Why does my indoor-outdoor cat have scabs and cuts on its head?

Scabs like this could be caused by allergies (food allergies, or an allergy to something in the environment), or a bacterial or fungal skin infection. If you're positive that he doesn't have any fleas, then I would recommend having him examined by a vet when you are able to. It sounds like he will probably need antibiotics and a short-term steroid or other anti-inflammatory medication to treat the problem, and the vet can also talk to you about options to prevent this issue from recurring in the future - such as a diet chance to a prescription hypoallergenic diet, or a daily allergy medication if needed.

Gucci could have this lesion for a few reasons including an allergic reaction, a bacterial infection or something like ringworm (which humans can get). It's important to keep him from licking the area because this can keep it inflamed. Gucci should wear an elizabethan collar at all times. You can apply a dab of coconut oil twice daily and rub it in well. Only use the organic oil and don't let him ingest it because it can upset his tummy. If the lesion is not looking better after 1 week, have him examined by the veterinarian. I hope this helps.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Skin lesions like you are describing can have a variety of causes, including skin parasites (fleas or mites), an infection (bacterial or fungal), allergies, or another underlying medical issue. I would recommend he be evaluated by his regular veterinarian to determine the underlying cause for his skin lesions, so he could start any treatment (antibiotics, anti-itch medications, parasiticide) that he may need. In the meantime, I would clean the area will diluted betadine if possible and then keep it dry, and trim his nails back as much as possible to keep him from scratching at it. Good luck!

If you have ruled out fleas/skin mites. I recommend to have him tested for hyperthyroidism and if that's not the cause, have him on a 12 week food trial with a hydrolyzed protein diet. You must start moving down the list of potential causes of the skin lesions. Atopy is still on the list but is harder to test for so rule out these other causes first. Best of luck and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Leo's skin could look like that for any of the reasons you listed and add skin mites to the list as well. The problem with skin conditions is that they all clinically look the same. Diagnostics or sometimes a response to treatment is the only way to know what is the underlying condition. For a young cat like Leo, fleas, skin mites or ringworm is more common but allergic reactions are not impossible. That lesion on his head looks pretty inflamed. if you don't see any obvious cause like fleas, I recommend to have him examined by his veterinarian. The veterinarian who will look for other clues on the physical exam to get a better idea what the underlying cause is. Ringworm and mites can be ruled out with some simple diagnostics and he can receive medication to heal the lesions. You may start an omega 3 fatty acid for cats as this can help with inflammation and skin health but it may not fix the problem. Best of luck and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Those look like pretty inflamed lesions. There are a few things that come to mind. Cats can get an autoimmune condition called eosinophilic granuloma that requires steroids for treatment and maybe antibiotics to control secondary infections. Check the house and make sure there's no possibility should could have touched something very hot or gotten into anything that could cause a chemical burn. Lastly, fleas and ringworm can be brought in on your shoes/clothing although this would be an abnormal presentation. Rarely, pets can get skin cancer that looks similar to this. I recommend to have Shadow checked out by her veterinarian since this is a mystery and she has two lesions. It's better to be safe. I hope this is helpful and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Skin lesions can be caused by bacterial, parasitic or fungal infection, dietary or environmental allergies or sensitivities, immune system disorders, or a combination of the above. Indoor cats can still pick up fungal or parasitic infections, so if the lesion does not resolve or if it gets worse, I recommend making an appointment to have Dunki seen by your veterinarian to help determine the cause of the lesion you’ve noticed and to make sure it is treated appropriately. The vet will likely want to look at a sample from the area under the microscope to determine if there is an infection and to figure out what medication is appropriate for treatment.