Cat skin problem

[sarabeth20_99]

I  have a 7-year-old cat that I adopted when she was about 2. She is spayed and up-to-date on vaccinations, lives mostly indoors but usually goes out for a few hours every day, and is treated monthly with Advantage. About 2 years ago, she started developing a skin issue. She gets scabs around her eyes, under her chin, and sometimes on her back and sides. Sometimes the skin around her anus becomes red and scabby and loses hair. The area around her eyes itches so much that she leaves deep scratches in her skin. Her case has become a topic of discussion at our vet's office, and none of us can figure out what's wrong. She received lime sulfur dips once a week for 8 weeks, went on Science Diet a/d food for 2 months, and received Advantage treatments bimonthly for several months. None of these have helped. Steroid shots do seem to have a short-lasting effect on her, but I would really like to find out the root cause of this. After several skin scrapings, the vet did find 1 demodex cati mite (hence the dip), but he has not found any more than that. She's going to the vet again tomorrow, and we have been in contact with a dermatologist, but I'm trying to expand my search for any other ideas. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

[sarabeth20_99]

Also, she doesn't have any of the symptoms in the website you mention above.  Her worst problem area is around her eyes.  She sometimes gets crusty/scaly areas on the borders of her ears, too, although she hasn't so far this time.

[sarabeth20_99]

The Science Diet a/d was canned food only and venison.  I normally feed them all canned Friskies with Purina One Urinary Tract dry food over it.  They also get fish oil in their morning food.  Before the Science Diet, I tried California Natural chicken & brown rice canned food.  Neither made any difference at all.  Obviously, I'm hoping for a non-food issue, since I can't afford prescription food for 4 cats and it's ridiculously hard to feed them separately, but I did give it a good try for at least 2 or 3 months and didn't see a difference.

My cats and dogs all get Revolution every month during the spring/summer/fall; since the cats are indoor/outdoor, they're all treated on a regular basis. We switched Annabel to Advantage just to try something different, but again, it's not changing anything.  

The steroid shots have been few and far between.  They're mostly just to get rid of her symptoms when they get really bad.  Neither the vet nor I want to keep her on consistent shots.

Her diet hasn't changed at all, no weight fluctuations, no behavior changes.  She digs at herself and cleans herself A LOT, but other than that, she seems pretty content with life.

[opus88]

hope your still with us.....I will give you a site to read for starters...IMO its very very likely the diet...food allergies. I had a cat with similar issues, only his were confined to his face.

this site recommends a prescription diet....a hypoallergenic one, you can try those but most cats hate these.
I would make very sure you are feeding CANNED foods and at least try a novel protein (a meat/fish that kitty has never had thus far)...
also STOP the advantage treatments, these too can cause allergic reactions, why do you find you need to treat every 2 months? is kitty constantly being reinfested? or is this what the Vet is telling you to try?

I also hope the Vet has explained all the health problems that steroids can cause? they are only a temporary fix....as soon as they are stopped the problem will resume, we have to find the CAUSE. and I'm very sure it will be linked to allergies, usually FOOD, but can also be environmental...stop using scented litter(if you are), stop all scented products in the home ie cleaners and candles, room freshners, hair sprays etc etc......

but lets start with a diet change.....

heres the info, I agree with most of whats said although I do not agree with steroid/or atopica use unless at at very last resort and we are not anywhere near that yet....

http://www.marvistavet.com/html/eosinophilic_granuloma.html

[opus88]

hi and welcome, your poor dear kitty...that sounds just terrible for her. I will try and help...tell me is she still eating science diet? what was she on before? and is it the dry form?

[sarabeth20_99]

I should also mention that I have 3 other cats (all males), and none of them have shown any signs of this, so I doubt it's contagious.