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He mostly scratches his upper neck, under his chin, and his ears. He got a hot spot on one ear which I've been treating with saline washes and tritop salve.
I was thinking I saw something that said head itching indicated one type of allergy, and body itching another, but I can't find that info now. Does anyone know if an itchy head is usually food allergies, or environmental?
My cat scratches herself raw on both head and body. She has food allergies and a steroid shot once per 6-8 wks keeps her itch-free. Also on hypoallergenic food.
Is your cat regularly treated for fleas? Revolution 1X/month works wonderfully for mine and also protects them against earmites and worms and I live in a tropical environment where bugs run rampant.
I now live in a zone where the local cats are pretty hardy (all mine are rescues) but I must confess that in over 50 years of living with felines I've never had to deal with a cat that was allergen-sensitive and had to have special food or steroid shots.
Some frou-frou designer cats (especially those snub-nosed long-haired Persian varieties who match the furniture but sort of snuffle rather than purr because they're so inbred that their nostrils and larynx are all sort of snarfed up together) are prone to allergies and I know of several people who've had problems with them but then the cats have died in short shrift. There goes the decorator ***** - next?
Oh, my apologies, I'm probably being very offensive to many but, well, I'm a Brit and sometimes we simply have to exercise our peculiar brand of humour while knowing that Americans will often dun it unmercifully.
Let us know how you make out, Lilly. Go to your vet! Revolution! Cheers!
Is your cat regularly treated for fleas? Revolution 1X/month works wonderfully for mine and also protects them against earmites and worms and I live in a tropical environment where bugs run rampant.
I now live in a zone where the local cats are pretty hardy (all mine are rescues) but I must confess that in over 50 years of living with felines I've never had to deal with a cat that was allergen-sensitive and had to have special food or steroid shots.
Some frou-frou designer cats (especially those snub-nosed long-haired Persian varieties who match the furniture but sort of snuffle rather than purr because they're so inbred that their nostrils and larynx are all sort of snarfed up together) are prone to allergies and I know of several people who've had problems with them but then the cats have died in short shrift. There goes the decorator ***** - next?
Oh, my apologies, I'm probably being very offensive to many but, well, I'm a Brit and sometimes we simply have to exercise our peculiar brand of humour while knowing that Americans will often dun it unmercifully.
Let us know how you make out, Lilly. Go to your vet! Revolution! Cheers!
My alley cat is the allergic one and I live in Salt Lake City which does not have a flea problem (too cold and dry).
Allergies probably. You can give chlortrimeton (4 hour dose), just 1/4 tablet. I do this with mine and the other one who had allergies and it worked well. Crush with a spoon and add to food. Look at contraindications on box:glaucoma, etc. for cases where you should not give.
Thanks for all the responses! I know it's not fleas because they bite me too, plus he gets combed every day and I haven't seen any sign.
I just started giving him laxatone (4 - 6 weeks ago) because he became constipated. So I'm wondering if that could possibly be causing the itching, or if it's just seasonal allergies. He's getting older (15) and I've heard steroids are dangerous for older cats, so I'm not sure what to do. Any advice on another product to try for chronic constipation?
Last edited by LillyLillyLilly; 10-17-2008 at 09:21 AM..
I have a cat w/this problem. She should be seen by a vet. I waited too long and she ended up severely constipated/impacted. They will start her, most-likely, on lactulose/cisapride (comp. pharmacy makes this one up). Wish I had started her earlier on this. Meds aren't too expensive either.
Try canned pumpkin, too. Not the pumpkin pie filling--just canned pumpkin. 2 tbls. a day if she will eat it. Metamusil 1/2 tsp. once/day. Make sure she's drinking alot though. Each cat is unique though in what works--trial and error type thing.
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