Scabs and itchy lesions on cat

My guess, since it's so common, is that it's a flea or bug bite allergy. Are you in an area that's warm enough to have mosquitoes out already? I have one that's very allergic to mosquitoes bites and had some terrible lumps and scabs when I found her. The only solution for her is being 100% indoor only.
If your cat has a flea allergy a flea topical will not completely prevent her from being bitten if she's allowed outside. If the vet suggests this as the cause, then make her a house cat, keep her on a topical (at least for the warmer months), and keep the home flea free.

If that doesn't solve the problem then your next bet is a food allergy.

The vet likely won't test anything depending on how the sores look. They may give you an antibiotic for her if they're worried the sores can get infected, and/or they may suggest a steroid shot to calm down the immune system.
If the sores look really bad they may take a biopsy and test it.

I don't know just how bad her face and ears are scratched up. So I can't say an e-collar is needed, the vet will determine this and should she need to wear it for a while there are softer ones you can buy at pet stores.


Re: food. If you're truly struggling see if there are any pet food banks in your area. Though they would likely only have dry food and maybe not the highest quality - it depends on who is donating to them. Some pet food companies will donate directly (to get rid of surplus product so it's not sitting around their warehouse ) to charity causes, so maybe at least you could find something without dyes in it.

I'd guess ringworm. Use strict hygiene methods until you know for sure. One visit to a questionable kitten rescuer's home last week, and now, for the first time in years, I have ringworm. And I thought I had finally become immune to it. My dog went with me, she has it also now.

I've never noticed ringworm causing intense allergy/flea like itching in cats. Aside from a bit of licking, cats seem to notice the ringworm on them less than we do. Ringworm sores will be reddened (skin) with a crusty type scab that happens on it's own. When a cat is itchy for another reason: fleas, ear mites, allergies, etc the sores are largely self inflicted. Surely everyone has seen how badly ear mites can make a cat mutilate their own ears before?

Cat's also get stress fevers at the vet, so hopefully at home it's not that bad.

Flea bite and other allergies are still one of the main causes for this so the advice in my first post is still some you should consider following.