Cat Itching A Lot: Causes and Treatments

Author: John Stephens
Date Of Creation: 25 January 2021
Update Date: 1 July 2024
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Itching Cat Help
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Do you see your cat scratching a lot? There are several causes that can explain this symptom. At first, it is common to think of a skin problem, but the truth is that the reason will not always be located at this level. Therefore, if the itching continues or does not improve, it is necessary to consult a veterinarian.

In this article by PeritoAnimal, we explain the most frequent pathologies that study itching in cats, as well as the preventive measures we can take to avoid them. Keep reading to understand the which explains the cat scratching itself a lot and when to take it to the vet.

Cat itching a lot and losing fur

The first thing to keep in mind is that when a cat starts, it is very likely to lick itself. So it is common that we do not notice that our cat is itchy a lot, but if their licks are excessive, itching in cats is one of the causes we should consider. A cat's tongue is very rough, so when it is rubbed hard over an area of ​​the body, it ends up pulling out the fur. Both the tongue and the itching cause baldness, areas with less hair density and lesions. Now, what causes your cat to itch a lot, both generally and locally. Below, we show the most common causes that explain why this itching occurs all over the body or in some specific areas.


Food allergy

Itching in cats can be caused by different skin problems, as we will explain. But sometimes it's a intolerance or a food allergy which manifests itself through the itching. In these cases, in addition to observing intense itching, it is common to notice gastrointestinal symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea, respiratory problems, skin redness and inflammation. It is essential to detect the food that causes the intolerance or allergy to remove it from the cat's diet.

Cat has fleas or other external parasites

Another of the most common causes of a cat scratching itself a lot, which also has a relatively simple solution, is the presence of external parasites. The most common are the fleas. These insects are hematophagous, that is, they feed on blood. To do this, they bite the cat and it reacts by scratching and licking itself. In principle, the application of a suitable dewormer will solve the problem, although it must be borne in mind that the fleas seen on the cat are not all there is. Most are in the environment. Therefore, in addition to deworming the cat, it is necessary to treat the environment. Remember that these fleas can also bite other pets, including people.


Also, some cats' contact with flea saliva causes an allergic reaction. It serves a single bite to trigger it and is known as the Allergic dermatitis to flea bite or DAMP. These cats not only suffer from itching, but they also have lesions in the neck and lower back, which we'll see as redness, sores, alopecia, red skin or, if maintained over time, hyperpigmentation. So if your cat has scabs on its neck and scratches itself, it's quite possible that it has fleas and is allergic to their bite. It is necessary to go to the veterinarian, as it may not apply only an antiparasitic.

the ticks they can also cause itching and hair loss in the cat, especially in areas such as the neck, ears or between the fingers.


Fungi

Fungi like what causes ringworm, usually do not cause itching at first, but over time, the picture gets more complicated and that's when we can detect the itching in the cat. We can also see rounded lesions, alopecia, crusted acne, etc. So if your cat is itchy a lot and has scabs or sores with these characteristics, it's likely to be this pathology.

Yeasts like Malassezia they can also cause itching, alopecic lesions, redness, peeling, crusting, foul odor, thickening and darkening of the skin, etc. In the latter cases, lesions can appear anywhere on the body. To identify these pathogens it is necessary to seek out the veterinarian, who can perform the necessary tests and determine the most appropriate treatment.

eye problems

Do you see your cat scratching his face and eyes a lot? Problems like the one we've already mentioned can affect the face area as well. Head scratching can cause hair loss around the eyes, nose and ears. Also, the itchiness in this part of the body could be due to other causes. For example, if the cat scratches his eye or eyes a lot, he may have a foreign body or suffer from eye diseases such as the conjunctivitis. If we are unable to extract the object or treat the underlying cause of the itching, not only does it not improve, but it is complicated by discharge, pain or inflammation, you should not wait to see your vet.

foreign bodies

Another sign of a foreign body is the cat scratching its nose a lot, as objects introduced by aspiration can be located there, such as vegetable fragments. They usually come out when the sneeze happens. If this is not the case, the veterinarian must be notified.

Otitis

If the your cat itches his ear a lot, he may have an infection. We can notice the bad odor of the ear canals, secretion, pain, etc. Otitis has different causes and it is important to treat it from the first symptoms to prevent the inflammation or infection from complicating and advancing into the ear canal. Therefore, diagnosis and treatment are the responsibility of the veterinarian.

other causes

In a smaller percentage, itching in cats is due to other autoimmune diseases or, much less often, to tumors. With so many causes, we won't be able to cure our cat without first having a diagnosis. Therefore, the recommendation is to see the veterinarian. Although some causes of itching can be resolved relatively easily, if it is due, for example, to an allergy, the treatment will be more complex. It is not always possible to determine the trigger of the allergy, much less avoid it. Therefore, it is recommended to seek a veterinarian with experience in this area.

How to Treat Itch in Cats

When a cat scratches and pulls its fur because of a food intolerance or allergy, the first thing we should do is try to find the allergen. For this, it is recommended to establish a elimination diet to try to find the food that causes the allergic reaction. These diets are characterized by the use of fewer ingredients, for example, a single protein. However, the quickest and most effective way is to perform an allergy test at the veterinary clinic. Once the food has been identified, we must simply eliminate it from the cat's diet.

If the cat is itchy a lot because it suffers from a flea or tick infestation, treatment involves administering antiparasitic products appropriate and recommended by the veterinarian. Among the products we find on the market, pipettes, syrups and tablets stand out.

Now, if the cat is itching due to an illness or a more serious health problem, the solution is visit the expert person to make the diagnosis and provide the best treatment. Without a diagnosis, we cannot treat the animal, let alone self-medicate it, as we may even worsen its health.

Cat itching a lot but looks healthy

If we detect that our cat scratches and licks itself much more than normal, but the vet's evaluation concluded that it is healthy, we may be facing a psychological level disorder, although it is less frequent. Only after the veterinary examination can it be thought that this is the cause.

What we will notice will be a compulsive grooming. All cats spend a lot of time cleaning themselves, but when they can't stop, there's a problem. This excessive cleansing occurs in response to stress. In these cases, there is no itching, but sores and alopecia can appear similarly due to excessive licking or scraping. The cat should be treated to resolve the problem and, if appropriate, for skin lesions. Therefore, it is necessary to consult a specialist in feline behavior or ethologist, in addition to the veterinarian.

Cats are animals very susceptible to change and that's why almost any modification to their routine can trigger a severe stress in them, in which they can show symptoms such as constant itching. Check out our article on Things that Stress Cats and help your feline regain emotional stability.

Home Remedies for Itchy Cats

As we have seen, if you notice a cat scratching itself a lot it is necessary to go to the vet. Otherwise, we will not be able to alleviate the itching, because to do so, we need to treat the cause that is causing it. Once this is diagnosed, the proper treatment is what will make the itch disappear.

At home, we can focus on prevention by following these measures or remedies to prevent itching in cats:

  • Parasite control: even if the cat does not have access to the outside, it can contract fleas, hence the importance of keeping a regular deworming schedule.
  • Quality food: as they are carnivores, cats' diet must be based on animal protein and adequate for the cat's life stage. This not only reduces the chances of developing an intolerance or allergy, it will also provide the animal with all the nutrients it needs to stay healthy overall.
  • Environmental enrichment: cats need a space to develop their activities. A house with cats should have scratchers, hiding places, furniture at different heights, toys, places to relax, etc. Stress should be minimized by establishing adaptation guidelines for any novelty that changes your routine.
  • Specific products: Do not bathe or apply any product to the cat that is not specifically formulated for cats.
  • Go to the vet at the first symptom: scratching and compulsive licking end up affecting the hair and skin, so the sooner the cause is treated, the less damage will be produced and recovery will be easier and faster. Do not forget that periodic reviews allow for early detection of pathologies.

This article is for information purposes only, at PeritoAnimal.com.br we are not able to prescribe veterinary treatments or perform any type of diagnosis. We suggest that you take your pet to the veterinarian in case it has any type of condition or discomfort.

If you want to read more articles similar to Cat Itching A Lot: Causes and Treatments, we recommend that you enter our Skin Problems section.