For instance those with skin infections of whatever sort (bacterial folliculitis, demodectic mange, and ringworm) are likely to be itchy, whilst a cat with Cushing’s disease will be thirsty.
Treatment may require sedation of the cat so that he can be bathed with a medicinal shampoo in order to decrease the numbers of bacteria on the skin surface. The cat may also be given a course of oral antibiotics for four to six weeks. A broad spectrum antibiotic such as amoxicillin is generally prescribed.
No treatment is needed for this condition because the skin is not damaged and so the hairs grow back on their own once the stressful event has passed.
Treatment includes clipping your cat’s hair short to reduce contamination from shed hairs, and an oral medication such a griseofulvin, ketoconazole, or itraconazole. Griseofulvin acts by stopping fungal cell division. [2] X Research source Absorption of the drug is enhanced by fat, and the medication is best given with a knob of butter. A typical dose is 125 mg twice daily for an average-sized cat.
Treatment involves giving a daily capsule containing trilostane which inhibits the glands that produce cortisol.
Use caution when treating demodectic mange, as some treatments are toxic to cats. Topical treatments like lime sulfur dips and 1% selenium sulphide shampoos can be effective and are safe for cats. Follow the directions listed on the container.
If you see that your cat does appear to have seasonal allergies, talk to your vet about trial steroids. Some veterinarians will give cats some allergy-fighting steroids that may help to reduce the itch and allows the cat’s coat to return to normal.
It may take up to eight weeks to flush your cat’s system of the allergen. If a food allergy was the problem, then after eight weeks on a hypoallergenic diet the cat should be more comfortable and should have stopped over grooming, which should result in the regrowth of the bald patches.
Talk to your veterinarian before giving your cat this medication.
Likewise, meloxicam must be given with or after food. Do not give your cat meloxicam if he is taking other NSAIDs or steroids of any kind.
Brush your cat’s hair in the opposite direction and look for brown flakes or specks. Wet a paper towel and put some of these flecks on the towel. When the flea dirt comes into contact with the moisture, it should become red or orange again as the blood is reconstituted.
The recommended dose of flea medication is generally 6 mg/kg that is applied to the skin on the back of the cat’s neck.
You should also consider using an insecticide (or ‘flea bomb’) in your house to remove fleas from your furniture and carpets.
The trigger to the original episode of licking is usually a stressful event such as a stray cat moving into a new home. The cat resorts to licking to calm himself, and becomes hooked on the habit.
You should also give your cat plenty of places to hide if he is feeling stressed.
These synthetic pheromones come in spray bottles, which you can use to spray on the cat’s bedding, or as room diffusers, which help to make your whole house smell safe to your cat.
