scratching and liking himself to death

I have a six year old maine coon cat that is liking and scratching himself bald.  My vet informed me that he has allergies.  We have changed his litter, I give him once a week oatmeal baths to relieve the symptoms of itchy skin.  The bet has given him allergy shots, shots of cortison nothing is working.  I was told that benadryl will help him.  Is there any other suggestions out there.  He is now half bald and loooking terrible. 

Awww. poor guy.

Perhaps an air filter - the kind that keeps pollen out of the household air?

Maybe you could get two - one for upstairs, one for downstairs (if you have 2 floors, that is).

Also - amyltriptilene type drugs that calm cats might be in order.  The benedryl will do that as well to a certain degree.

I''ll assume he's been checked for fleas - otherwise that'd be my first guess - some pets not only are bothered by fleas, but are allergic -

"flea dermititis".

OH - I just saw your other thread, where you mentioned this started after being shaved for bladder surgery, was it?

I don't know how soon after, but if he began licking like this as the hair was growing back - it's entirely possible it's the fur that's the problem.

Those first few days after I shave my legs .... OOF! I scratch myself raw too.

For pets, sometimes once a habit like that develops from something that's truly bothering them, they find it hard to stop even after the original problem resolves - becomes a nervous tick, if you will.