{"id":630287,"date":"2024-07-17T10:00:49","date_gmt":"2024-07-17T14:00:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.catster.com\/?p=630287"},"modified":"2024-08-17T04:39:41","modified_gmt":"2024-08-17T08:39:41","slug":"ill-scratch-your-back-itchy-cats","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.catster.com\/felines-weekly\/ill-scratch-your-back-itchy-cats\/","title":{"rendered":"I\u2019ll Scratch Your Back if You Scratch Mine: Itchy Cats"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hi, I\u2019m Dr. Lauren!\u00a0Read my introduction<\/a>\u00a0to learn more about me and my two adventurous cats, Pancake and Tiller.<\/strong><\/p>\n

As a vet, this is a common time of year that I get all sorts of complaints about itchy cats. The warm weather leads to plants and trees that blossom, increasing the number of pollens and other allergens, insect levels skyrocket, and cats become itchy. But a cat doesn\u2019t have to lose hair or be actively scratching to mean they are itchy. Sometimes cats show itching in very unexpected ways\u2026 let\u2019s take a look.<\/p>\n

Signs of an Itchy Cat<\/h2>\n

Typical signs of itchiness include the obvious like the physical act of scratching and hair loss. A less well known sign is the \u201citch response\u201d -something we were commonly taught about in vet school in relation to sheep, but that I also observe in many itchy cats in clinics. If a cat has general itchiness (the Latin term is pruritus) then scratching them or petting them on the top of their butt can elicit a chewing response. Odd one!<\/p>\n

\"Pancake<\/p>\n

Hair loss, and scabs, can also indicate that physical scratching is traumatizing the hair coat and skin. But you may not realize that an itchy cat might also only present as a cat that is frequently grooming<\/a>. Now, certainly most cats will spend a fair amount of time grooming their haircoat. But itchy cats often lick or groom when they are itchy, rather than outright scratching, like a dog may do. Try to look at the times your cat is grooming, if you are trying to decide if it is normal or not.<\/p>\n

Normal grooming behavior happens after meals, or before a nap. Itchy cats often groom at random times- they will be walking through a room, and then stop to do a brief grooming session. Or you pet them, and they suddenly have a frenetic cleaning session. They will also groom in front of strangers or in unusual places- where they otherwise wouldn\u2019t and shouldn\u2019t feel entirely relaxed.<\/p>\n

Common Causes of Feline Itch<\/h2>\n

Just like people, cats can also get allergies. Fleas are a common one that many cats experience. Food is another, especially to proteins like beef and fish. But ectoparasites, like fleas, and skin mites, can also cause itch even in non-allergic cats.<\/p>\n

\"Unfortunately,<\/p>\n

Ways to Help an Itchy Cat<\/h2>\n

It\u2019s always best to start with a visit to your cat\u2019s vet. Bring photos and videos of anything questionable, as sometimes they can be hard to see in the clinic, or your pet may not display the behavior.<\/p>\n

Ensure, too, that your cat is up to date on flea and worm treatments<\/a>. (Some tapeworms can cause extremely itchy behinds for some patients! And fleas are a main cause of feline tapeworms!) Also remember that even a small amount of fleas can cause some cats to be very itchy, if they are allergic. And if that itchy cat has a tendency to groom, they may ingest all evidence of fleas before they can be detected. Therefore, an ounce of prevention really is worth a pound of cure!<\/p>\n

Your vet can also guide you on other treatments that may help your cat, which can include diet trials to detect food allergies<\/a>, and itch suppressing medications.<\/p>\n

Generally, itch is very treatable in cats, so never be afraid to scratch that itch, so to speak, and dig deeper into the issue by seeking professional help.<\/p>\n

This article is a part of Dr. Lauren, Pancake, and Tiller's series.<\/div>
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