My old stray cat has missing fur & sores. How can I treat him?

It's wonderful for you to look out for a stray in your neighborhood! While it's impossible to know what he may have gotten into, overly pink skin with missing fur could be a result of a burn - either thermal or chemical. If it's possible to do so, try catching or trapping him to have the lesions examined. Skin can develop infection at the site of a burn wound. That said, we can't rule out other infectious causes of the hair loss, such as ringworm or mange from mites. If you are able to catch or trap him, consider having him neutered (if he isn't already) and vaccinated. Neutering is likely to decrease his aggression towards other cats in the neighborhood. Many shelters and rescues offer spay/neuter clinics for stray animals. I hope this helps!

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.

A flea allergy often causes irritation at the tail base or top of the tail. It could be some other cause of inflammation as well, but I would recommend that you start her on a good monthly flea product if she's not already on something. You can try a product such this: https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/zymox-spray-with-5-hydrocortisone. Also, put an e-collar on her to prevent her from licking at it; and if its not improving within a few days, arrange for her to see a vet. You may be able to find a house call vet or mobile vet in your area who would come to your home, this may make it easier for you both. Thanks for asking PetCoach!

Hi there and thank you for using pet coach to address your concern. This cat could be malnourished or could have some type of systemic disease or infection. It is hard to say just by looking at him. If you plan on caring for him, you could take him to the veterinarian so that the most appropriate diagnostic and treatment recommendations can be made. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

If the issue is progressing then it is likely something that needs to be seen by a vet. It's possible there is an underlying metabolic issues, especially with Cal's age, or there is something such as parasites or a skin infection causing the hair loss. Keeping him from licking and chewing the area with an Elizabethan (cone) collar may help resolve the issue, but if it keeps worsening or doesn't improve, it needs to be seen. If he has trouble going into a carrier, using some very smelly warmed up cat food or even fried chicken to entice him to enter the carrier may help make it easier to get him to your vet. A pheromone diffuser spray can also help stressed cats relax some at the vet or in a car.

Your cat may well have ear mites, which are contagious and extremely itchy, causing cats to scratch their ears raw inside and in front of the ears. I would have an exam done right away so your veterinarian can start the appropriate treatment. You'll have to figure out how to get him into a kennel to go for a vet visit!

Poor Zippers! He could have gotten into a fight on his travels, causing the fur loss from that area. Bites from another cat can cause small and hard to see wounds, and are often unnoticed until an abscess form. I would take Zippers into the vet for a health check just to make sure he is ok.