Hi everyone!
I'm going to try to make this as linear as possible with pics and a tldr at the end.
Background:
My 2 year old short-hair calico rescue (Tali) was adopted in Ontario last summer. She came with a host of issues (mostly due to poor nutrition, since resolved), but the strangest was a mirrored pair of scabby bald patches on her throat. The emaciated cat arrived with a scarf and some ointment and a vague explanation of a reaction to topical flea treatment sometime between when her photo was posted for adoption and when I got her. It turned out that the ointment was an antifungal and as she was already being treated and on the mend, my vet couldn't definitively say it was ringworm. We were all pretty sure it was ringworm.
The Rash:
This spring we unexpectedly moved to California. She took it as well as can be expected. A few weeks ago I noticed a scab in her fur, a thin line at her neck that I assumed may have come from playing too hard with her brother (Loki, male maine coon). Two days later it was a bald patch damp with blood/lymph. It looked familiar. I picked a local vet and off we went. After a cursory exam and fruitless combing, the vet said ... fleas.
I pointed out that neither cat had them. No dirt, no excessive dandruff, no excessive scratching, nothing. She suggested that I check Loki as sometimes the cat who is less sensitive ends up with more fleas making themselves at home. She gave us a flea comb, and prednisolone 2x daily for a week and once daily until finished.
I've been pilling Tali even though she hates it. I've searched high and low for parasitic insects - including Loki who hates fine combs. I've vacuumed obsessively and replaced the cat tree. The Spot is larger and though the original scab has healed, a fresh wound appeared last week. Wispy fur is trying to grow back. Now we get to the problem.
At this point my research suggested an allergy of some sort which set me to cleaning which led to the discovery of termite dust on the windowsill she favors. "An allergen!" says I. "Perhaps this is the culprit!" But the internet only provided info regarding reactions to termite treatment rather than termite poop. So I asked the vet.
Vet suggested a course of revolution for the termites. Perhaps I am missing something, but termites aren't that kind of mite. They don't infest organisms. No one has signs of fleas or any mites, just one Mystery Spot on one cat. She also suggested that we start working through allergy possibilities which is a route I've been heading towards.
Does anyone have any suggestions/experience/guidance regarding Tali's rash, but also termites and cat allergies? Is that a thing?
At this point I am going to take Tali to a different vet closer to our home. A combination of her flea obsession and getting charged for a nail trim without warning have put me off.
Tldr: indoor cat has bald scabby spot on throat that resembles rash she had at adoption. Vet says fleas (no fleas), and steroid isn't really helping. Allergies seem likely and then termite presence is discovered. Vet suggests revolution for the termites and then investigating allergies through diet. I am on board with changing her diet, but confused about the termite approach. I'd love to hear your thoughts. Thank you.
Pics from Aug 7th, the day she started prednisolone. I'll snag a current pic as soon as she lets me.
I'm going to try to make this as linear as possible with pics and a tldr at the end.
Background:
My 2 year old short-hair calico rescue (Tali) was adopted in Ontario last summer. She came with a host of issues (mostly due to poor nutrition, since resolved), but the strangest was a mirrored pair of scabby bald patches on her throat. The emaciated cat arrived with a scarf and some ointment and a vague explanation of a reaction to topical flea treatment sometime between when her photo was posted for adoption and when I got her. It turned out that the ointment was an antifungal and as she was already being treated and on the mend, my vet couldn't definitively say it was ringworm. We were all pretty sure it was ringworm.
The Rash:
This spring we unexpectedly moved to California. She took it as well as can be expected. A few weeks ago I noticed a scab in her fur, a thin line at her neck that I assumed may have come from playing too hard with her brother (Loki, male maine coon). Two days later it was a bald patch damp with blood/lymph. It looked familiar. I picked a local vet and off we went. After a cursory exam and fruitless combing, the vet said ... fleas.
I pointed out that neither cat had them. No dirt, no excessive dandruff, no excessive scratching, nothing. She suggested that I check Loki as sometimes the cat who is less sensitive ends up with more fleas making themselves at home. She gave us a flea comb, and prednisolone 2x daily for a week and once daily until finished.
I've been pilling Tali even though she hates it. I've searched high and low for parasitic insects - including Loki who hates fine combs. I've vacuumed obsessively and replaced the cat tree. The Spot is larger and though the original scab has healed, a fresh wound appeared last week. Wispy fur is trying to grow back. Now we get to the problem.
At this point my research suggested an allergy of some sort which set me to cleaning which led to the discovery of termite dust on the windowsill she favors. "An allergen!" says I. "Perhaps this is the culprit!" But the internet only provided info regarding reactions to termite treatment rather than termite poop. So I asked the vet.
Vet suggested a course of revolution for the termites. Perhaps I am missing something, but termites aren't that kind of mite. They don't infest organisms. No one has signs of fleas or any mites, just one Mystery Spot on one cat. She also suggested that we start working through allergy possibilities which is a route I've been heading towards.
Does anyone have any suggestions/experience/guidance regarding Tali's rash, but also termites and cat allergies? Is that a thing?
At this point I am going to take Tali to a different vet closer to our home. A combination of her flea obsession and getting charged for a nail trim without warning have put me off.
Tldr: indoor cat has bald scabby spot on throat that resembles rash she had at adoption. Vet says fleas (no fleas), and steroid isn't really helping. Allergies seem likely and then termite presence is discovered. Vet suggests revolution for the termites and then investigating allergies through diet. I am on board with changing her diet, but confused about the termite approach. I'd love to hear your thoughts. Thank you.
Pics from Aug 7th, the day she started prednisolone. I'll snag a current pic as soon as she lets me.
