at wits end

NBC · May 3, 2022

We have a male cat, about 6 years old. He came to us from another home, I guess he liked our home better. We informed the previous owner of the cat staying with us and she seemed fine with the situation. He would come and visit during the day on a daily basis. He would get grooming and tick removal and was very friendly. He is a rather large cat. A couple of visits it looked like he had gotten into a cat fight, like open sores around his neck and face. They would heal up but then would appear again. When he finally moved in due to cold weather we noticed that he would scratch his neck in the same spot, removing the fur and getting right down to the bare skin. This started a whole bunch of vet visits and different medications. All basically did no good. We then brought him to a skin specialist. He was stumped and prescribed a medication to knock down his immune system. Well, things got a bit better but he still can't stop scratching the same spot. To say the least we are at wits end. Would like to know if anyone here has run in to the same problem and what was done to remedy the situation. Other then that the cat seems very healthy, gets tons of love and attention.

Nebaug · May 3, 2022

NBC said:
We have a male cat, about 6 years old. He came to us from another home, I guess he liked our home better. We informed the previous owner of the cat staying with us and she seemed fine with the situation. He would come and visit during the day on a daily basis. He would get grooming and tick removal and was very friendly. He is a rather large cat. A couple of visits it looked like he had gotten into a cat fight, like open sores around his neck and face. They would heal up but then would appear again. When he finally moved in due to cold weather we noticed that he would scratch his neck in the same spot, removing the fur and getting right down to the bare skin. This started a whole bunch of vet visits and different medications. All basically did no good. We then brought him to a skin specialist. He was stumped and prescribed a medication to knock down his immune system. Well, things got a bit better but he still can't stop scratching the same spot. To say the least we are at wits end. Would like to know if anyone here has run in to the same problem and what was done to remedy the situation. Other then that the cat seems very healthy, gets tons of love and attention.

? Doe he wear a collar? Reason I ask is that some cats don’t like them and will scratch to the point of opening the wound.

FeebysOwner · May 3, 2022

Sorry, no personal experience. But, if it is not a collar issue as suggested above, perhaps it is connected to a topical treatment you give him for fleas/ticks? I presume the skin specialist did a skin scraping/analysis of that area? If not, I would recommend that be done. But, if they did, you might want to consider asking for your vet and/or the skin specialist to do a consult with a veterinary university, or another specialty group.

Hope others will come along soon with some direct experiences to share with you.

NBC · May 4, 2022

Interesting!! We do have a collar on him to guard the area he scratches. Prior to the collar he would open a wound at the spot on his neck. When scratching the neck he gets a look in his eyes like he is on another planet. He gets that look when getting the area massaged.

di and bob · May 4, 2022

I would remove the collar and stop all flea and tick treatments to see if it helps. It sounds more like an allergy to something.

StanAndAlf · May 4, 2022

Might even be worth exploring ear issues, dental issues or perhaps thyroid issues if it continues, could be something under the surface that needs relieving. I would also get him tested for FIV as a previously outdoor cat as this can cause open sores from time to time as well. Keep us updated!