Allergy

[Loki26]

Hi, my cat Loki is 2 years old and over the last 8 months has developed an allergy. I have been to the vet and we have tried the usual remedies, changing food, bowls, and flea treatments. The only thing that works is the steroid injection. But after 4 weeks it returns and he starts scratching again. Always around his head and neck. He does not have hair loss just scabs from scratching. We are thinking it may be a flea allergy but not sure. But flea treatments do not stop fleas jumping onto him and biting. We like on a farm and he likes to get out and about and there are plenty of mice and rats around this year. Looking for any advice on treatments, or deterrents. Is there anything like shampoos, or natural things I could use. Thanks

 

[FeebysOwner]

Hi. Don't have much to offer, but I do know Advantage II says it kills fleas without them having to bite the cat. It does not kill ticks however, if that is an issue. A skin scraping could be done, testing for the most common things and see if anything is identified. Does he eat the mice and rats? If so, it could from something they have ingested - chemicals/etc. used on other people's property, for example.

Any changes you've made inside your home related to cleaning products, air fresheners, litter (assuming he has a litter box inside), even new furniture or carpeting that may have been treated with fabric/stain protectors? Things like new lotions, perfumes, etc. that you use could be the cause.

 

[Peachiekitty]

Hi, my cat Loki is 2 years old and over the last 8 months has developed an allergy. I have been to the vet and we have tried the usual remedies, changing food, bowls, and flea treatments. The only thing that works is the steroid injection. But after 4 weeks it returns and he starts scratching again. Always around his head and neck. He does not have hair loss just scabs from scratching. We are thinking it may be a flea allergy but not sure. But flea treatments do not stop fleas jumping onto him and biting. We like on a farm and he likes to get out and about and there are plenty of mice and rats around this year. Looking for any advice on treatments, or deterrents. Is there anything like shampoos, or natural things I could use. Thanks

Could I ask what foods you have tried? I’m having similar issues, but I don’t think my issue is fleas as I treat her regularly and keep her in the house. I want to let her out again as we also live in a rural area.

 

[MissClouseau]

Stronghold (aka Revolution) is the most effective treatment against fleas in my experience and according to all vets I spoke to on the topic. My cat also goes outside and while the more gentle treatments like Advantage works for couple weeks in Spring, it does not work for adult fleas in the summer unfortunately. But you are right if he has flea allergy he will still react when he gets bitten by a flea and fleas typically bite as soon as they jump. Like, no treatment kills within seconds and it takes only seconds for the flea to jump on the cat and bite usually.

If you don't live in a very warm climate though, and you don't see fleas around, I doubt his allergy is about fleas. Where I live at least fleas are not around in the winter. I would be more suspicious of an environmental allergy. Like a pollen around, or some plants / grass, maybe another insect... Don't forget he might be allergic to more than one thing.