Cat Skin Allergy - scaly skin!

[xmelax35]

We are allowing the neighbors cat to live with us because they kept him outdoors (he is declawed) and he was starving. He has been to the vet and the vet just mentioned something about his skin being allergies. He was there because of a messy bottom. He has a senstive stomach. Well we give him meds for his stomach when the problem arises.  We just put him on a new food designed for senstive stomachs. I think it is helping.

Anyway, we have flea treated him and our own cats and as well as the carpets and stuff.  He still has the scaly skin. It is nasty. Last time when we took him for the cold weather and nights this happened (as I stated the vet said skin allergies) and I brushed and brushed him and he felt so much better that crusty stuff came off. He felt good for months. I wondered because now he hates getting brushed if there is something else we can do for him (something we can purchase to fix this scaly nasty skin). He has some hair loss...and so it makes him look sickly skinny. (as the last time).

None of our other cats have this problem. Well our one black one had it for the first time but around her neck area and now it is gone and she is fine.

Thanks ahead of time.

[xmelax35]

Thanks. Sorry it was so long before I got back here. Been having a ton of pain and other issues.  His flees seem to be gone...now it is on to treat the skin issue.  I called a vet..and will see what we can do. Yes it is sad. We also separated other cats. We are not cat hoarders, just to be clear. We are now just going to foster a mama cat and her kittens.  She had them next door and then moved them to our yard. She seemed to be an indoor cat at one time (that will be another question separate). Anyway, we let them live in the basement. The kittens are starting to get used to coming around us a little. They are not older than 7 weeks probably.  They have the whole basement to themselves and we have fixed it nicer than a regular crappy basement.  It is an unfinished basement but looks half finished now that my hubby put some lineolum and carpet pieces down that we were given from his parents.
We couldn't leave any of them outside because there have been raccoons (big ones), groundhogs and skunks out there. They could have been hurt. There are even foxes nearby and I hear of coyotes. We live near the edge of town...in the city but near country fields.  The lady who the yellow cat (the one with the skin issue) belonged to had just left him out in the cold and rain and said she doesn't like cats really and the cat belonged to her boyfriends daughter and they wanted to find him ahome before they moved next door but didn't.  I think I will try to find him a home. Will list on craigslist. It is just that there are so many around here more than in past years and hard to give a cat away.  

Well I am going to go for now..feeling a bit sick. Will post later.

[opus88]

first of all you need to treat this kitty for fleas...take him to a Vet and get a 'good' treatment not those OTC ones.
and keep him isolated from your other cats, cats need to be introduced gradually...poor little thing is stressed to the max with the fleas and the new home...he is very afraid of the resident cats and unfamiliar with your family too..he needs to be kept in a separate space with his OWN litter, food and water... than gradually introduced as he becomes more and more familiar with the scents and surroundings.
If you follow this there will be NO more poop accidents and getting rid of the fleas and getting him on a good diet with some omega3's should resolve the skin issue too....keep us updated, I am so keeping my fingers crossed for this little guy who needs you so badly...it is so sad how some people treat their loved pets and just leave them to fend for themselves...-(

[teddybears4ever2]

Have you ever thought of finding a new home for this cat?  Maybe post an ad on craigslist?

[xmelax35]

Thank you for that. I read through it. That is pretty interesting, thanks.  I am pretty sure it is definitely a flee bite causing this. I found flee larva on him and flees. When we first let him come in he was like that but it went away during the cold months (winter months) then now it came back. My husband is at the end of his rope with the cat...because 2 times now he had to clean up poop because the cat was too scared to go thru the room to the litter box (the other cats in the room - he doesn't like one of our cats). I just can't let him go back out permanently to live outside due to the fact he can't defend himself bec of being declawed.  My husband said he is not happy in our house. He is very unhappy and stares out the window all day.  I think he wants his old family back but they don't want him..or they would have let him live inside and wouldn't have told me I could take him in.

It is really sad. I try to help all the cats I can. We really can't afford to help all of them, but I try to help some...we have other cats that come to our garage and I feed them...people down the street left their cat behind when they moved (which is cruel).

[opus88]

first of all welcome and bless your dear heart for taking this poor little one in and caring for him, he sure needs someone too.

I will post a thread that was started a few years ago, and suggest you read it all esp the most recent posts, they all have info on the same problem. It usually comes down to an allergy. to a single flea bite, an inhalant or the food. read all the posts and return and I will help you all I can to get this poor little guy some relief....

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Cats/Cat-licking-her-hair-off---allergies-or-stress/show/146