more a behaviour problem. Seems that after not being able to groom himself for several month (when wearing the collar) he just got crazy to scratch and lick himself.
Anyone has a similar experience with your cat (or dog)?
Sorry, I know the post is long. But I just wanted to put all the details before someone would ask me.
Oh, he has never been caged. He was treated at home with drops and daily ear wash
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{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
Zooming out so trying to be quick… I’ve been told sores on the face often mean food allergy. If those are dry food, try a wet that doesn’t have cereal. If you are in the UK ‘Classic’ brand from Sainsburies/Waitrose is a good one to try. My girl had this symptom form milk/cheese. Food bowl could also be responsible: see if you can find a shallow glass or ceramic bowl/plate/saucer that fits inside the automatic feeder. If he’s an inside cat, I’d leave off the Frontline for now. My girls had fleas only 3 times in 19 years as inside cats… (and two of those times they’d been out briefly) Allergies can be to anything, including something that’s been fine before, so keep trying! Good luck!
Cats are stupid they dont do anything
no ones gonna read all of that, go somewhere so they kill ur cat. no hope.
The symptoms you describe could be any of a number of ailments. Most often, continuous scratching and/or licking indicates a nervous condition, caused by a traumatic experience. A long stay in a cage at the SPCA could possibly account for that. But there are also diseases of the autoimmune system or neurological system that could account for the problem. This is serious. I know it is hard, but if your current vet can’t solve the problem, you are going to have to look for one who is more knowledgeable about cats; even a specialist. These conditions can prove fatal if not treated. My prayers are with you and Dee Dee.
I’m not sure what is wrong. We had an older cat that started doing this and it got so bad he licked/scratched straight down to the muscle and hit a vein one day. We had to put him down because no one could figure out what was going on. I’d suggest talking to specialists and different vets and try to figure out what’s going on with the poor guy.
I had a similar problem with my cat. She licked at a spot on her belly obsessively until it was almost bald.
It turned out she is allergic to fleas, and even though I gave her frontline monthly, new ones were getting on her and making her itch. She’s overweight, and can’t quite reach her back – since she couldn’t scratch the itch, she kept grooming obsessively at a spot she could reach.I had to completely bomb the house to make sure no new fleas got on her + reapply the frontline. Since then she’s stopped and the fur has grown back.