Why is my cat's skin itchy from his walking harness or vest?

This looks like a nylon harness so I would be surprised if he was allergic to the material. It is possible however that it rubs Lucky in a way that makes him uncomfortable. You might want to try a harness with more padding like this:

Thank you for submitting your question regarding your dog. I recommend starting by bathing him with a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner such as an oatmeal or fatty acid based formula to soothe the skin. This can help with a minor rash or irritation. You can also leave the harness off for the next few days to see if that has been contributing. If the rash spreads, is very itchy or develops pimples, then he should see his veterinarian. In this case, he could require treatment. Unfortunately, there are numerous causes of red skin. For example, allergies to something in the environment, his diet or something in the house can cause it. Infectious organisms like fleas are common in certain parts of the country. If necessary, the veterinarian will examine him, ask detailed questions about his lifestyle and history and prescribe medication as needed. I hope this information helps!

I would give Gizmo time to adjust to wearing the harness and collar. If it is really bothering him I would recommend taking everything off when he is inside the house. That is as long as there is no risk to him running outside without a collar. If you see scabbing or reddness then I recommend a veterinarian since that could mean that there is an infection. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

I think that would be uncomfortable for Felix. It could be a contact allergy from his walk. If he is scratching it, it can become infected from continuous scratching. I would take him into the vet to have this treated. Best of luck.

You will need to take your cat to a veterinarian for a skin exam. Your cat could be suffering from an allergy, mites, fleas, a bacterial or fungal infection. each of these requires a different treatment, so it is important to find out what is causing the itch. Your vet will do a thorough exam and maybe a a skin scrape. He will then discuss the options with you and then prescribe medications, possibly give an injection to stop the itching.

Hi Barb! I'm sorry to hear that your cat is so itchy! I highly doubt that your cat developed his itching from a dirty exam table, but he may have had an allergy to the type of cleaner used on the table. Causes of acute itching are typically allergic in origin and can be due to fleas (less likely since your little guy is on Revolution), diet changes, or environmental allergens. When animals become extremely itchy, they can cause skin infections as a result of their scratching. At this point, it sounds as though your cat needs to go back to the vet to make sure he has not developed an infection and possibly may need a course of corticosteroids to help control his excessive itching.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is possibly due to allergies. A secondary infection is likely and also needs to be addressed. There are many things that can cause allergies though in most cases they can be broken down into 3 big categories: flea, food and environmental allergies. Allergies are usually worked up in a stepwise fashion starting with flea allergies as this is the easiest and cheapest to take care of. If not on a flea preventative, then it would be a good idea to get started on one. If already on one then it would be a good idea to change to something else (there are many new products out in the market). If not improved in 1-3 months then it is time to move on and check for food allergies by switching to a novel diet (new protein and new carbohydrate). If that does not seem to be the issue then you are left out having to check for environmental allergies which require blood and/or skin tests. Allergies can be very frustrating to deal with at first but so rewarding at the end when we are able to treat them effectively!