Two Easy Ways to Start Earning Rewards!
Become a member today!
Members-only pricing and offers, personalized care notifications, Vital Care points back on every purchase and more!
Already a member? Sign in
Become a credit card member today!
Earn 2X Pals Rewards points at Petco
when you use Petco Pay!
APPLY NOW
Learn More About Petco Pay Benefits

My cat won't stop scratching her wounds. How can I help her?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | Domestic Shorthair | Female | spayed | 5 years and 3 months old | 9 lbs

How do I stop my cat from scratching at her wounds? I've noticed that since I've adopted her, she's had this small mark on her tail that usually is hidden by her fur that usually goes away after a while. But now, it's turning into a wound and I've noticed a couple on her back legs too. On top of that, every time it looks like its finished healing, she reopens the scab and starts bleeding again. Is there any way I can stop her from doing this, or at least sooth these wounds so they stop itching?

3 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Dr. Elizabeth

Veterinarian

Published on November 3rd, 2019

Those spots on Molly could be several things including allergies, skin mites, flea bites, ringworm (which humans can get) or a bacterial infection. You can try adding in an omega 3 fatty acid supplement for cats, this can help improve the skin health. You can also check/treat her for fleas to be safe. You may also try changing her diet to something like Royal Canin or Nutro as they are aimed at skin health. Protect the areas from licking or scratching and she may need to wear and Elizabethan collar at all times. If the lesions don't start looking better within about a week or if they get worse, have her examined by the veterinarian who may prescribe medications. Best of luck and please feel free to post any additional questions.

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Dr. Elizabeth
Veterinarian
Published on December 14th, 2019
Those spots on Stella could be several things including allergies, skin mites, flea bites, ringworm (which humans can get) or a bacterial infection. You can try adding in an omega 3 fatty acid supplement for pets, this can help improve the skin health. You may also try changing her diet to something like Royal Canin or Nutro as they are aimed at skin health. You can also check/treat her for fleas. Protect the areas from licking or scratching and she may need to wear an Elizabethan collar at all times. If the lesions don't start looking better within about a week or if they get worse, have her examined by the veterinarian who may prescribe medications. Best of luck and please feel free to post any additional questions.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Dr. Elizabeth
Veterinarian
Published on February 12th, 2020
That spot on Molly could be several things including a reaction to flea bites, allergies, skin mites, bacterial infection, ringworm (which humans can get) or endocrine disease. There are a couple things you can do at home and they can help but they may not address the underlying cause. You can try adding in an omega 3 fatty acid supplement for dogs, this can help improve the skin health. You may also try changing her diet to something like Royal Canin or Nutro as they are aimed at skin health. You can wash the lesion once a day (not her whole body, just the lesion). Also protect the area from trauma by having your pup wear an elizabethan collar at all times. If the lesion does not start improving within a week or if it is getting worse, have her examined by the veterinarian. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Smart Picks for Smart Questions

Related Questions

Health & Wellness

My cat's neck is itchy with fur loss & red sores. What can I do?

Those spots on Bella could be several things including fleas, allergies, skin mites, bacterial infection, ringworm (which humans can get) or endocrine disease. There are a couple things you can do at home and they can help but they may not address the underlying cause. You can try adding in an omega 3 fatty acid supplement for cats, this can help improve the skin health. You may also try changing her diet to something like Royal Canin or Nutro as they are aimed at skin health. You can wash the lesions once a day with a hypoallergenic baby wipe (not her whole body, just the lesions). Also protect the area from trauma by having your kitty wear an elizabethan collar at all times. You can also treat her for fleas. The only OTC I recommend is Frontline. If the lesions do not start improving within a week or if they are getting worse, have her examined by the veterinarian. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Health & Wellness

What are these spots on my cat's skin and how can I treat them?

Those spots on Alu could be several things including allergies, skin mites, flea bites, ringworm (which humans can get) or a bacterial infection. You can try adding in an omega 3 fatty acid supplement for dogs, this can help improve the skin health. You may also try changing his diet to something like Royal Canin or Nutro as they are aimed at skin health. Treat for fleas. If he will allow it (and it is safe to do so), you can wash the lesions with soap once a day and rinse well (don't wash his whole body, just those spots). Protect the areas from licking or scratching. If they don't start looking better within about a week or if they get worse, have him examined by the veterinarian who may prescribe medications. Best of luck and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

My cat is scratching and licking raw spots. What should I do now?

Poor Iris! I'm sorry to hear that she's having this problem. Excessive itching and licking like this with sores and bleeding can be caused by a number of different skin conditions. Iris may have allergies, a bacterial or fungal skin infection, or skin mites (mange). It's also possible that she has fleas, as flea baths are not generally very effective in my experience. Treatment will depend on what the underlying problem is, so it's important to get a diagnosis first. I would definitely recommend taking her to the vet in the morning for an exam - he/she can do some simple skin tests to help diagnose the problem and get her started on appropriate medication to treat it. In the meantime, you can place an e-collar (plastic cone) on Iris if needed to prevent her from continuing to lick herself and make the sores worse.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Health & Wellness

My cat has dandruff, hair loss, and bites. What topical helps?

Those spots on your kitty could be just dry skin causing itching bad enough to lose hair (do know that dry skin alone should not cause hair loss) but there are several things including fleas, allergies, skin mites, bacterial infection or endocrine disease which could also look the same way. There are a couple things you can do at home and they can help but they may not address the underlying cause. That's great that you are using an omega 3 fatty acid supplement this can help improve the skin health. Make sure it is a formula for pets (better absorption) and you may need to squirt it directly in his mouth. You may also try changing his diet to something like Royal Canin or Nutro as they are aimed at skin health. Also protect the area from trauma by having your kitty wear an elizabethan collar at all times. If the skin does not start improving within 2-3 weeks or if it is getting worse, have him examined by the veterinarian to look for other causes. Unfortunately, lotions and sprays don;t tend to moisturize as well as supplements and diet. There are some moisturizing sprays and your cat will need to wear an elizabethan collar at all times because otherwise he will lick the product. Moisturizing shampoos and conditions for pets are also an option but not all cats enjoy baths and may bite and scratch their owners. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Health & Wellness

My dog is scratching, losing hair, and has irritated skin. Allergies?

Those spots on Lily could be several things including allergies, skin mites, flea bites or a bacterial infection. You can try adding in an omega 3 fatty acid supplement for dogs, this can help improve the skin health. You may also try changing her diet to something like Royal Canin or Nutro as they are aimed at skin health. You can wash the lesions with soap once a day and rinse well (don't wash her whole body, just those spots). You can also give an anti-histamine (call your veterinarian for selection and dosing instructions). Protect the areas from licking or scratching and she may need to wear an Elizabethan collar at all times. If the lesions don't start looking better within about a week or if they get worse, have her examined by the veterinarian who may prescribe medications. Best of luck and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Health & Wellness

My cat has a skin rash. What are the causes and how can I treat it?

Those spots on Romeo could be several things including fleas, allergies, skin mites, bacterial infection, ringworm (which humans can get) or endocrine disease. There are a couple things you can do at home and they can help but they may not address the underlying cause. Treat for fleas. You can try adding in an omega 3 fatty acid supplement for pets, this can help improve the skin health. You may also try changing his diet to something like Royal Canin or Nutro as they are aimed at skin health. You can wash the lesions once a day with a medicated wipe for cats (not his whole body, just the lesions) if he will allow you. Don't get bitten. Just so you know, cat bites almost always get infected and could land you in the hospital. Also protect the area from trauma by having your kitty wear an elizabethan collar at all times. If the lesions do not start improving within a week or if they are getting worse, have him examined by the veterinarian. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

My cat has a bloody head wound. What is it and can I use Neosporin?

Poor M! I'm glad to hear that you're already using the e-collar because this will prevent M from scratching and worsening the issue. This lesion could be a result of a skin infection, ringworm, mange, flea allergy, among others. While you can use Neosporin, I do not typically find it to be overly effective for most wounds on pets. Instead, you can try a wound spray, such as Vetericyn (http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=25902). Also be sure that M is receiving a high quality flea preventative, such as Advantage, Bravecto, or Revolution regularly. If this lesion persists or worsens, he will need to go to his vet for further evaluation. I hope this helps and that all goes well!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Have A Vet Question?

Book an appointment with the pros – our expert vets are here to help.

Share