Why is my cat scratching his head raw, losing hair, and bumpy?

Hello, and thank you for your question. It looks like Doobie has caused some trauma to the bald patch from scratching. Possibilities include a skin infection (bacterial or fungal), ear infection, parasites such as mites, or underlying allergies. I would recommend taking Doobie to the vet to pinpoint the underlying cause. They may recommend an ear swab to check for an ear infection, and a skin scraping to check for mites, At minimum, they can prescribe antibiotics and anti-inflammatories to treat the itchiness. In the meantime, I would place an e-collar (cone) on Doobie's head to prevent him from scratching the area further. I hope this helps, and that he feels better soon!

Unfortunately, without seeing it in person, I can't say for certain what is causing this rough and bumpy patch beneath Shiki's ear. I can say that if she is scratching below her ear, that can be a sign of an ear infection, and I do think she should see a vet for it. Ear infections in cats can be caused by ear mites, yeast, or bacteria, and can only be treated by medications from the vet. I recommend having Shiki seen by a vet tomorrow to diagnose if she does have an ear infection, and to get medications to treat it if she does. It's important to treat any ear infection promptly, as leaving it untreated can lead to hearing loss.

Hello! With out at least a picture of the bumps its hard to give you an idea of what may be going on. I can tell you that the most common reason cats scratch there ears is due to a mite infection. Another common problem are polyps in her ear, which are usually in the ear canal and can cause cats to scratch their ears. The bumps around the outside of her ears could be irritation from her scratching the area. Other considerations could be a primary dermatological problem and neoplasia. While age is certainly not a disease, neoplasia is more common in older pets and therefore has to be on the list. I do not think Spicy is any immediate danger. I would recommend having her seen by a veterinarian as for an examination of her ears and possibly some tests of the skin around the ears. Hopefully this helps a bit!

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. Based on the images provided, it appears that there is a cyst / wart like skin mass on the head. If this keeps bleeding and opening up, I would recommend having it removed by a veterinarian in the near future. I would schedule an appointment with a veterinarian and have an exam done to evaluate this problem to plan appropriately. I hope this helps!

This is probably caused by an allergic reaction. first of all make sure you de-flea Billu regularly every month with a high quality spot on (ex. Advantage) as fleas are by far the most common reason for these reactions. If the fleas are not the problem, it could be an allergic reaction to food or an environmental factor. this is more complicated to treat and will sometimes require medications such as Steroids, anti histamines or cyclosporin in order to stop the allergy.

Ouch! Those are some major hot spots in that photo. I would recommend having Lili seen by your vet so the area can be clipped and cleaned and any medications such as pain or antibiotics can be given to help it heal a bit faster. I'd also keep Lili from scratching or pawing at it as this can introduce bacteria and more inflammation which can slow healing. If only Lili is affected and you're not noticing other issues like parasites, etc, it is possible there is an allergy underlying. She could be rubbing up against something causing the itchiness, or could have an ingredient allergy to something in her food (or a treat if the spots correspond with intermittent feeding of a treat or wet food). Other issues such as an underlying illness like an immune or metabolic issue can also cause scabbing and skin issues that affect only one cat in the household. A vet visit is a good option at this point both to treat the current scabs and to see if a food trial, allergy meds, or additional testing such as bloodwork to rule out any underlying health issues may be beneficial in finding the cause.

Poor Scooby! No, it's not normal to have itchy white bumps on his body. There are a number of things that could cause a skin issue like this, including allergies, fleas, a bacterial or fungal skin infection, or skin mites (mange). Treatment will depend on what the underlying problem is, so I would recommend having Scooby examined by a vet when you are able to. He/she can do some simple skin tests to help diagnose the problem and get him started on appropriate medication to treat it.