What the hell am I going to do with this cat?

[MichiganVote]

So I have this big cat and he's a great cat. But about 4 months ago he started scratching and licking. Opened an area on his belly that looks like a bedsore and keeps scratching and opening an area above his eye.

Took him to the Vet. Gave him a shot-nothing

Treated it ourselves with cat antibiotics-nothing

Changed food-nothing

Changed kitty litter-nothing

Anti-itch spray-nothing

Have been using appropriate skin soothing shampoo-nothing

Just when I think we have the damn areas cleared up or nearly so-he starts up again.

Advice?

[Sanity Claws]

1. Tell us more about the food change

Chicken and grains are in probably 90% of all cat food out there. If he has an allergy to either, he is most likely still getting exposed to them, even if you changed foods.

Blue Buffalo makes a dry food for food sensitive cats. The one I'm using is based on turkey and sweet potatoes --- no grains, soy or chicken.

Another brand that is also good is called Before Grain (or something like that) You can get both dry and canned food that does not contain grains or chicken.

BTW, my cat seems to be doing better since changing foods.

[MichiganVote]

2. I changed him over to the Science Diet brand for sensitive coats.

Thinking that he may have some kind of cat eczema which I know can be the result of an allergy too. I'll look for that food.

Thank you. He's usually a pretty cool customer so I really don't think its a behavior thing but it could be. He just can't seem to let the areas heal.

[Kali]

3. science diet isn't what it used to be

try some other high end no-corn foods

I like wellness but there are others, give them a few weeks to a month - also a cone of shame can help with getting the individual lesions healed up

[MichiganVote]

4. Yeah we've been using the cone. It helps some but he is incredibly facile at getting it off.

And he's figured out how to position himself to lick his belly. So it helps but but not entirely.

But I will try the food ideas. Somethings gotta work. I just don't want to take him back to the Vet for another shot without figuring out what will help.

[grasswire]

7. do you know about the inflatable cone?

Available at petco and other places.

[MichiganVote]

16. I'll check it out. Thanks

[Kali]

8. you could try a larger size or taping on an extension of cardboard

but I also had another, probably obvious, thought - any chance of fleas? they can sure cause a lot of aggravation even if they are very few in number - if there is a reaction it can last long after the flea is gone

check around with the google - there are other varieties and sizes of e-collars - as mentioned above there are iflatables, foam filled, soft, hard, plastic, cardboard etc. You may have to try a few. Same with the food.

Our MamaKitty had a bout with a raw spot on her belly last winter - never figured out what it was but she wouldn't leave it alone so I made a collar and washed it daily and applied a little neosporin until it healed ans she never bothered it again. She still gets a little tense if I hold her on her back and look at her stomach, though. heh

we thought maybe it was a spider bite or something that she got infected by "picking" (licking) at it like a little kid with a scab.

[MichiganVote]

17. No fleas but we are onto the neosporin now.

[AngryOldDem]

12. Hmmm...

Our cat had the same thing going on for months where she was licking herself raw. Finally got a diagnosis of eczema and a recommendation of Science Diet for sensitive skin -- and it's worked wonders. I'm sorry to hear that's not the case with your kitty.

It is indeed maddening because you can't get them to stop it. She had a particularly bad patch on the underside of her hind leg and I would always cringe when she would groom herself in that area.

Good luck from someone who's been there.

[MichiganVote]

18. Thank you and nice to know he's not the only one.

[LynneSin]

15. Don't use Science Diet - do you have Royal Canin available

:shrug:

[MichiganVote]

19. Can't say. I'll have to look it up. Thanks!

[TuxedoKat]

5. Here are a few suggestions

If you are using any plastic bowls for his water or food, switch to glass, ceramic or metal. Some cats are allergic to plastic. Also, I'd try a really high quality cat food like Wellness or other comparable food as a previous poster suggested. The higher quality foods have better ingredients and fewer fillers. You'll have to go to a pet food store to get this.

Rescue Remedy is supposed to help with stress. If he has an allergy, maybe it is stressing him, hence causing him to scratch and lick. You could also try joining this yahoogroup and asking there. You could also check their files for info too.

http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/CatVet/

You might want to ask your question in the pets forum too. Good luck.

[MichiganVote]

21. Thank you for your thoughtful reply. Will do.

[distantearlywarning]

6. We had a cat who used to do this. It was very problematic.

Like you, we changed his diet, his litter, his everything, and nothing much helped (except for moving to a house with wood floors instead of carpet - seemed to reduce symptoms a bit, but not fully). He was just allergic to life, I guess. It eventually got so bad that I actually researched declawing for his hind feet - something I would NEVER consider doing to a cat except in a terrible, drastic situation (which this actually was...his quality of life was awful, with big oozing sores and pain all the time).

Anyway, what we finally ended up doing when we and he were all at our respective wits' end was to get Soft Paws, at the recommendation of a very smart and humane vet. We put them on his hind feet and were very diligent about keeping them updated all the time. Although this didn't solve the allergies, it allowed him to scratch himself without making huge holes in his face, getting infections, etc. He was a lot happier and so were we, even if he did look a bit unmanly with his painted toenails. :-) It really improved his lot in life, by at least 80%. The cost and aggravation of the Soft Paws were minimal compared to the good they did him.

Anyway, this wouldn't help with the licking, but maybe it would help with the scratching? They are pretty easy to put on if your cat is at all cooperative, last for a month or two each application, and are much cheaper than vet bills.

http://www.softpaws.com/

[MichiganVote]

20. Believe or not this was my next plan so glad for the recommend. Thanks!

[MiddleFingerMom]

9. !!!!!

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[Kali]

10. ...

:spray: :rofl:

[MichiganVote]

22. LOL! You bad....

[Sweet Freedom]

11. flea allergy?

The cat doesn't have to have fleas...one piece of flea dirt will do it. Try some Advantage or Revolution. (My cat has the same problem. Good luck!)

[MichiganVote]

23. Will do. Thanks!

[TZ]

13. It could be boredom

Some cats if they don't get enough stimulation will excessively groom. Make an effort to keep him occupied with toys, scratching posts, cat trees, etc. If you can't find a root cause, this would be my guess..because I had a cat who did the same thing.

[MichiganVote]

24. Actually he's all boy. His favorite toy is the back yard and rodent or two.

Sometimes he'll play but you can tell he thinks its sissy and gets embarrassed. He really enjoys it when the dog next door slips his electric fence collar off and wanders in the yard. So anyway, suffice to day he scares the shit out of it.

Very territorial. But fun!

[MilesColtrane]

14. Prozac?

:shrug:

[MichiganVote]

25. I tried it. Made me feel like scratching. :)

[MilesColtrane]

34. Ha!

Seriously though, some vets will prescribe it for obsessive behaviors in pets.

http://www.petplace.com/drug-library/fluoxetine-prozac/page1.aspx

[Curmudgeoness]

26. Have you talked to the vet again since the shot didn't work?

A cortizone shot is often a first step that a vet will take, but there may be other options that the vet could try since that did not work. I would not give up on using the vet to help you yet.

[MichiganVote]

28. No I haven't. Frankly I didn't really like the person. Our old Vet had retired and we had to make a

quick replacement.

[Curmudgeoness]

30. Well, sooner or later, you will need a vet. Look further.

I've had that same problem. If you have a bad feeling, don't use the vet you don't like. But if you are going to have animals, you are going to have to find a vet you like and trust at some point.

I do hope and pray you find something that helps.

[MichiganVote]

32. Oh we're in the process of doing that now. I just felt like I was an extension of her wallet.

I'll pay a reasonable rate but not an exorbitant rate and that is what we paid the 1st and only time we took the cat there.

[hedgehog]

37. I agree - take the cat to another vet and tell him/her what hasn't worked

so far.

PS - same thing applies with people doctors. Any medical person is going to treat for the most likely cause first, then try the more exotic solutions if the first doesn't work!

[MikeW]

27. ours started to pull his hair out after our dog died

Vet did a bunch of tests ... turns out he really missed his pal.

A year later we got another pup from a rescue and he was cured!!!!

[MichiganVote]

29. Actually we did have to put down our 18 yr. old kitty but that was about 8m ago.

[Skip Intro]

36. I think you should take a good look at this possibility.

I saw some tv special years ago where a cat would pull her fur out after her kittens were taken.

This was years ago, something about psychology of cats or something, but this poor cat gave birth to a litter of kittens and they were given away (maybe a bit too soon?) and this cat started pulling her fur out, this was ongoing. Can't remember the resolution, but it was obvious the absence of her kittens was to blame for her behavior.

And with the above account from a fellow DUer, there might be something to look at here.

If you have had a cat this cat has been used to being around who is no longer around then maybe the source of the problem lies there? How long after the 18 yr left you did this cat start acting this way? Is there a correlation? Did this leave him as the only cat/pet? Would a new cat (or puppy?) in the house, slowly introduced of course, possibly be the answer? Maybe?

Also, I know you are doing all you can for your baby, as would I, but with all the treatments you've tried, and all that has been suggested, I am a little worried that maybe things are moving so fast that maybe the cat, physically and mentally, is just overwhelmed and can't keep up.

I'm really sorry to hear of his, and your situation. Please keep us posted. I know, I KNOW, there is a solution.

[MichiganVote]

38. He did have some of this skin problem one winter when the other cat

was still alive. But its possible that her loss has aggravated him. New cat? Ahhh.. tempting but we have one other cat. She is a stray and fairly frail. She's not much company for him.

But we're thinking about it. Thanks for your thoughts.

[MS68]

31. Steroid shot?

Was the shot a steroid shot? I have a cat that would lick until he had huge oozing spots. A steroid shot was the only thing that did it. He usually needs one a year. Some vets are hesitant to give them because they can have side affects, but I didn't have any other choice. He's 8 years old now and healthy in every other way.

[MichiganVote]

39. Yeah. But I don't think she gave him as much as he needed.

[RKP5637]

33. Ref: reply #11. I had the same problem with my cat. I found a vet that

specialized in dermatology. He had to give him a cortisone shot and then cortisone pills I gave to him. My cat's now on Revolution year-round. The specialist said some cats are horribly sensitive to fleas. My regular vet had not found one flea on him. The specialist said one flea is all it takes for some cats, you won't even find one on the cat. Mine never has ever gone outside, but apparently got a flea from me tracking one into the house. He would scratch until bleeding. Also was losing fur on his belly and hind quarters.

This occurred a couple of years ago, but since I've been using Revolution all of the time, once per month, he has never had the problem again. Apparently it's a small percentage of cats that can get this horrible reaction.

Anyway, I was reading your posts and thought it sounded similar. Maybe you can locate an animal dermatologist or discuss with your regular vet if you cat might be one that is very allergic to even just one flea bite.

[MichiganVote]

40. I'll check it out. Good suggestion.

[blue neen]

35. My kitty gets similar sores on his belly.

The vet said it's something called eosinophilic plaque. The vet wanted to put him on daily prednisone, which I hesitated to do.

We did change his food, which helped somewhat. I also give him lots of catnip that we grow here. That really helps to mellow him out.

Good luck! :)

[MichiganVote]

41. Thank you for the ideas. We'll look into it.