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Why is my cat's skin red and sore after a flea collar? What to do?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | Domestic Shorthair | Male | neutered | 2 years and 1 month old

my cat has sores and a red head and ear. this seemed to have started after we put a flea collar on him, I have since taken it off. is it possible he is allergic to it or what would cause this, have not changed his food or anything! what can I do to keep him from scratching it

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By David Darvishian

Veterinarian

Published on November 27th, 2017

Hi and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Sorry to hear about Bow. Sounds like he is having a contact dermatitis reaction to it. I would advise washing the neck and head area with Dawn dish soap to remove as much of the chemical as possible. Make sure you rinse the area very well, dried soap will cause even more scratching. If this doesn't stop the itching, then I would advise calling the manufacturer of the collar and telling them what is going on. They should help you with any vet bills from the use of this collar. Then I would take Bow to the vet and have him treated. He may need some cortisone or other medicine depending on what the affected areas look like, possibly an Elizabethan Collar also. A good lesson here is never use an over the counter flea product unless your vet advises it. Good luck

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Other Answers

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    Answered By Dr. Heidi DVM, CVA, CCRT, CVTP, CVSMT, CVCH

    Veterinarian, Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist, Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner

    Published on February 13th, 2018

    I'm so sorry that you are dealing with this with your cats. Unfortunately, many of the chemicals that we use for flea and tick prevention can be very irritating to the skin. The only treatment is to remove the irritating chemical and wash it off. Cats may or may not tolerate washing their neck, but you could certainly use a wet washcloth to wipe the area. Using topical medications like polysporin is generally not necessary or helpful. If Orca is scratching at the the area and creating sores or if the redness is not resolving within 24 hours, I would certainly recommend having your veterinarian examine his neck. Good luck! I hope that was helpful and that Orca's skin looks better soon. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

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