Itchy cat scratching herself away!

I have read all previous posts on this issue but am still at a loss. Our cat (13) has been scratching and over grooming for the last 5 years. She was on steroids for 3 years but had to come off them due to starting with diabetes.

We've tried many changes in food, new bowls, moved house, changed our washing powder and keep up to date with flea treatment with no improvement. What else can we do? She is covered in scabs and has bald patches and is keeping us awake all night with scratching.

Have you considered a totally grain free diet?  And I don't mean "grain free" that substitutes peas or veggies for grains, but a pure meat, no grain or veggies diet?  Kroger makes a good no grain canned food that is chicken based called Abound (they also have a second flavor of Abound with chicken and whitefish, but I don't get that one because I try to keep fish to a  minimum.)   It's affordable at 79 cents a can also.

We had two rescue cats that had clawed their ears into scarred stubs before being dumped by their owners after a divorce when no one wanted custody.  We started them on totally grain free diet just as a starting point, and we never had to change.  Their ears cleared up very quickly and never got inflamed again.  If she is diabetic, she would do best on a very low carb diet like this, and preferably all wet food, no dry food.   ou said you have tried all sorts of changes but you weren't specific, so that's why I am suggesting this. 

Hi. Thanks for your suggestion. She is on a vet pure lamb diet now by ziwi peak but it isn't making any difference. We live in New Zealand by the way.

I guess Kroger's food wouldn't work for you then!  I also used EVO 95% chicken which I ordered from Chewy.com because it is hard to get, but even they didnt always get it and called saying they didn't know when it would be in, so that's when I was fortunate enough to discover the Abound.  I stuck with chicken because it's pretty much what they would eat in the wild -- birds.  A friend feeds raw and obtains frozen mice, but I wont go that far.  If they want mice they can catch them. 

Hello there, that sure sounds like allergies to me. My last cat Gizmo had them. I used only natural cleaners on the laundry and in the house and her itching and scratching diminished...if you are not already doing so, you might consider trying a new laundry soap, etc. I'd also recommend an air filter for the house, since it could be related to fungus or spores.