Itchy Cat

If your pet scratches frequently, they may be suffering from an allergy. Here are some warning signs that your cat has an allergic problem:

• Scratching, face, ears, head and neck;
• Overgrooming and self-trauma on the abdomen, tail and flanks;
• Developing lip, mouth or skin ulcers.

Your veterinarian will check to see what is causing your cat’s itch, which could include one of the following:

Flea allergy dermatitis is the most common cause for dermatitis in cats, caused by the saliva fleas release as they feed on your dog. Flea saliva contains antigens and proteins that can cause a severe itching sensation in your pet.

Atopic dermatitis is a chronic skin disease associated with environmental allergens such as grass and tree pollens, molds and house dust or dust mites. Cats may also be allergic to fleas, carpets, insecticides, and even ingredients in shampoos. These allergens trigger itch, and depending on what is causing the allergy, your cat may suffer seasonally—or all year round.

Food allergy is one of the most common allergies (or hypersensitivities) known to affect cats. An allergy causes the immune system to overreact and produce antibodies to substances that it would normally tolerate. In an allergic reaction to a food, antibodies are produced against some part of the food, usually a protein or complex carbohydrate. Since antibody production is required for an allergy to develop, food allergies usually manifest after prolonged exposure to one brand, type, or form of food. If your veterinarian suspects food allergy to be the cause of itch in your cat, an 8-12 week elimination diet trial using only hypoallergenic foods may be recommended.

Contact allergy in cats is a condition that results in inflammation from contact with allergens or substances that damage or irritate the skin. It can affect cats of any age, though some breeds with genetic predispositions and dogs with weakened immune systems are more likely to show signs.

How Do I Treat My Pet?

Atopy is often a life-long disease that is rarely cured. The vast majority of cases need chronic management. Treatment would first consist of trying to remove the cause from the dog's environment, then may consist of a variety of treatments depending on how the dog's skin is going. With atopy, your dog may have “flare-ups” where the skin becomes much worse and more intense treatment is required. Treatments may involve special shampoos and skin creams or lotions, medication to relieve itching, antibiotics for bacterial infections and even immunotherapy injections to desensitize your dog to the allergens that cause the problems.

Find out more about parasites that can cause skin problems.