JoJo's skin issues

The basics: medium to long hair, nearing 8 years old, overweight (trying to get it down, but not working well).

JJ has been having issues the last year or so with scabs. At first it was just feline acne on her chin. I noticed it would flare up most when she was eating more poultry based foods, so I started cutting those out. I also give both of the cats high end food. They love it. TikiCat, among others. Have some other stuff too, from Petsmart, but just not the cheapie stuff. They are on a predominately wet diet, with a snack of dry in the late afternoon. Both JJ and Jack are more active now. The dry is also high end food.

Now, JJ's scabs are spreading. The back of her neck/shoulder blades, base of her tail (top, not the butt) are the main areas. She's itchy.

Now, don't knock me for the next statement: I can't afford a vet visit right now. I've had some financial and medical issues and not working at this moment (will be going back, but it's retail, so pay stinks). The last time I took her to their regular vet out on the East side, I saw one of the other vets, not my main one, and she was a raging B****. She refused to do any tests on JJ. Mainly because I was on a payment plan instead of paying all up front. The main doctor is awesome, doesn't push certain food brands, works WITH me not against me. Also, I can't really get out there easily. No car anymore. Anyway. There is a vet a block away from my current apartment, but I know very little about them.

Neither cat goes outside. We had a flea issue once in the old apartment and it was taken care of. JoJo's coat is fine... still soft, like rabbit fur.

Any ideas? Other tips I can try? Suggestions? Now that I'm off crutches, I may wander over to this new vet and talk to them face to face. Before anyone suggests it, my credit is shot, so CareCredit is out. I am trying to do what I can for her. I'm just not rolling in dough.

Check her favorite sleeping spots, if your eyesight isn't really sharp up close get a magnifying glass - you're looking for little dark brown circles, spirals, and bits. If you find anything like this pick it up and wet it to see if it turns red. You'll have found flea dirt.

Flea combing is another way to double check, but sometimes you can miss fleas this way.

List all the foods, someone can help point out allergens other than poultry.

Stress and other environmental allergens can cause skin issues, too.


Lastly, if you can, soon, call around and see if you can find any vet who will work with you. If you can't get this to resolve by removing a particular food you're feeding or by making sure there are absolutely no fleas JJ will need a vet. There's no telling what her immune system is doing and whether this could be more than an allergy - if it's low it could even be mange mites (they're always there, the immune system keeps them in check) and you'd have the risk of a skin infection from the little sores. It could be several things..
I hope it's just allergies that can be controlled, for both you and JJ's sake.

Is there anything you could sell or do (online type stuff) for anyone?

Originally Posted by strange_wings

Check her favorite sleeping spots, if your eyesight isn't really sharp up close get a magnifying glass - you're looking for little dark brown circles, spirals, and bits. If you find anything like this pick it up and wet it to see if it turns red. You'll have found flea dirt.

Flea combing is another way to double check, but sometimes you can miss fleas this way.

List all the foods, someone can help point out allergens other than poultry.

Stress and other environmental allergens can cause skin issues, too.


Lastly, if you can, soon, call around and see if you can find any vet who will work with you. If you can't get this to resolve by removing a particular food you're feeding or by making sure there are absolutely no fleas JJ will need a vet. There's no telling what her immune system is doing and whether this could be more than an allergy - if it's low it could even be mange mites (they're always there, the immune system keeps them in check) and you'd have the risk of a skin infection from the little sores.

It could be several things..
I hope it's just allergies that can be controlled, for both you and JJ's sake.

Is there anything you could sell or do (online type stuff) for anyone?

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I can make stuff, I'm crafty that way. I also am prepping to put one of my novels up on Amazon's CreateSpace (print on demand).

As for her health issues: there's no flea dirt. And I would know if there are fleas... they LOVE my blood. That's how I knew she brought them back from the groomers a few years back... but a year of Advantage took care of them. this is shown up more recently...

With food: because I've been more concerned about main ingredients, I have been buying some medium quality foods. I get a variety... average 4-6 cans of each flavor/brand... I will go make a list and then bring it back over to the computer... my knee hurts right now, so I want to rest it a bit.

Originally Posted by RubSluts'Mommy

I can make stuff, I'm crafty that way. I also am prepping to put one of my novels up on Amazon's CreateSpace (print on demand).

Click to expand...

I wish you the best of luck with your novel. You may even be able to find an audience here. I'm crafty too, but I find people always want stuff for free..

For you knee.


I have one kitty that I took in scabby - her problem was a flea and insect allergy. The poor girl was even pulling fur out till she had pinky-tip sized sores on her chest. It took a couple months of no fleas and absolutely no mosquitoes biting her + antibiotics to heal her up.


Is there anything else in the house at all? scented stuff, detergents?

Originally Posted by strange_wings

Is there anything else in the house at all? scented stuff, detergents?

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I can't handle the scented stuff myself, so there is very, very little. One thing I am finding in the new place is that with sharing laundry machines, many of my neighbors use things like Tide, which I know I am allergic to. But most of what she sleeps on is not washed that often (bad, I know), although it has all been washed at least a few times since the flea issue a few years back.

She pulls the fur out. I also had them both on Prozac for a while... again, issues with the vet. I think a lot may be from stress... she is closely bonded with me and I have undoubtedly had my share of stress in recent months... I am trying though... now if I can get the new vet over here....

What are they eating off of?? ie stainless steel , plastic , ceramic, paper?

This will sound bad... but I found by product filled NO to low grain no veggie grains at the grocery store has helped..

How is the humidity in your home?

dry food is currently on ceramic. because of my knee, I haven't been able to stand for longer periods doing things like dishes... so paper plates. One water bowl in plastic, the other is metal. both from pet supply stores.

The humidity is average to low... I have some rare books, so I can't have a really humid apartment.

Food...
Wet:a smattering of science diet, CA Natural, Trader Joe's cat food, Tiki Cat, authority, a few small cans of fancy feast... some others but I'm running low and what I've listed is what's in the house right now.

Dry: First Mate dehdrated raw... and once I clear out the bin of the old stuff, it will get mixed with Wysong Uretic (for Jack). If I give them too much dry, Jack can't eat it as well, no teef behind his fangs, so when I gave them a breakfast of dry FM, he threw it up because he hadn't munched... pieces were just too big for him...

Amanda

How old are the ceramic bowls? Oddly enough many cats have issues with the glazes and sometimes it flakes off ...

AVOID any food with any colors or artificial flavors ..... I would check FF and Science diet for those ... the others are not likely to have them

what grains are in the uretic ?

Originally Posted by sharky

How old are the ceramic bowls? Oddly enough many cats have issues with the glazes and sometimes it flakes off ...

AVOID any food with any colors or artificial flavors ..... I would check FF and Science diet for those ... the others are not likely to have them

what grains are in the uretic ?

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The dishes are are within a few years old... IKEA dishes.

Here's a pic of the ingredients... it's the only uretic dry that works for Jack. I had him on the Purina One UT formula... and he got a UTI while on it.

wheat is a common food allergy

so, if it is an additive, like the wheat in dry food... what next? I can't do raw. I just checked First Mate, which is the other dry, and it looks like no wheat.

http://www.firstmate.com/cat_food.as...4-1D3AF92DE398

I knew humans could have wheat allergies... I just dealt all weekend with people with it... corn tortillas instead of bread for those folks. I haven't opened the new bag of Wysong. I may bring it back. Now what about wet food?

Originally Posted by RubSluts'Mommy

so, if it is an additive, like the wheat in dry food... what next? I can't do raw. I just checked First Mate, which is the other dry, and it looks like no wheat.

http://www.firstmate.com/cat_food.as...4-1D3AF92DE398

I knew humans could have wheat allergies... I just dealt all weekend with people with it... corn tortillas instead of bread for those folks. I haven't opened the new bag of Wysong. I may bring it back. Now what about wet food?

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First mate is a new one at my local pet store ... IMHO solid and reasonably priced for a grain free

Originally Posted by sharky

First mate is a new one at my local pet store ... IMHO solid and reasonably priced for a grain free

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Yeah. I picked it up initially because of how they deal with chicken in the formula. The only chicken in it is prepped in a way that what cats tend to be allergic to from chicken is no longer an issue... or something like that.

It also helps that they like it. I just wish the kibble were smaller so Jack could not have any problems with it. A small snack of it is one thing, but the one time I gave it as a meal instead of canned, he threw it up...

I may go back over to that store where I got First Mate and see what else they have that's small kibble...