My cat has red bumps and scabs on her back. Why is she miserable?

Question

My cat Lily has red bumps and scabs going from the middle of her back and going down her spine to her tail. I have never seen this before in the 10 years since she kidnapped me and moved herself into my apt. I don't see any fleas but her fur is extremely dirty from rolling around and she goes ballistic at the sound of running water so it's impossible to bathe her unless you love being mauled which I have a definite aversion too. She is miserable and crying all the time so I need help? Pet's info: Cat | American Shorthair | Female | spayed | 8 years and 5 months old | 0.9 lbs

David Darvishian · Accepted Answer

Hi and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! So sorry to hear about poor Lily. Small scabs over her back are indicative of a condition known as Feline Miliary Dermatitis. The causes are many including fleas, ticks, mites, allergies, skin infection, etc. I would advise that you take Lily into your vet for a thorough history and evaluation (physical exam). Your vet can then advise either diagnostics (lab tests, skin tests including skin scrape, etc, or any over test that is appropriate) and/or treatment for this condition. This condition is treated with steroids (often by injection, long acting), antibiotics, other allergy medicines, good flea/tick products, and many others depending on what your vet thinks is the inciting cause. Here is some information from a veterinary only website- Miliary Dermatitis Becky Lundgren (author) Cats can get a condition called miliary dermatitis, which is the descriptive term used for a cutaneous reaction pattern of focal (localized) or generalized small papules (bumps) or crusts. Miliary dermatitis is not a specific disease. It is secondary to many other diseases. Causes of miliary dermatitis include insect (flea, mosquito, ear mite, etc.) bite hypersensitivity, atopy (sensitivity to aero-allergens such as pollen, mold, house dust mites, etc.), adverse reaction to a food, bacterial superficial folliculitis (inflamed skin follicles), dermatophytosis (fungal disease), feline scabies, mast cell tumors, and pemphigus foliaceus. Flea hypersensitivity is the most common cause of miliary dermatitis. Diagnosis of the root cause of miliary dermatitis may require cytology, skin scrapings, insect control trial, elimination diet, fungal culture, and biopsy. Treatment is based on eliminating or treating the root cause of the miliary dermatitis. Here's a client information guide from Univ of FL veterinary school vetmed-hospitals-smallanimal.sites.medinfo.ufl.edu/files/2011/09/Skin-Diseases-in-Cats-client-guide.pdf Good luck with Lily.

My cat has red bumps and scabs on her back. Why is she miserable?

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