scabs no fleas, and balding patches of fur

My 2 year old tabby cat just recently started having scabs on his back traveling down to the tail,and some scabs behind his ears. I do have 2 other cats who are fine. I tried frontline a few weeks ago, it seemed like it worked but it is all back again,and it is not time to treat him again.Plus my cats are indoor cats to begin with and i don't think it's fleas. Does anyone have any advice for me, i'm trying not to go to the vet until i have to?

[opus88]

hi Sabrina and welcome to our cat forum.
I'll send you some websites to check out, this condition is usually due to allergies in both cats and dogs alike.It is usually called EGC or eosinophilic granuloma complex or sometimes reffered to as atopic dematitis....
I too have a kitty with this, it takes alot of reading and for him a diet change....chicken is the most common ingredient in cat food thus happens to be the most common for an allergic response. Do the reading and change to some diet other than chicken based and see if that gives poor kittty any relief.
www.dermavetvegas.com/feline_eosinophilic_granuloma.html
and
www.dermavetvegas.com/allergies_treatments.html
and
http://www.veterinarypartner.com/content.plx?P=A&A=652&&S=0...

I recommend you do not jump into steroid treatments until all food trails have been exhausted. steroids often don't work and can cause alot of health problems.
good searching, if we can be of more help please post again.

♥Opus

[nancyjac]

Sounds like a classic case of ringworm to me.

[IMstacie]

one of my cats had a similar problem years back.  This cat has passed on now, died of old age (18 years).   Cost me a fortune at the vets.  $$$$ each week for tx and sulfer baths.  A friend told me to try benedryl, which I did and it worked like a charm.  All that $$ down the drain plus no one mentioned the food allergy thing which may have been the underlying problem to begin with.  

[opus88]

yes benadryl is SOMETIMES used but not if its a food allergy.
Please NEVER use a human product such as Benadryl without the guidance of a Vet.....this can also cause alot of harm even death if not used in the therapeutic range for cats.
I am so sorry IM that it came down to costing you so much $$$ and caused kitty so much unnecessary pain and discomfort......we learn as we go don't we!!
I'm glad it did work for kitty and she was able to live a long good life.
BTW welcome to our cat forum.

♥OPus