Cat has red sores and head and neck

Cat has sores ON head and neck.

My cat wafer is about 2 years old (that's what the humane society said at least), and when we first got him, he did have dermatitis but only on his underbelly. He had no sores, just red skin and hair loss from fleas. Wafer is an inside cat, and only has contact with my dog.

Wafer has currently been scratching around his neck and head a lot, which I guess is causing red, hard sores on him. He is a long hair cat and doesn't like to be prodded at, so I haven't been able to get the best look at them for a while. The last time I looked, they were small, red, crusty looking bumps. But now when I pet him, I can feel they are getting bigger and worse.

I can't take him to the vet due to financial reasons, I would have to take him in a few weeks, but I hate seeing him suffer. He isn't acting weird, he is just scratching and making it worse.

I've been recommended to buy flea medicine, but I don't want to put it on him if he has sores on him, and I also don't want him to have an allergic reaction to it. He seems to have sensitive skin, and I don't want to cause him anymore pain. And as for giving him a bath, I think he would kill me if I tried.

Is there any medicine that I could get him without going to a vet? Would a flea collar help? Any suggestions will help! Thanks in advance!

The two most common causes of dermatitis in cats is flea allergy and food allergy.

If you do not want to put a topical flea medication on him (which I totally understand if he has open sores!) the ONLY other options I suggest (aside from bathing) are:

CapStar- this is an ORAL medication that kills ADULT fleas only. It is one of, if not the safest medication to give to kill the adult fleas. This medication can safely be given every day, though likely not needed that frequently unless you have a really bad flea infestation. Every other day or every 3rd day should likely e sufficient.

Seresto - This is the ONLY flea/tick collar I would suggest to anyone to use on/around a cat. Stay clear of any Hartz, Seargents or Sentry flea and/or tick medications for ALL animals. DO NOT use topicals, shampoos or flea collars by these companies.

Aside from those suggestions, what brand of flea/tick medication do you use on your dog? There are only a few that treat the entire life cycle, most only treat the adult flea, which means flea eggs/larvae can come in on the dog.

Also, what food are you currently feeding Wafer?

Is the dermatitis something he has always presented with since you got him?

Wafer has to eat Hill's Perscription Diet C/D food. And my dog just had Advantage II put on her not too long ago. My husband and I looked for fleas on him (my husband held him very carefully while I looked), and I couldn't see any, just tons of black specks.

The humane society gave us pills to clear up the dermatitis, and he hasn't had a problem until now (3-4 months later). The pills cleared the dermatitis up and he grew the hair on his stomach back.

The black specks sound exactly like flea dirt. If you can, get a sample of the specks and wet it. See if it turns red.

I highly suspect right now that this is a flea allergy. I would guess the pills given to you were prednisone or Prednisolone?

I just looked at his papers, he was on Clavamox.

Ok, Clavamox is an antibiotic. I suspect they gave him this to help with any secondary bacterial infections on his skin.

The typically course for treating dermatitis is a shot of Depo Medrol (a steroid), along with an antibiotic if needed (it sounds like he very well might.)

Poor Wafer!  Sound like my Wurp.  He does that even if one single flea bites him just once.  He reacts horribly, gets itchy bumps all over, especially around his head and back near his tail.  There won't be a flea infestation even- he just has to get one bite and he breaks out.  He loses hair like crazy around his head, neck, and in front of his ears, it is so pitiful.  We have to be super vigilant about flea prevention (even in cold weather, treating the yard, house, and cats) and the vet has him on antihistamines year round, but those are partly due to his other allergies as well.  I feel so sorry for Wafer, I've seen what Wurp goes through. 

In regards to CatPack's advice above---once you see that flea poop (black specks) you know you've got a flea problem!  If you are seeing tons of black specks, it's time to declare war on the fleas in and around your house & yard too, not just on the pets.  It's a bad, bad year for fleas, ticks, and all insects in my area.