My cat is licking a bald spot. Is it fleas or something else?

It's not impossible for a cat to have stress that is causing the excessive licking but usually it is an allergy and the most common allergy for a cat is fleas. Even if you don't see them on her. Since you mentioned that you rescued her from outside my guess is that she has fleas. Cats don't like to have fleas so they will groom themselves excessively to get the fleas off which is why you often won't see them. Here is a good article that may help you determine if fleas are present. http://www.petmd.com/cat/parasites/evr_ct_does_my_cat_have_fleas I would start with fleas as the number one consideration and if you determine there are no fleas then you should get her to the vet for some testing. If you determine fleas are present I would treat her with a GOOD topical flea prevention like Advantage II or Fronline- DO NOT use Hartz or Seargant brands. They are awful and cause many toxicities in cats. You need to apply this EVERY month even if she does not go outside. You also need to treat the environment (so the inside of the house and the yard if she goes outside). https://www.chewy.com/virbac-knockout-es-area-treatment/dp/53856 https://www.chewy.com/advantage-ii-yard-premise-spray-32/dp/103395 If you want to work the stress angle I see no harm in doing that as well. I suggest you get Feliway diffusers for your house to see if that helps. https://www.feliway.com/us#redirected Hope this answers your question. Best wishes!

Poor Sheldon! Cats typically begin itching as a result of underlying allergies to fleas, food (even if there hasn't been a diet change), or environmental factors. Make sure that Sheldon is receiving a high quality flea preventative (such as Advantage, Bravecto or Revolution) regularly even though you aren't seeing fleas. Some cats can begin scratching after just 1 or 2 flea bites. A bath with a gentle oatmeal based shampoo won't hurt, but it is unlikely to provide much benefit for this type of lesion. Instead, you can try washing the affected area with an antiseptic solution, such as diluted chlorhexidine or diluted betadine 1-2 times per day, taking care to rinse well afterwards. If the lesion continues or worsens, Sheldon will need to go to his vet for further evaluation. I hope that all goes well!

Booker could have feline acne. You could clean it with an antiseborrheic shampoos for cats containing benzoyl peroxide and see if that helps. If not, he needs to be seen by a vet for treatment. He may need an oral or topical antibiotic and a short course of a corticosteroid, such as prednisolone. Make sure you don't see any fleas and continue his monthly flea medication. Using stainless steel food and water bowls instead of plastic may help too.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It sounds like Domino is very itchy there and he licks when you scratch him there because you are helping him. That area is typical for flea bites and pets that are allergic to fleas will react and lick off fur. Even if you can’t see a live flea, it doesn’t mean they aren’t there. I would take Domino to the vet on Tuesday for an exam and treatment for the allergic reaction. They can prescribe a flea prevention that works as products over the counter don’t. Good luck and kisses to Domino!

What a handsome boy! There's a few things you may try. To absolutely make sure fleas are not the cause (remember, if you have a pet who is sensitive, tit only takes 1 flea to cause a reaction), talk with your veterinarian about using an oral flea prevention called Comfortis. Try this for 2-3 months and see if it helps. Kahlua looks a little heavy, sometimes this can prevent them from being able to clean the lower back/around the tail. Weight loss will allow him to adequately clean that area and in the mean time, shampooing the area every 4-5 days or using a dry shampoo and a brush every 3-4 days will help to decrease the oil production and decrease itchiness. Continue using a fish oil though I prefer an omega 3 fatty acids supplement. Changing the food to Royal Canin may also help improve the skin quality. Allergies can also cause itchiness but I recommend to rule out the fleas first. I hope this helps.

Poor Ollie sounds itchy! This itching can be caused by fleas, mites, ringworm, or allergies. If he isn't up to date on his flea treatment, I can give you one for him. First, I would give him Capstar. It's a one time pill that starts killing fleas within 30 minutes. Then follow up with a spot on treatment, such as Advantage or Revolution. This is a treatment that has to be used once a month. You will also have to disinfect the environment. Wash his bedding in hot soapy water, and vacuum the furniture and carpet surfaces. You can use a spray to kill fleas in the house, such as Indorex, or a flea bomb would work well to kill the fleas in the home. If he is up to date on his flea treatment, I recommend taking him into the vet for an exam today or tomorrow. The vet can do blood tests, skin scrapings, and use a Wood's lamp to diagnose allergies, mites, and ringworm. Once the cause of the itching is found, the vet can prescribe the appropriate treatment. Best of luck!

We often see these scabs, bald spots and itchiness with fleas. If you haven't checked closely for fleas yet, then it would be worthwhile. Here is a link that shows you how: http://www.wikihow.pet/Check-Cats-for-Fleas If you find fleas, then you can purchase products from the per store or from the veterinarian that will kill them. If you don't find fleas, then something else is irritating the skin. Check to make sure that there is not any new bedding, substance or spray that Atticus could be getting into. Also, the skin can become dry and flakey if bathed too frequently or bathed with an inappropriate product. If those tips don't help you solve the problem, then you can give her a little relief with a cool water bath and an oatmeal shampoo for cats. Try to gently remove the scabs, but don't scrub or apply too much pressure to them. Your vet will then be able to help to determine the cause and advise on additional treatment. I hope that helps and Atticus gets better soon.