Why is my indoor cat scratching, losing neck hair, and shaking head?

Question

My 1 year old, indoor only, cat has been scratching around her neck and back of ears for about three months now. She has lost a lot of hair from around her neck. No wounds, scratch marks or blood. Just no hair. Has been vet checked for fungal infections, fleas and ear mites. All clear. Tried her on a new grain free, high quality, mackerel and lamb canned food for 4 weeks. No sign of change. Allergic to something environmental in my home? Recently started sneezing & shaking head.

Rosemary Barber, DVM · Accepted Answer

Hello! Sounds like you are doing a great job trying to sort this out! What I usually do in these cases, is treat for mites and fleas regardless of whether we are seeing them (sometimes pets are allergic to a certain parasite, so they itch like crazy with just a few fleas, which could be hard to find on exam). Not sure which products you have in Australia, but your vet would know what is safe for your cat! (here, I would use something like Revolution!). Beyond that, I'm not sure! Some sort of allergy really fits well, but with the new symptoms of head shaking and sneezing, a virus could be brewing as well. Would you be able to call your vet today and ask about a topical flea/mite treatment? (Just make sure it is something your vet recommends-they know your cat best!)

Why is my indoor cat scratching, losing neck hair, and shaking head?

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