My cat pulls hair from his back every summer, why is it worse now?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is possibly due to allergies. It really comes down to figuring out what is causing his allergies so that they can be treated or the specific allergen avoided. 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!

Skin problems in cats are usually secondary to an allergy. Puttie might be allergic to something that is in the air in your area over the summer. The best thing for him is have a good skin exam done by a veterinarian. Allergies can lead to secondary problems such as bacterial and fungal infections. Allergies can't be cured, but can be controlled with different medications. Allergies are difficult to treat, so be patient as your veterinarian finds the right combination of medications that will keep him comfortable. Your vet can also make sure that there isn't something else going on instead of allergies. They will check the lumps to make sure that it isn't something more serious like swollen lymph nodes.

It sure sounds like Micole is itchy! Problems such as skin infections, ringworm, mites, And allergies can all cause these symptoms. I would encourage you to have him evaluated by your veterinarian soon. Medication may be needed to improve his comfort. Best of luck and I hope he improves soon. Thank you for using Pet Coach.

You will need to take your kitty to a veterinarian for a skin exam. Summer 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.

I am Sorry to hear that Neo is exerpwicing these issues with his fur. It sounds like he is a happy and healthy cat otherwise! A few different things could be happening that I would be advise investigating. It could be possible that Neo has seasonal or environmental allergies. This might mean he would benefit from regular medication which could be prescribed from your veterinarian. As you were only there 5 months ago they may be happy to write you a prescription without a visit to the clinic. It is also possible that there is an underlying medical condition. Such as kidney disease or hyperthyroidism. I would advise ruling out the simple first and trying to treat for allergies. If after a few weeks his hair hasn't started to come back in with the medication, then perhaps try investigating further causes with a blood test and potentially a skin scrape. Best of luck with your lovely Neo.

There are a number of reasons that a cat will overgroom themselves, but one of the most common reasons that we will see a cat overgroom the inside or back of the thighs is a flea allergy. If a cat has a flea allergy, it only takes 1 flea bite a week to keep them itchy and cats are such good groomers that you will often never see fleas. So, it is always recommended to have all animals in the house on a monthly flea preventative if any animal in the house has allergies or skin problems. I have attached a handout below on allergies and itching in cats. https://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=2607 If Voltaire is already on a regular flea preventative, the next step would be to have your veterinarian examine him and 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 licking. 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.

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Shedding is completely normal, especially as the temperature gets warmer. What would be abnormal is if you are seeing bald spots of skin on your cats, especially if it the skin is pink/red or dry and crusting. This could indicate a skin infection or allergies. I hope this is helpful!