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My cat is scratching himself raw and bloody. What should I do?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | Mixed Breed | Male

Why does my cat scratch until he reaches skin and it gets all scabby/kinda bloody?

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Veterinarian

Published on December 12th, 2016

Midnight is doing this because he is extremely itchy. This scratching can be caused by fleas, mites, ringworm, or allergies. If he isn't up to date on his flea treatment, he will need a spot on treatment such as Advantage or Revolution. You will need to disinfect the environment as well. If he is up to date on his flea treatment, I recommend taking him into the vet for an exam. The vet can do blood tests, skin scrapings, and use a Wood's lamp to diagnose allergies, mites, and ringworm. Once the cause of the itching is found, the vet can prescribe the appropriate treatment. I recommend taking him into the vet today or tomorrow during normal business hours.

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