Why is my cat itchy with red sores, hair loss, and leg pain?
Updated On September 23rd, 2025
Pet's info: Cat | Domestic Mediumhair | Male | neutered | 7 lbs
I help feed a feral cat colony and there is a kitty with red soars (not bloody) and hair loss on inside of back legs. Last week they just seemed to make him itchy- he would lick a lot. This week it is worse and he is standing more bent and favoring one leg- like it hurts. Any ideas on what it could be?
2 Answers
Most Helpful Answer
Published on October 22nd, 2017
This is likely either skin mites or ringworm. Poor kitty. He needs to be seen by your vet for skin testing to determine which is likely so that he can start treatment for this right away. Best wishes at the vet and I hope his skin clears up soon. Take care.
2Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Related Answers from Veterinarians
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Published on April 29th, 2018
This is very likely to be scabies (mite infestation), you will need to take Zoo to your vet ASAP, there are several treatment options, either a weekly injection of ivermectin or using products such as Advantage multi or Bravecto that rae prescription only.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Health & Wellbeing
BSH kitten 2.5m has skin patches looking like clots in hair roots, excessive itching and shedding, patches leaving bald spots after shedding in clotted bits. What is it?
I would be concerned about either mites (which are microscopic), or ringworm. It is also possible that he has a bacterial infection as well as commonly a bacterial infections will take over when there is another underlying skin problem going on. A skin scrape to look for mites and a ringworm culture are recommended in these situations. Please have him evaluated by your veterinarian as soon as possible. In the meantime please practice good hygiene after handling him as ringworm is contagious to people as well. Best of luck and I hope he improves soon! Thank you for using Pet Coach.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My cat has at least 20 bumps on her inside right hind leg. They are about the size of a pencil eraser. They are red, raised and I'm assuming itchy because she will not stop licking them. The hair is gone in that area as well. We have 2 other cats and
Smores seems like the area is bothering her. Many things can cause these bumps including allergies, external parasites or ringworm (which people can get). Make an appointment with her doctor to get her checked out. There are medications the doctor can give her to stop the itching as well as treat the underlying cause. If you have an elizabethan collar for her, go ahead and put it on her. The licking can make the lesions worse. Make sure that you are also using a reputable flea product. I recommend Revolution or Comfortis.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
What are these lesions on my kitten's body, its itchy and causes discomfort and there is hairloss as well. Is it fungal infection?
Hi, and thanks for your question. This could be due to an allergy, although it could also be infection or mites. First of all, in order to rule out skin parasites, you will need to treat with a high quality flea treatment, then ask the vet to perform a skin scrape - this might reveal an infection or a mite infestation. If all of those came back negative, the next step is to treat the allergy symptomatically and try to discover the cause of the allergy. Three main type of allergies are usually affecting pets: food allergies, flea and parasite related ones and environmental type (allergens coming from trees, pollens, dust etc etc). Some medications can be given by the vet in order to repair any possible skin lesions (like steroids and antibiotics). Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. If this answer was helpful please let us know, this will be
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
Hi my 6yr old cat has been experiencing hair loss on her hind leg. It started with a very small patch and now it became very big. Some ares have small red spots and others have small dark spots (like dry skin). The area feels warm to touch (maybe tha
Hi there and thank you for using Boop by Petco to address your concern. The cause of the hair loss could be allergies or skin mites as well. I would make sure the veterinarian scrapes the skin to check for parasites of the skin. This may also need an oral antibiotic in addition to topical therapy to see if it will respond. You can also try a different shampoo such as Douxo PS Chlorhexidine combination shampoo and bathe twice weekly. If there is no improvement and your vet is unable to resolve this, I would recommend a second opinion with a veterinary dermatologist if possible. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
hello.A stray cat, about 4 years old, has had kittens > three times.3rd time was a month ago, but has lost all, since she left to give birth& upon return stayed with us, not returning to her kittens, searching around the house & crying.We left for 2
Mange would be the most likely cause of hair loss in this area, however ringworm (a fungal infection) can't be ruled out as well, and even a significant flea infestation can't be ruled out. If you've applied flea drops, hopefully that got rid of all of the fleas. She'll need a couple of tests to determine whether this is ringworm or mange. Medications to treat both of these conditions are prescription-only in the US, so I'm not sure what to tell you as you can't access a vet, but you might try a pet shop in your area, as in some countries these medications can be sold over the counter.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My cat has a patch on her leg where the hair is gone, not quite bald but diminished and there is a cluster of small bumps there. They are not discoloured and they don't seem to be bothering her and I haven't seen her chew or scratch there. Can you ad
I would certainly consider this a reason to take her in to your vet. The skin appears to be having an allergic reaction to something. She also could potentially have a mite infestation or even ringworm (lower on the list of possibilities). So I would schedule an appt soon to get her skin tested through your vet to determine what the underlying problem is so that she receives proper treatment, especially since most cats with skin issues need some kind of prescription medication to resolve the issue. I wish you all the best at the vet. Best wishes and take care.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My cat has these sores and some small ones all over her body. Is this fungal infection? How should I treat them?
Hi, and thanks for your question. This could be due to an allergy, although it could also be infection or mites. First of all, in order to rule out skin parasites, you will need to treat with a high quality flea treatment, then ask the vet to perform a skin scrape - this might reveal an infection or a mite infestation. If all of those came back negative, the next step is to treat the allergy symptomatically and try to discover the cause of the allergy. Three main type of allergies are usually affecting pets: food allergies, flea and parasite related ones and environmental type (allergens coming from trees, pollens, dust etc etc). Some medications can be given by the vet in order to repair any possible skin lesions (like steroids and antibiotics). Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. If this answer was helpful please let us know, this will be
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My cat has scabs all over his back and scratches constantly losing hair and Restless picking his toenails no fleas we have no fleas and his eyes are leaking brown stuff
Poor guy. It sounds like Maxx either has allergic dermatitis (to something in the environment), skin mites, ringworm, or even an immune mediated skin disorder is possible. I would first have him examined by your vet for a few skin tests (Skin scrape to rule out mites, and consider a ringworm test if the lesions are circular and red). Then the vet can prescribe the appropriate treatment based on the findings of those tests. Typically as long as ringworm is not likely, cats respond well to steroids and antibiotics. I hope that Maxx's skin heals well soon! Best wishes and take care.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Training & Behavior
She inching a lot losing hair and now it's a sore and she sleep by her litter box now. She usually doesn't do this can someone tell me what's wrong? I been giving her HomeoPet for skin and itch drops in her water.
You will need to take your kitty to a veterinarian for a skin exam. Summer could be suffering from an allergy, mites, fleas, a bacterial or fungal infection. Each of these requires a different treatment, so it is important to find out what is causing the itch. Your vet will do a thorough exam and maybe a a skin scrape. He will then discuss the options with you and then prescribe medications, possibly give an injection to stop the itching.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My cat is chewing/pulling out his fur on his body. Most targeted is on its back and front legs. Whenever he grooms himself, he pulls his fur out.
It sure sounds like Micole is itchy! Problems such as skin infections, ringworm, mites, And allergies can all cause these symptoms. I would encourage you to have him evaluated by your veterinarian soon. Medication may be needed to improve his comfort. Best of luck and I hope he improves soon. Thank you for using Pet Coach.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
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