Hair loss, scabs and no fleas?!

[Leanne0702]

I am at a loss for what is happening to one of my cats.  A little history.. Kodiak is a 12 year old all black domestic female cat.  She has always been an indoor cat for as long as we've had her and that's about 11 years now.  We moved over 2 years ago and she has adjusted beautifully.  She has always been heathly.  The thing that is troubling me lately is that right at the base of her back and tail she going bald and small scabs are forming.  She had this problem a couple months ago and I treated it with topical bendryl which worked beautifully and it went away and the hair grew back.  This time it's worse.  The bald spot is bigger and she has one large wound and then bunches of small little scabs.  I can also randomly feel scabs trailing up her spine but no balding around those.  She's always been an obsessive groomer but she's never made herself bald so I know that's not the problem.  She has absolutely no signs of fleas and with a black cat we took extra precautions to look for them.  It was a very long examination and very thorough.  Also, I have a 9 year old male cat whom is very very close with Kodiak and he has no problems whatsoever, so I know if it were fleas he would be having a problem as well.  Both cats are fixed and have been since before we got them (they were rescues).  We have 2 dogs as well but they only go outside to use the bathroom and they get groomed and dipped regularly.  I'm beside myself confused.  Also lately Kodiak has been limping which might be a seperate issue all together but just trying to give as many symptoms as possible.  She doesn't seem to bother with the bald spots or scabs but she does like them rubbed (scratched but we don't do that) but at the same time it's tender cause she'll nip at you after awhile, and she's never nipped or bite anyone in the 11 years we've had her.. .  If anyone can help I would appreciate it.  I was going to take a picture but she's black haired and skinned and so it's hard to see in a picture but if i can get a good shot i will post it.

[opus88]

hi....first of all STOP the garlic that is toxic to cats.
have you gotten anything new in the house this past while such as carpets or furniture?
or started using fabric softner or a new cleaning agent on the floors/carpets?
ANY new scents or chemicals around the house at all?
different litter?

[ClarkKittySallyGremillionFluffersBaby]

Just so you know my cats are indoor and do not have or have had fleas ever..........So my problem started off 4 months ago with 3 of my cats losing hair near there bums, now its just Big papa Clark that has little next to no hair around his bum and sides of his belly with soars and scabs. The two girls that had it have gotten better on there own. While this is not the only problem my kitties face it is at the moment my main concern. I would love to help my little man out the most natural way as I can. I had problems with hair balls so I had switched the food to a hairball control formula but that had no effect. so I moved on to a all organic hairball food from Wal-Mart but still not affecting my cats hairballs. Now back to Clark he is almost 4 and a proud papa of 12 children of his own( no they don't all still live at home ) he his been losing his hair for 4 months and I have taken him to the vet and they don't have a clue what is wrong I have tried changing his food. I have diluted and added natural ingredients like cod oil, garlic oil, and olive oil to tuna which he loves to eat so I am sure he is getting it all in him but nothing is working......... keep in mind I have brought him to the vet 8 times in the last 4 months and they still have nothing to say......please help my Clark

[Cathleen5]

My 11 year old female cat Molly was acting strange.. jumping up onto the highest vantage point in the room, knocking ornaments off furniture and scratching and biting herself furiously especially around her neck. I took her to the vet who took blood tests to find an answer. She was slightly dehydrated but her kidneys and and liver function were fine. He thought it.might be stress so he gave me some anti anxiety pills. This let her sleep more but she was still scratching when awake. It cost me $700 for that visit and as an aged pensioner i can't afford another visit. She is now scratching almost continuinually and has scans around her neck. We live in western australia. She has never had a flea on her body. Any advice anyone..? Regards cathleen5

[CML2014]

Hi Guy's ,

Just in general all of the above symptoms can be attributed to sooooo many things. You really need to have the areas tested to see what parasitic , fungal,allergic or even phycological reaction is happening is happening.

This problem depending on where it is and what it looks like could be Scabies, Stud Tale, Allergy to fleas, Alopecia,Ring worm, Lice, Dermititis, Food or inhalant induced allergies ..Yada, Yada, Yada.

You could be smearing everything but the garbage on these areas and still  be treating the Symptoms not the cause. In rescue we see every one of these descriptions --all different, needing different care. Please visit a vet for a look-see by a professional.

By the way a good way to check for Fleas is to get a white sheet and comb each animal separately--if you see little black dots you can bet there are fleas somewhere. Sometimes if you crush the black spots they turn reddish brown like blood. These are eggs, feces, or fleas. At least it may help you identify Flea allergies.

I always defer to a Vet--I am no expert, they are, and if you are going to use treatments on your pet you should know exactly what treatment you are using it for.  Also ringworm will be seen under black like like a glowy green/yellow. I know EEEWWWWWW!!

[Lexigrammer]

Good advice. And the black light is a real help in identifying fungal infections on cats and people too. Make sure it is the correct spectrum. We bought a medical grade one for under $15 from Amazon. Looks like a flashlight; but has like dozens of led black lights.  Additionally; the black light can reveal various other infections; bacterial for example. Fungal will show up a pale bright sickly yellow and bacterial a bright fuchsia pink.

[kerryt1978]

Hi Angelfire 09, what was the name of this product you got from Walmart? I live in England soiI would have to buy this on the internet. Thanks

[suzyQ65]

Every time I put cream on spidermans back for his scabs he licks it off even after I rub it in very good.

[FurballsMom]

I suggest starting a new thread, because you will get more people to notice your post and will be more likely to be able to respond.  

Keep in mind that ring worm is not really a worm at all.  It is a common name for a fungal infection.  There are several types of parasitic worms that our pets can get, but the most common kind is round worm.  I think you should definitely get the kitty treated by a vet if the over-the-counter medications haven't been working.  The vet will be more likely to know what kind of parasite is bothering your cat.

Others here will be more familiar with the types of medications that are used in veterinary medicine for the various parasitic worms and even where the cat would have picked up the pest.  What I know is that this needs to be treated now and should not wait.

There are other types of parasitic worms that our pets get, but I've never really had to contend with these dangerous infections.  So, I don't know a whole lot about the various medications that are used to kill the parasites.  I do know that you need to be careful with the medications.  Make sure you research the medication that the vet suggests before giving it to your cat.  Some medications have made cats very sick, so do your research.