The cat itches until there are sores on the neck but there are no fleas

Many cat owners experience scratching in their pets. Often this is just a symptom that indicates some more serious disease in the animal. In the initial stages, scratching does not cause any particular problems for the cat, and owners often do not pay attention to it.

This is wrong, because many diseases are curable only in the first stages, and some skin infections of cats can be dangerous to humans. Let's look at why a cat may scratch, how to help your pet at home, and in what cases you should consult a doctor.

Possible causes of itching

A cat itches a lot if it is bothered by fleas. Even when they are not visible, and the owner is completely sure that all insects have been removed, it should be remembered that the reaction to flea bites lasts up to 1-1.5 months. Be sure to thoroughly check your pet for fleas.

The reasons that cause severe itching in a pet may be:

helminthiases;
lichen;
fungal and bacterial skin infections;
endocrine diseases;
hormonal imbalance;
stress;
blood-sucking insects and lice eaters;
allergic reaction to food, care products, cosmetics.

Interesting!
The structure of a cat's brain is much closer to that of a human's than that of a dog. In a cat, the same parts of the brain are responsible for emotions as in a person, so stress in her is caused by the same reasons - humiliation, psychological pressure, undeserved punishment. And stress manifests itself in very similar ways, including skin reactions.

Let's look at the reasons why a cat itches if there are no fleas and methods of treatment.

Diagnosis of the condition

An unpleasant sensation that causes a strong desire to scratch is itching. This condition in an animal is an obvious sign of skin damage. In veterinary medicine, there are 2 types of disorders:

Localized type, when one or several places on the pet’s body begin to itch. Sometimes scratches appear only on the face, as well as on the neck and cheeks.
Generalized type, which involves the appearance of sores on the entire body of the animal.

If you notice that your cat is itching a lot and drops of blood appear in the scratching areas, you need to contact a specialist at a veterinary clinic. To begin with, the pet is examined for the presence of blood-sucking parasites, which can cause severe stress in both couch potatoes and walking individuals. Scratch marks from bites are most often found on the chin, cheeks, neck, and tail. If fleas or ticks are not detected, then we are talking about other, more serious reasons.

After questioning the owner, the doctor will scrape the damaged area on the pet’s skin. Examination of the sample in the laboratory helps to identify the causative agent of the disease. Additional tests may also be ordered.

Once the exact disease is determined, the veterinarian prescribes treatment and gives additional recommendations on nutrition and care for the recovering patient.

Unfortunately, owners go to the veterinary clinic too late: when they discover severe wounds, bleeding scratches or bald patches on the pet’s body. This is the next stage of the pathology, which causes severe discomfort and can lead to severe infection. The duty of a good owner is to notice and respond to the problem in a timely manner.

Itching caused by helminths

Helminths in cats
Helminths not only have a pathological effect on the cat’s digestion. Worms cause loss of essential nutrients by absorbing micronutrients from the intestines. As a result of lack of nutrition, the pet's skin becomes dry, dandruff appears, and the cat licks itself much more often and more intensely, trying to get rid of the itching.

Intoxication of the animal's body with waste products and toxins produced by worms provokes an allergic reaction, skin rashes, and itching. Even a tiny kitten can suffer from helminthiasis after acquiring parasites from an adult cat. Therefore, if the kitten is itching, it is necessary to check its feces for the presence of worm eggs. The area around the anus may also itch when helminths crawl out to lay eggs. The cat then behaves characteristically - it “rides” on the carpets with its butt, relieving the itching.

Interesting!
There are 3 types of helminths parasitizing the body of cats:
roundworms;
tapeworms;
flukes.

Some species are transmitted through flea bites to humans. The presence of worms in kittens leads to delayed growth and development, and in pregnant cats, worm infestation can cause miscarriage. In the presence of individual individuals in the body, the disease can be asymptomatic. Fleas also transmit helminthiasis to other pets, so all inhabitants of the house need to be treated.

Medicines for helminths

If the itching is caused by worms, then it is necessary to deworm the animal. For this purpose, as prescribed by the veterinarian, the animal is given Prasitel, Pyrantel, Trontsil K, Kanikvantel, Profender, Polyvercan (sugar cubes), Panacur, Febtal, Dirofen, Milbemax, Drontal. But first you should undergo an examination and determine the type of parasite, since broad-spectrum drugs are much more toxic than those that act selectively.

Bacterial or fungal inflammation

Various opportunistic microorganisms living on your pet's skin do not harm a healthy animal. But if your cat’s body has been weakened, for example, due to some disease or lack of vitamins, then the population of “harmful” fungi and bacteria increases, causing the cat’s skin condition and general well-being to deteriorate.

The doctor will check for inflammation caused by fungus or bacteria and also conduct a smear examination. As a rule, this inflammation is not the main cause of the disease.

Ringworm and other types of skin mycoses

The reason why a cat itches, but there are no fleas, may be various fungal skin infections. Dermatomycosis is a common and diverse pathology in cats. They are caused by molds and yeasts. In weakened animals and kittens, progressive mycosis can lead to death.

Dermatomycosis in cats is a poorly studied group of diseases. The most famous is trichophytosis or ringworm:

When the disease occurs, areas with lost hair form;
the pathology is accompanied by the formation of abundant dandruff and severe itching, in which the cat scratches the affected area until sores appear;
Many types of mycosis are transmitted through the bites of blood-sucking insects.

A sick pet can infect its owner. Young children who, due to insufficiently developed immunity, lack protection against fungi are especially at risk.

Ringworm in cats

All types of cats are susceptible to skin fungal pathologies. But veterinarians note that Persians are especially prone to fungal infections.

If scratching or areas of hair loss, especially clearly limited ones, appear, you should consult a doctor, since only with the help of microscopy can you determine the type of pathogenic fungus and determine how to treat it.

Therapy for mycoses involves drugs from the griseofulvin group, vaccination and the use of external antifungal agents. Itching can be treated using symptomatic external remedies. A cat itches as long as there is an irritating factor - it will disappear and the pet will not itch.

Fleas

Fleas are one of the most common causes of compulsive scratching and licking. These pesky parasites hide in your cat's fur, potentially evading detection for months—or until an observant owner notices something is wrong. By then, the itching will likely be a major source of grief for your poor kitty.

Fleas are sneaky bastards; they spend only a small portion of their life cycle on your cat. The rest is spent around the house: on curtains, on the bed or on the rug. They are waiting to return as soon as the flea treatment is finished. This is why it is so important to take extra care and handle all pets and furniture at the same time. If you don't, chances are they'll keep coming back!

How to check : You know there is a flea infestation when you notice small black dots, which can be seen by closely inspecting the skin. A good flea comb can also be helpful in determining whether your cat needs flea treatment.
Solution : If you have been unable to prevent fleas, we recommend purchasing a veterinarian certified flea treatment. This will ensure that your treatment contains enough active ingredients. Flea treatments are often sold in tablet or topical form. To get the most benefit from them, you will need to follow the package instructions carefully.

Infectious skin diseases

Itching in an animal can be caused by an infection that has penetrated into the thickness of the skin through scratches, small wounds, or flea bites. Local inflammation causes the cat to itch furiously, but bacterial infections can be treated well. Veterinarians advise using sulfur ointment or Juglone powder externally. These drugs cope equally well with dermatomycosis and bacterial infections. Systemic treatment may require antibiotics, but these medications should only be given to your pet as directed by a doctor.

Interesting!
Juglone powder, dissolved in an oil base, was rubbed into the skin for ringworm behind the cat's ear. After a few days, the lesion shrank, and after a week of use it disappeared completely. Juglone is a black walnut extract that is used in America to treat parasitic diseases. The drug has a bactericidal, sedative, antifungal, antiprotozoal and immunomodulatory effect. According to expert reviews, the product copes well with skin problems in animals. We have only recently begun to treat dermatoses with this medicine, and the drug is difficult to find on the market.

Juglone
Infectious skin lesions in cats are secondary and are not transmitted to humans. Most often, people are the source of infection for cats.

Diagnostic procedures

If a cat tears its paw, tail, area under the eye, or on its back, the veterinarian conducts an external examination. Flea dermatitis can be identified when small black granules called flea excrement appear on the skin. For subcutaneous infection, scraping of the epidermis and scales is performed. Pyoderma scratching in a cat requires examination of the pus to determine the causative agent. Fungal infections are detected using a Wood's lamp. In addition, diagnostic methods are prescribed, such as:

general and biochemical blood test;
thyroid tomography;
hormone testing;
stool analysis for worm eggs.

Infestation by exogenous insects

A cat can itch even in the absence of fleas; in addition to them, other arthropods can parasitize the pet. External parasites cause various diseases in cats, the most dangerous of which are:

damage to the ear by ear mites;
sarcoptic mange, which is localized in various parts of the body;
notoedrosis, which most often manifests itself in the muzzle area.

Treatment for ticks, lice eaters, and fleas involves the use of special products—drops, sprays, and shampoos. They help not only remove fleas and other parasites, but also relieve itching.

Parasites

Another cause of itchy skin and scabies can be parasites; scabies mites (sarcoptic mange) are more common in pets. In this case, damage can be found on the cat's elbows, ankles, and ears.

However, only a doctor can make a more accurate diagnosis. To do this, he will make several deep scrapings and, if parasites are found, he will prescribe appropriate treatment.

Itching scabies

This is a tick that parasitizes the head and neck of an animal. The result is damage to the inner layer of skin. Scabies itch feeds on lymph and particles of the inner layer of the epidermis. The parasite lays eggs there.

Symptoms:

The appearance of red bumps on the skin.
The appearance of thick crusts on the affected areas.
Transformation of crusts into papules filled with liquid.
Thinning of hair in affected areas.

Ear mite

It is a parasite that causes ear scabies (otodectosis) in cats. It settles in the skin folds of the ears and feeds on lymph, skin cells and blood.

Signs of infection:

Itching in the ears. The cat scratches its ears and shakes its head.
Redness appears in the folds of the ears.
The amount of wax in the ears increases.
A brown coating with an unpleasant odor appears in the ears.

Ixodid tick

This is the most dangerous parasite, a carrier of bacteria. The tick is quite large and feeds on cows. Upon examination, it resembles a gray grape (if it has drunk blood). If the strike appeared recently and did not have time to drink blood, it looks like a small spider.

Causes diseases such as:

Infectious anemia.
Damage to the blood and lymph nodes.
Damage to the spleen and liver.

Such diseases are difficult to tolerate and take a long time to treat. Therefore, the best option is prevention (collars, sprays, drops).

Fly larvae

Fly larvae often appear in open wounds of cats. The insect lays eggs in the animal's wound, causing a disease called myiasis. The larvae feed on living cells, tissues, and fluids from the body.

Course of the disease:

Larvae emerge from the eggs, they molt, grow, and actively feed on tissues and cells from the wound.
The larvae penetrate deep into the skin, bringing the infection deeper and deeper. Connective and muscle tissues are damaged.
The wounds hurt, itch and fester, the animal becomes restless,
Scratching wounds leads to bacterial infections.

Allergic reactions

Allergies in cats can be caused by various factors:

feed;
anti-flea collar;
flea remedies;

Allergy to flea drops
medicines;
pollen, dust, etc.

Only a veterinarian can determine the allergenic factor and prescribe treatment. Often it is flea collars that cause contact dermatitis, causing hair loss, itching, and scratching of the neck area. The owner needs to carefully monitor how the animal reacts to changes in the diet or the use of new products for caring for the pet’s fur and skin.

A cat can also itch due to systemic pathologies. With endocrine diseases, the cat begins to scratch the area of the neck, ears, and back. The cat's spine is very flexible, so the pet begins to scratch hard-to-reach areas, which leads to sores. Untreated allergies can lead to angioedema and death of the animal.

There are many reasons why a cat starts to itch. When a cat occasionally scratches itself, this is the norm for cats, but when an animal scratches and licks a certain area until wounds and sores form, you should immediately contact a veterinarian to avoid serious consequences for the pet’s health.

Prevention

Both purebred cats (British, Scottish Fold, Maine Coon) and outbred pets are susceptible to sores and scratches due to itching around the ears, on the stomach and back, and limbs. To protect your pet from skin diseases, you should protect your cat from contact with sick animals and carry out regular treatment with flea and anthelmintic agents. Cosmetics for care and food should be chosen of high quality, with natural additives. Purchase industrial food products that are hypoallergenic. Carry out hygienic cleaning of ears and eyes with special means. It is recommended to periodically disinfect the sleeping area.

Hormonal disorders

Systemic pathological processes leading to severe hormonal disorders negatively affect the entire body of a pet. Typical problems:

Diabetes. A severe endocrine disease caused by relative or absolute insulin deficiency due to a number of reasons. At the present stage of development of veterinary medicine, it cannot be completely cured. A cat with diabetes develops bald patches, a sharp change in body weight (usually upward), the quality of the coat deteriorates, and the elasticity of the skin is lost. It is possible to alleviate the condition of a pet only with a special diet, as well as the use of medications on an ongoing basis;
Cushing's syndrome. A rare cause of itchy skin observed in older cats. It is an extensive pathological symptom complex that develops against the background of excessive synthesis of hormones produced by the adrenal cortex. Complete relief from the problem is only possible through surgery and in situations where the syndrome is caused by tumors;
Thyroid gland dysfunction. Depending on the type of pathological process (insufficient or excessive secretion of thyroid hormones), the cat may experience severe itching of the skin, partial or complete baldness, tangled hair, and other external negative symptoms.

Treatment of hormonal disorders in a pet is possible only under the supervision of a veterinarian.

Features of treating itching in a cat, depending on the initial trigger

In order to successfully eliminate cat itching, it is first necessary to determine the main cause that provoked irritation of the pet’s skin. Only after eliminating the trigger (disease provocateur) can you think about how to treat the itching itself and its consequences.

To speed up the healing of your pet's combed skin, you can use vitamin E in liquid form. You can also put a special Elizabethan collar on the animal, which will prevent further scratching of the wounds.

If the animal cannot get used to the presence of a protective structure on the neck, then you can sew a T-shirt that will protect 90% of the body. Already combed wounds must be disinfected with regular iodine.

Veterinarians also usually recommend using the following natural remedies to speed up wound healing:

liquid honey;
silver water;
lavender essential oil diluted with coconut oil;
tinctures of St. John's wort or calendula (preferably non-alcoholic).

Of course, immediately after applying any product, the cat will try to lick it off. It is for this purpose that doctors recommend purchasing a protective collar in advance, or sewing any barrier cape yourself. It is also worth carrying out preventive anti-flea treatment on the animal, even if no signs of parasites were noticed with the naked eye. Bathing with a special shampoo will not only not harm the cat, but will also relieve the itching for a while.

You can help your animal cope with unpleasant sensations using a homemade decoction of rosemary and peppermint. A simple rinse with this natural product will create a feeling of coolness, which will allow your pet to calm down for at least a few hours. It is also necessary to force your pet to drink a lot of water: sometimes excessive dry skin is caused by a lack of fluid in the diet.

What to do if treatment is unsuccessful?

With correctly prescribed therapy, the effect is noticeable from the first days: the animal itches less and the ulcers begin to dry out. If there is no improvement within 5-7 days, you should definitely visit a veterinary clinic.

Even if the veterinarian prescribed the drugs, but there is no result, contact us again. It also happens that an examination by another doctor or in another veterinary clinic helps.

The main thing is not to let things take their course and achieve improvements in the cat’s condition. Otherwise, you will have to treat not only the root cause, but also secondary infections.