My senior cat is itchy, restless, and losing weight. What to do?

Question

My cat is 14. The last 2 weeks my cat has been restless and scratching and chewing . Not broken skin. Yet. My father feeds him table scraps he is a whip cream addict and probably gets more tuna thatn he should. He has also lost a bit of weight he used to be a healthy weight but now is bvery boney and thin. Pet's info: Cat | Egyptian Mau | Male | neutered | 14 years and 8 months old | 15 lbs

Kevin Sanada, DVM · Accepted Answer

Itchy skin is often due to the following things: 1) Allergies - this can happen suddenly and is usually due to an environmental (i.e pollen) cause. https://www.petcoach.co/article/how-to-tell-if-your-pet-has-allergies/ 2) External parasites - fleas, lice and mites can all cause intense itching. It's good to check him for fleas and get treatment if needed. 3) Over-bathing, or using the wrong product for bathing - Bathing too often can cause the skin to get dry and irritated. Cats should normally be bathed no more than once a month with a shampoo that is labeled for cats. If you bathe more than that, or use a shampoo or soap that is meant for people, then you could be damaging the normal protective barrier of the skin. One thing you can do for itchy skin, is give a bath with cool water using an oatmeal or aloe shampoo. You can get these shampoos at the pet store. I hope this helps you to identify the problem. If not, then it would be worth taking him to the vet. We can usually discover the cause quickly and provide the best treatment.

My senior cat is itchy, restless, and losing weight. What to do?

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