Why is my (flea-free) cat covered in scabs?

For years, my kitty has been absolutely covered with small scabs under her healthy coat. Both summer and winter. I never see any fleas or flea dirt. They are not from scratching or fighting. They seem to form vertically from a very small sore, as if a tiny sore just continuously wept the stuff scabs are made from, causing the scab to get bigger and bigger from below. Gross. I don't want my cat to be gross!





I took her to the vet a year ago and she was given a cortisone shot. The scabs disappeared but came back 6 weeks later. The vet said cortisone shots are bad on the liver. The vet ruled out mange, though I forget why. She said it was basically impossible to know why this is happening.





Allergies? Anybody else's cat have this?





By the way, this is the sweetest, must cuddly and tolerant cat EVER.





Thanks!





Samatha

Why is my (flea-free) cat covered in scabs?
take her to another vet to find out why this is happening.
Reply:I had an Irish Setter just like that I started to give her canola oil in her food %26amp; it all went away but too about a month or so. She suffers from dry skin %26amp; needs some oil in her system.
Reply:Though I doubt this is your situation, some cats will get scabs for what seems to be no reason but are actually the results of fights with other animals or just brushing through plants outside that might be prickly.
Reply:If it's not mange, then it may be just dry skin or something she's eating. Try switching her diet for a few weeks. That helped my cat. You can get soothing cat wipes that might make it feel better and maybe even make it go away.
Reply:I have a cat like that - she also looses her hair. she was an indoor/outdoor cat, but not she's just indoor - which has helped. it seems to be allergies and is worse in the summer/spring. I give her kitty vitamins to help. ask your vet if those moisture sprays and wipes will be good. i use them on my cat, but you may want to check with yor vet first
Reply:It could also be cat acne. One of our cats gets these scabs every year. Here's an article about it.
Reply:If you think it is dry skin try a little real butter in her diet. If you suspect allergies try a little children's benadryl . It will take a few days for either to show a affect on her. If it doesn't help have the vet do a culture on one of the sores to see if it is a staph infection.
Reply:well, I have a friend that has a cat that over grooms herself, and causes small sores, this could be the problem or she may have an allergy ask your vet about giving her small doses of benadryl or change her diet to an allergy diet, double check with your vet though
Reply:Allergies? I had a dog that had the same problem. She was allergic to grass. (of all the fleabags in all the pounds in all the world, I had to pick the one allergic to grass) Some cats have goofy allergies too.


Pretty Pattie had to have a steroid shot once a month to control it, which ultimately killed her. So good luck to you.
Reply:You are describing what is called "miliary dermatitis". Little scabs that can be around the neck and down the back. While flea bites are a common allergic cause, there are other possible allergies. Do you use a monthly flea preventative (like Advantage)? You might want to, as these cats are extremely sensitive to flea bites. Most cats are excellent at picking fleas off and swallowing them, so you don't generally find a lot of fleas on them. A cortisone shot is usually given to counteract the allergens, and are usually very effective. The vet can also prescribe oral cortisone so you can regulate the dose and only give if needed. Sometimes antibiotics are given to help with secondary skin infections.





More info: http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?...
Reply:Try changing her diet she could be allergic to some of the ingredients in her food. Try food like Burns or Arden Grange both are very natural food free of additives
Reply:Has Ringworm been ruled out?
Reply:Do you give her milk to drink? My cat had sores on her tummy area. The vet said it was a reaction to drinking milk. He gave me steroid cream to put on her skin. She's been fine ever since.