My anxious cat has a bump and hair loss. How can I get him to the vet?

Aw, what a handsome boy! I’m sorry the treatment didn’t give him relief. You can try a product, such as [Zymox](https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/zymox-spray-with-5-hydrocortisone), on the areas where he seems most bothered. Also, I would recommend a “no additive” cat litter such as [Yesterday’s News]() or [Feline Pine](https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/feline-pine-cat-litter). It may be that his anxiety is contributing to his [over grooming](https://www.petcoach.co/article/excessive-grooming-in-cats-what-it-means-and-how-to-help), so you might ask your vet about trying him on a medication such as [fluoxetine](https://www.petcoach.co/pet-medication/fluoxetine/). If none of this helps, it may be best to consider a consultation with a [veterinary dermatologist](https://www.acvd.org/tools/locator/locator.asp?ids=16_Find_Dermatologist) to get as directly to a diagnosis and proper treatment as possible. Thanks for asking PetCoach!

Poor Bany Girl! There are a few things you can try at home for her, but ultimately getting her into the vet for treatment is best. She may hate it, but you can try giving her an oatmeal bath. That may help soothe her skin, and temporarily relieve the itchiness. You can supplement her diet with fish oils containing omega-3 or omega-6 fatty acids. These can help with skin inflammation. You can find some fish oil supplements for cats online or at a local pet store. Also encourage her to drink plenty of water, as dry skin can cause itchiness. Add water to her dry food, or mix in some canned food to get extra moisture into her diet. Give your vet a call to make an appointment for her in the next couple of days. Best of luck, I hope this helps!

I'm so sorry to hear that Loki is having this problem. The most common reasons that we will see a cat have sores and be itchy are due to allergies, a skin infection, or parasites such as mites or fleas. I am attaching a handout about itching in cats below. https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=4952664 Since Loki already has sores, I would recommend having your veterinarian examine him to determine if he has any evidence of secondary bacterial, fungal or parasitic infections. If not, then you can discuss using anti-itching medications such as anti-histamines or steroids short term to resolve the itching and chewing. And if those techniques are unsuccessful, then the final step might be a diet change. Good luck! I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using PetCoach.

This could be either one or both. Without seeing him in person, it’s hard for me to say for sure. Since the hairloss is new and since your are pregnant, I would have your vet check him out to see to make sure nothing else is going on. Your vet will be able to start him on some medicine to help his fur. Your vet can even start an anti-anxiety medicine if he isn’t improving. I hope this helps!

Hi there! It appears from the picture that it's a patch of irritated skin- this can be caused from self trauma (obsessive licking), allergies, or a skin infection. Many cats cope with anxiety by over-grooming themselves, and they most commonly do it in the belly area. From your story, I'm suspicious that Jack was nervous while you were away and possibly did this to himself. For this spot to go away, he needs to stop licking it. This can be done by putting on a cone collar or a shirt- whatever you think he will tolerate best. As far as fixing the problem in the future, I'd recommend using Feliway products. It's a natural feline pheromone that helps to relieve anxiety. If that's not helpful, your vet can recommend a low dose anti-anxiety drug to help him get through stressful times, like when family members are away. If the area begins to ooze or smell bad, it is a sign of an infection. Your vet will likely take a sample to find the cause of the lesion, and then treat with antibiotics and possibly antihistamines or anti-inflammatories. I hope this helps!

Given his symptoms, he should be physically examined by your veterinarian. A fine needle aspirate can be done in the clinic to collect samples for pathology. This may determine if the bump is something that needs to be addressed or simply monitored. Your vet may recommend lab work (CBC, chemistry panel, urinalysis) to diagnose the underlying cause for the vomiting and weight loss. These symptoms have multiple causes. Abdominal x-rays may also be recommended. Supportive care (IV or subcutaneous fluids, antibiotics, anti-emetics, etc.) can be administered as indicated.

Leo is a handsome guy! It may be that he has some allergies causing the bumps. It could also be an infection in his skin. Get him in to see your vet when you are able. If his fur is very matted and preventing you from being able to actually see the skin, it would definitely be advisable to take him in either to your vet if they have a groomer, or to an outside groomer and have him shaved and bathed. This will get good airflow down to the skin which can alleviate irritation if the hair has been matted a great deal. Thanks for asking Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!