Flea and Tick Bites

Common symptoms of cat fleas include itching, red pimples or bumps on your cat’s behind (rump), under the legs, base of the tail, groin or belly. The skin may appear red and inflamed. When your cat goes to itch this area, their hair can fall out and their skin becomes dry. If you draw an imaginary line around the center of your cat, and only see symptoms in the rear half, it is probably fleas.

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Wounds, Bites, and Other Injuries

There are several types of wounds that require cat wound care:

Superficial Lacerations, scratches or cuts - These are wounds in which the skin is not cut all the way through. They may be caused by sharp objects or by bites or scratches. They usually do not need stitches. Treat these types of feline wounds by cleaning them with sterile saline and then apply antibiotic ointment daily until the cut has healed. If you notice signs of infection (increased redness of the area, red streaks running from the area, pus draining from the wound, or a bad smell) take your cat to the veterinarian.

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Cat Allergies

The most common sign that your cat is suffering from an allergy can be itching of the skin, with or without hair loss and either localized (one area) or generalized (all over your cat).  Often your cat will display "hyperesthesia" highly sensitive skin . Scabby crusts and bumps  can develop into open sores if left untreated. Your cat may also show signs of coughing, sneezing, and/or wheezing. Severely affected cats can have asthma attacks.

Sometimes, there may be an associated nasal or ocular (eye) discharge. Some cats have vomiting or diarrhea. Cats that have noticeable hair loss, especially at the tail base may have a flea bite allergy. Food allergy often shows up as severe itching at the face, rashes around the anus and inconsistent stool quality.

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