Hi, I need help with my cat. She is an indoor/outdoor cat. I’ve had her for a good 10 years, found her when she was a kitten. For a few months now, she has been scratching herself raw and bloody. All over. During this she loses so much weight she looks sickly, with her bones popping out and all. The fur disappears mainly from her forehead, hind legs, and shoulders, but it thins out everywhere else too. A few weeks later she will get better, her fur will grow back soft and full, she will regain her weight, and be very friendly and affectionate. This only lasts 3-7 days, though, and then I will hear her scratching and feel scabs appearing, eventually she will return to the sickly bloody kitty.
Her personality does not really change, but the vets we took her to recommended that we try allergy cream/anti-itch medication, and she is less likely to come up to you because she knows she is going to get goop rubbed on her if she does.
We do not change our cats’ diet, they used to be very picky and stop eating certain foods every few months or so, but I believe that they have settled down with that. Both of my cats also get half a can of wet food in the morning, but there is a dry food bowl and water available all day.
We have taken her to multiple vets; nobody can find anything wrong with her. She is not very timid, so I don’t believe it is stress. She gets plenty of entertainment, and lives in a healthy environment, with 1 other cat, a dog, and a rabbit. The cats and dog have had their shots.
***One other thing, I do not know if this is relevant, but if her problem is genetic, it might be. Her front feet have 7 toes. She gets along fine with it, actually it kind of helps her out. I figure she is inbred or something.
Thanks in advance, I would really like to know what is going on with my kitty!
if not fleas...than I'm 905 certain its food allergies....particularly to GRAINS...most cat foods are full of grains because they are cheap..much cheaper than meat...and most cats are intolerant to grains..
even if her diet hasn't changed, like us humans allergies take a while to develop and some will be more affected than others..
also dry kibble has tons of preservatives and other chemicals that canned food doesn't, even has mites due to long storage after bagging.
I strongly suggest you try changing her food to a GRAIN FREE CANNED FOOD...there are many available a good pet stores (not walmarts or grocery stores!!!)
It is more expensive, however you will find kitty won't be as hungry when she's on a good diet with more protien rather than grains...and you will save all the Vet bills and she will look and feel so much better, can you imagine how uncomfortable she is with all the itching..
I will send you a site and you can look at the photos also read the causes of itchy/hair loss..
but I will say DO NOT follow the natural treatments mentioned, these are NOT good for cats...besides why spend money of medications and creams when a diet change works...
if you need more info I would be happy to help..I will mention most cats aren't crazy abt the taste of grain free canned food, because its lacking all the artificial flavoring that many other commercial foods have added. so you have to start feeding this slowly to get them used to the new taste..start with 1/4 of her feeding a new food and 3/4 of the old...than gradually increase the amount of new food...also by adding slowly she won't get any gastro-intestinal issues like diarrhea..
http://www.cat-health-guide.org/cat-allergy-symptoms.html