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Why is my cat so itchy, losing hair, and has dark skin patches?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | Mixed Breed | Male | neutered | 9 years old | 12 lbs

hello! my cat has been itchy for about a month now. I have tried flea medication even though i have searched for them and found nothing, changing his diet to grain free, switching to unscented litter, coconut oil, and wipes to help with dry skin and nothing is helping. at first it was pretty scabbed but that seems to be healing. he is now losing hair and his skin is turning black in areas where he itches/licks the most. his behavior seems normal. help!

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2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Jenna Beyer, DVM, MBA, cVMA

Veterinarian, Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist

Published on November 28th, 2018

Not all flea medications are equal. I find that fipronil/Frontline products don't work very well. I would recommend that you talk to your vet about a prescription product like Bravecto or Revolution, or try a Seresto collar. Fighting cat fleas is tough, and even with excellent products, it may take 3 or more months to get rid of the fleas due to their life cycle and new fleas hatching. See the articles below. That being said, overgrooming (hair loss) and black skin (caused by chronic inflammation) can be caused by many things. Food allergies are possible, but Rengar is more likely to be allergic to chicken or beef than grains. Anxiety or pain are other possible causes. It would be a good idea to discuss this with your vet. https://www.petcoach.co/article/5-tips-to-get-rid-of-fleas/ https://www.petcoach.co/article/the-best-flea-prevention-plan-for-your-cat/ https://www.petcoach.co/article/excessive-grooming-in-cats-what-it-means-and-how-to-help/

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    Answered By Andrea M. Brodie, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on

    You will need to take your cat to a veterinarian for a skin exam. Rengar 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 skins crape. He will then discuss the options with you and then prescribe medications, possibly give an injection to stop the itching.

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