Feral cat has skin scabs & patches. What to do if I can't pick him up?

This looks like a severe abscessation that requires antibiotics and appropriate disinfection. You can request an house call at your local veterinarian if possible or otherwise they may give you a bland sedative to be able to put him into the cat carrier.

Poor kitty. Unfortunately without having this cat seen for a physical exam and treated once the underlying cause for the scabs is found, you won't be able to help much. Most skin issues in cats involve an allergy, and this will require either medication in the form of an injection that the vet can give or an oral medication that is prescribed. Cats don't really respond well at all to medication found over the counter for skin allergies and most medications that can be tried in dogs are not well tolerated in cats, so we have to be very careful with them. I would recommend trying to trap this kitty somehow so you can take it in to see a vet soon. You can also try to apply a flea preventative (i.e Advantage, Revolution) in case it has a flea allergy that is causing these skin lesions. This may help some, but from your description, this kitty likely also has a secondary bacterial infection that needs to be treated with prescription antibiotics as well. I do hope that this poor cat can get some medical attention soon! Best of luck and take care.

These lesions can be caused by a few different things, including fleas, mange, lice, infections (bacterial or yeast), ringworm, allergies, among others. They can also be self-induced trauma from itching. If you can't catch her, it will be very difficult to treat. If you can catch her, you can try either a topical flea preventative or flea collar like Seresto, or a medicated shampoo that is anti-fungal and anti-bacterial like Dechra MalAcetic Ultra Shampoo. But I really think this needs to be seen by a vet as the yellow coloring may indicate bacterial infection and she may benefit from antibiotics.

I would think the scabs are most likely due to itching secondary to fleas. I would recommend applying a flea prevention every 30 days to all stay cats if you can. If you really cannot catch them I would try to spray the environment with pet friendly flea killer. It can be very hard to manage fleas in outdoor animals

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Smokey! Smokey could be flea allergic, meaning he only needed to be bitten by a single flea and exposed to the saliva which is what flea allergic animals react to. I would still treat him for fleas since he was in the cattery. Otherwise he should see your Vet to treat him for the scabs which may consist of antibiotics and steroids. If not fleas it could be an allergy. Scab formation is common in cats with allergies. Cats metabolize medications differently than people and dogs and only veterinary approved medications should be used. I wouldn't self medicate Smokey. I wish you the best of luck and a speedy recovery!

I have a flea-allergic cat too and it is very frustrating. Ask your vet about giving her an over-the-counter allergy medication to help relieve the itching. Chlorpheniramine and cetirizine (Zyrtec) are commonly used to help cats with itching. Something else to consider is that your cat may have other allergies that are contributing to the problem. A common allergy is to the protein source in the food. Ask your vet about a limited diet or about getting Boris started on a product like Prescription Diet z/d. This diet is formulated with hydrolyzed proteins, a process that changes the protein in the food in such a way that the body doesn't recognize it as an allergen, and it still provides the nutrition your cat needs to be healthy. Also, consider asking for a recommendation to a veterinary dermatologist. They have more and better testing available to them as well as specialty education in skin problems that may make them better able to help you and your cat.

Hello. Samson may have allergies, or a parasitic skin infection, such as what is seen with fleas & skin mites. Ear infections can also cause a cat to scratch in some of these areas. Have you spoke to your neighbors to see if they are aware of the cat's condition? Perhaps they are have financial difficulties. You can certainly offer to purchase & apply a good flea & tick product on Samson ( Bravecto for cats is an excellent choice ), or even volunteer to take Samson to the vet at least one time. You can also supply Samson with some extra food, when he comes by. Seeing a pet in need is a sad thing, especially when all you can do is stand by & watch. Do whatever you can to help this poor guy, but just be aware, not all people appreciate unsolicited advice or assistance. Good luck with Samson & thanks for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.