sores on my cat's back

[Tiggeroo]

My main coon has some small red scabs along his spine, from the tail to mid back. They seem to itch him and he keeps messing with it. I can't get him to the vet until next week. I suspect it's a form of allergic dermatitis. I checked him for fleas and found none, he's an indoor cat who occasionally escapes. But Main Coon fur is tough to see through. I need some tips on treating it and keeping him from chewing it. It does not look infected at all and really doesn't seem to be bothering him. I treated him with advantage today, just in case. Two days ago we did a gentle shampoo. I put some peroxide on them and then an anti-histamine spray for cats. Any tips? It would be nice if it was mostly cleared up next week and I didn't have to spend money I don't really have on a vet appointment, plus miss work.

 

[marypoppinswannabe]

I have this same problem with one of my cats and she has chewed all the hair out of that area. I have tried just about everything, including buying a very expensive brand of cat food. 45.00 for a 8lb bag. The vet swore that would work..Nothing has worked. I have tried fungus medicine, steriods, etc... and that hasn't seemed to work either. The vet said the next step is do a skin scrape. YUCK!!!!

 

[kymom99]

Well, my 11 year old, always indoor cat came down with bumps on her head and neck. The vet found a couple fleas! Luckily she has a reaction to the bites or I wouldn't have found the fleas until much later since she is black! My other cat doesn't have any, which is strange. I have to treat both of them with Frontline.

 

[dawson5]

Well, my 11 year old, always indoor cat came down with bumps on her head and neck. The vet found a couple fleas! Luckily she has a reaction to the bites or I wouldn't have found the fleas until much later since she is black! My other cat doesn't have any, which is strange. I have to treat both of them with Frontline.

Our Peanut was that way, he never had fleas but would get bit. He was allergic to the bites. This was over 20yrs ago, I don't think they had Frontline then, we just put a flea collar on him. He was an indoor cat too. We did take him to the vet about it, he did caution us about washing him, that that could aggravate it and dry out the skin.

What about one of those lovely cones to stick around his neck to keep him from biting it? I would assume the flea med's will kick in and once the sores heal, he'll be back to normal.

 

[diz8297]

Hate to say it, but it could be ringworm. We rescued a kitten from the shelter and she had it. She's now 5 years old, but it's a pain to get rid of.

 

[walkerag]

I would recommend some Frontine or Advantage for fleas (do not use the department store brands most are worthless and a few are toxic). I've had a cat that had this problem and I was a vet assistant for 5 years. You may not see any fleas on your cat but it only takes 1 bite to set off the allergic reaction. I would try that first and if it doesn't help then it will rule out a flea allergy. Besides, it won't do your pet any harm and he won't have to go through the torture of unnessassary blood testing if that's what it proves to be

 

[DizBelle]

Our Peanut was that way, he never had fleas but would get bit. He was allergic to the bites. This was over 20yrs ago, I don't think they had Frontline then, we just put a flea collar on him. He was an indoor cat too. We did take him to the vet about it, he did caution us about washing him, that that could aggravate it and dry out the skin.

What about one of those lovely cones to stick around his neck to keep him from biting it? I would assume the flea med's will kick in and once the sores heal, he'll be back to normal.

"I do not like the cone of shame." - Dug, Up!

I had to say it...

 

[Piecey]

Reese has those spots.

We take her to the Vet, get her an allergy shot and they clear up within a few weeks.

He told us it might be related to the furnace and the dry air we have in the winter.

 

[jmpurdy]

If the cause is not fleas and previous posters are correct, it only takes one to set off a reaction if allergic....a food trial should be next. Cats can become allergic to food at any time; fish is a biggie. Prescription foods without fish, chicken etc. should be started. Can be venison, rabbit, duck, etc. All sold at vets office. The food trial should last for a good month to see if there is improvement in skin. Another possibility is environmental allergy. A blood test can confirm allergies to grass, trees, etc, but not food. Only a food trial will sort that out. And an indoor cat can still have reactions to grasses and trees just like an outdoor cat can.
Our clinic is fond of 'Vectra' for cats already with fleas. A preventive is fine for beginning of season, but takes a bit longer to work. Vectra works in a matter of hours by paralyzing/killing the flea before it bites the cat; therefore better for cat if there is a reaction. It is a monthly topical like the others. Skin issues can seem difficult, but eliminating the possibilities from simple to more involved will hasten the results. Best of luck!

 

[themarquis]

our maine coon has had some skin issues. there's usually a scab or bump or two somewhere around his neck area, though he's so darn fluffy that you can't see what's going on in there. they don't seem to bother him, though. Skin problems are more common with maine coons and I don't know if it's just related to their super long fur -- I know he can't groom as well as our short haired cat (he does a pretty good job but he can't get deep into that enormous "ruff" around his neck! It's so giant and bulgy that we say he looks like a snowman!)

A couple months back he seemed to have an outbreak in that area and there was a large scabby patch that seemed inflamed. Though as before it didn't bother him one bit! We were going to take him to the vet but we both got the swine flu and were incapable of leaving the house for a full week. By that point, the scabs had started to get better, and now they are completely gone.

So it is still a mystery, but we will get him checked out if he has a flare-up again. Best of luck in figuring it out -- keep an eye out for fleas or overgrooming.