My cat has white bumps and scabs on its tail. What's going on?

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.

It is difficult to diagnose without seeing the bump but it could be an infection, cyst, mass, or an injury. The best thing would be to have your vet take a look at it to determine the exact cause and best way to treat. He may need an antibiotic, anti-inflammatory, or other medications to treat. Your vet can do a needle aspirate, if necessary, to help diagnose the cause of the bump.

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!

There can be a few reasons that Mister would do that. Fleas are a very common cause of sensitivity in that area. I would look at that first and start him on a good flea prevention like Cheristin or Revolution. If Mister is overweight, sometimes they can't clean well and this makes them itchy. Keeping his coat cleaned and regularly brushed will generally help with that. Look for red skin or scabs as this indicated infection. He should be seen if this is present. Hope this helps!

If Jagger goes outdoors he may be developing abscesses at the base of his tail that are rupturing and healing - abscesses most often form after a cat bite. He may also have a dermatological condition like allergies, fleas, or 'stud tail' that is causing bacterial infections at the base of his tail. I would recommend making an appointment with your veterinarian to have these sores examined. He may need antibiotics.

Hello, and thank you for your question. The bumps on the tail could be related to parasites such as fleas, or a bacterial or fungal infection, or a skin allergy. Her behaviour of running around is likely due to itchiness. I would recommend a vet visit within the next few days. They can examine the skin for parasites, and potentially perform tests such as a skin scraping or fungal culture. If a bacterial infection is suspected, they can prescribe antibiotics. At minimum, anti-itch medication can be prescribed while they figure out the underlying cause. For now, you can try bathing the affected area with a gentle aloe and oatmeal shampoo. Rinse well with lukewarm water and pat dry. I'd also advise putting an e-collar (cone) on her head to prevent her from further licking or biting the skin and making it worse. I hope this helps, and that Bling feels better soon!

He could have a skin infection, allergic dermatitis, fleas, and/or a problem with his anal glands. You could bathe him with a anti-bacterial medicated cat shampoo and see if that helps. Also, use a good flea prevention, like Revolution, Bravecto, or Frontline to prevent fleas. If the problem continues then he should be examined by a vet to determine the cause and treat. He might need an antibiotic, anti-histamine, and a corticosteroid to help treat. Your vet can also express his anal glands if they are full.