My cat is scratching herself raw!

[Fire Fox]

I am currently feeding her hypoallergenic food but have only had her on it for a couple of weeks, The softpaws like you say would only be a temporary solution while I try and uncover the actual cause of the problem but because the vet has just put her on steroids for so long and now they don't work she has no relief from the scratching and she scratches her face so much that her eyes start closing up from the seeping wounds. I wouldn't be able to test treatments for her without something to stop her scratching first.

I agree about getting a different vet, I can't believe that they hadn't even suggested different food until recently when the steroids stopped working... don't worry I won't be taking her back there again  and I definitely won't be declawing her now I know there is something else I can get for her 

That is shocking you were not advised to change the food for so long. Obviously you might prefer to stick with the hypo-allergenic food until you have had tests carried out., but with humans they often try an exclusion diet. Just one food source at first then adding back one by one until the cuplrit is established. Working in (human) healthcare myself I am a firm believer in a natural diet, yet a cooked dry food with multiple ingredients is not natural for cat!

[Mark]

I don't know where you are but I would be asking for a referral to a specialist after all this time - after all, vets are like GPs - they might have a specialist field but they can't know everything about every type of disease.


I am on the fence with a lot of natural remedies but I heard that manuka honey is good for skin problems. I really think a specialist is the way to go.

Here is the list of Dermatology specialists http://www.vetindex.co.uk/vetindex/derm_ref.htm

[Lotzy]

I'd also go along with Michelle's suggestiong and ask the vet about desensitizing injections.  Sometimes when skin is trying to heal, it can be itchy due to tightness/dryness.  If you could break the itching a bit, it might help.  I've read on other forums about giving cats with skin problems fish oil or other oils. I don't know much about it myself, but it might improve the skin condition.

[mandybestic]

I am currently feeding her hypoallergenic food but have only had her on it for a couple of weeks, The softpaws like you say would only be a temporary solution while I try and uncover the actual cause of the problem but because the vet has just put her on steroids for so long and now they don't work she has no relief from the scratching and she scratches her face so much that her eyes start closing up from the seeping wounds. I wouldn't be able to test treatments for her without something to stop her scratching first.

I agree about getting a different vet, I can't believe that they hadn't even suggested different food until recently when the steroids stopped working... don't worry I won't be taking her back there again  and I definitely won't be declawing her now I know there is something else I can get for her 

[Susanne (urbantigers)]

Declawing for medical reasons is not illegal, but it is a drastic  measure so should definitely be the last resort.  Besides, stopping her from scratching won't stop her from itching.  It sounds to me as though you need to try a new vet if your current vet has been seeing her for 2 years with this condition and hasn't managed to work out what is causing it, or tried anything other than steroids.  If it's not a flea allergy, then I'd guess it is some other sort of allergic problem but finding out what is causing it will be hard.  What are you feeding her?  Have you tried a hypoallergenic diet?  e.g. excluding common allergens such as chicken, wheat etc.  I agree with Desley that soft paws might be a useful temporary measure whilst you are trying to get to the bottom of this.

[Fire Fox]

Declawing is illegal in the UK because it is not just removing the claws but part of the toe is removed as well.  Some cats have an allergic response to common pet food ingredients - fish, grains/ cereals, occasionally some meats. A raw diet may be used successfully in these cases as plant proteins are eliminated and the allergens are different in raw and cooked meat (heating denatures protein). Many who raw feed also include fish body oils as omega-3 EFAs have anti-inflammatory properties, but do note that cats need saturated fat too.

[mandybestic]

Thank you all so much for all your advice! I am so glad to hear that there is an alternative to declawing her because I had read about all the disadvantages of doing this and I didn't want to do that to her if it is avoidable. I will get her some soft paws as I think this will stop her from harming herself yet she will still be able to get at the itch a little bit.

That will mean as well that I have time to try out all the other options on her to try to solve the overall problem without her getting to the point where she is harming herself so much that she is in agony.

I will let you know how it all goes, Thanks again     

Mandy

[Desley (booktigger)]

Gill, the idea with the softpaws is that they can still scratch, but they are only using a soft surface rather than their sharp claws, so it doesnt rip the skin as much.

[Gill (sneakiefeline)]

I do knpw what its like to itch so bad..................luckily hands not tied behinfdback cos that would be torture,,,,,,,,,,,and dont think that softpaws would help cos anthing can be used to sctratch if you itch enough.

Marks stuff that the vet gave sounds very good...........can it be used by humans 

However sounbds like he needs a referral to a specialist 

[puggy1975 Zoe]

My Ollie has a skin condition wich is stress realted and he scratches himself raw in several places. He has had steroids and now he only gets fudicerm gel and Zyklene and that has helped him. It puzzled us for months and i kept a diary and reckon it was stress related due to ilness with his epilepsy. We decided to hang off with the allergy testing and in his case worked it out

[Desley (booktigger)]

i would be tempted to use Softclaws just so she couldn't do as much damage to herself while you try out some of the other suggestions.

[Tan]

Hi Mand 

Really feel for you and your cat. It must be awful seeing her hurt herself and not finding a solution. So many  to you both.

Have you tried taking her to a dermatologist? It does sound like it is or could have started as allergy and progressed to OCD. The scratching starts off as a natural response to allergies or anxiety. Then it can become an Obsessive–compulsive disorder.
I have read in the past that some cats were prescribed a type of Prozac to help ocd. But of course this must be under your vet's discretion.
 
Is she indoor only? Is she a nervous cat?

Not sure if you have read up on declawing, but it is a not very nice thing to do as they use their claws to stretch their muscles as well as use them as a protective tool if your cat goes outside. It can have severe consequences on mental behaviour. Have a read up on our page here about it. http://www.purrsinourhearts.co.uk/index.php/topic,4827.msg74331.html#msg74331
Soft claws (fake soft claws ) is an alternative but it would be better to find the reason and solution if possible.

[Janeyk]

Poor puss, it must be awful for her. 

I don't think declawing is the answer because apart from many other reasons the itching will probably still be there (although I know that scratch causes more itch) and really need to get to the root of what's causing this.  Could you ask your vet to refer her to a specialist to try and get to the bottom of this?

[Mark]

My cat Clapton used to suffer terribly from allergic dermatitis. He also used to scratch himself raw. My vet said that most cases of dermatitis in cats are caused by a flea allergy. I am certain he didn't have them though. Other vets had prescribed steroids in the past but my current vet prescribed Surolan - it is supposed to be for ears but he said it is fine to use on skin. It is anti-pruritic - it stops the itching. It seemed to help him a lot and he hasn't had a recurrence since - that was 2 years ago. I can't imagine what it would feel like to itch like mad with my hands tied behind my back 

I asked my vet if it was safe if a cat ingested it. He said it was but it was best to make sure he didn't lick it for 15 minutes or so to allow it to penetrate to be effective. I think it broke the itch-scratch-itch cycle. I think it is prescription only. It isn't expensive.

I think there are very few vets willing to declaw. It is illegal in Europe unless the vet can prove there are sound medical reasons. I don't want to lecture but it really is a barbaric, agonising process and likely to cause long-term mental & physical distress.

[snarf]

not had the problem but have heard of cats/kittens haveing body sleeves made for them (cut appropriate holes in a sock or a jumper sleeve) to stop them licking or scratching a particular area. ill have a look for pics

ETA:

theres this version made from a teeshirt
http://www.instructables.com/id/Superior-post-surgical-feline--canine-appliance.-/

cant find a photo of the sleeve but imagine this with holes for legs and not tight around head/neck

http://www.flickr.com/photos/krates/49590238/

as mark pointed out, these are only for symptoms and wont help long term if the initial cause is still there. they can help if scratching has become a habit and the initial trigger has been sorted

[Michelle (furbabystar)]

Here you go

http://www.enotalone.com/article/9016.html

http://www.sniksnak.com/cathealth/allergies.html

http://www.vetinfo.com/cat-allergy-shots-side-effects.html

[Michelle (furbabystar)]

I would ask for some tests to be done to find out what she is allergic to.
I know a cat who had this done and is now on a course of desensitizing injections and its working really well.

Its quite expensive but it really has given that cat a due lease of life

I'll have a google and see if I can find a link about it

[mandybestic]

I really need some help and advice about my cat. She has had this skin condition which makes her scratch herself until she is bleeding. I have been taking her to the vet for the last two years and they don't know what it is, they have been giving her steroids for it which used to work for about 3 - 6 months but now they are not working at all. It got so bad recently that the only thing I could do for her is get her a cone for her head to stop her from tearing herself apart, it also meant that I have some time to think about what to do with her next. It has started healing now and I was thinking that it might be a good option to get her declawed so she can't harm herself, but also to try and treat her as well.

Has anyone else had this problem or does anyone know of something I can try???
Thanks