Your fluffy friend is constantly scratching itself lately and upon close inspection, you see a few small scabs on its skin right under the fur. At that point, it's highly likely that you wonder to yourself: "why does my cat have scabs on it?". Well, a lot of things would cause scabs to show up in cats, some could be addressed without much difficulty while others require specialized treatments. To ensure that your kitty lives a healthy life, it's essential that you pinpoint the origin of the scabs and take care of it.
Happen to be new to cat parenting don't know what needs to be done? If that is so then this article is for you. Down below, you shall be introduced to everything cat parents must remember regarding scabs in cats from causes to solutions.
What Is Going On Here
Different cats have different constitutions but to answer your question of "why does my cat have scabs?", you should keep in mind the following suspects.
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Allergies
Like humans, the felines experience allergies from time to time. When the immune system of the pets notices particular allergens, its overreactions in the aftermath might lead to the formation of scabs on the skin. Common allergens in the house nowadays consist of food, parasites, airborne particles and so on. If the pet owners manage to isolate and remove the allergens from the scene then the scabs would go away. The medical records of cats usually offer a lot of useful details while investigating the possibility of allergies-induced scabs.
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Traumas
As people prefer to raise cats as indoor pets these kinds of days, they have a much safer living environment compare to their wild ancestors. That being said, your creative furball might still find a few ways to hurt itself. Self-inflicting traumatic wounds in cats get infected easily and if that occurs, scabs develop. Fortunately, a combination of feline topical and oral antibiotics should be more than enough to take care of the issue. That being said, cat parents must refrain from handing out drugs to cats without first obtaining clearance from the vets.
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Insects
Being curious creatures, cats launch themselves straight toward insects without a care in the world. If the insects happen to be butterflies then everything would be fine in most cases. On the other hand, if your kitty inadvertently pounces on insects that could sting/bite such as bees, it's going to be in trouble. Stings and bites of insects often lead to localize reactions that generate intense itchy feelings. Scabs caused by insect stings/bites tend to be few in number and antihistamine medication shall improve the conditions of the pets in no time.
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Mange
Primarily caused by ear mites, mange in cats creates an assortment of issues: extreme itching, hair loss, scabs and others. Overall, mange usually shows up right around the neck and the head of the pets. Most of the time, packs of cats that live in the outdoor have higher chances of having mange on them compared to indoor cats. To properly address the mange as well as the ear mites behind it, soothing shampoos, topical medications, injectable drugs and so on shall be used.
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Cancer
A couple of skin cancers like mast cell tumor, melanoma, carcinoma and so on could be the reasons why scabs show up your fluffy friend. Only veterinarians have the means and skills to diagnose cancers which is why it's a good idea for pet owners to take cats to veterinary clinics once scabs emerge. To take care of the cancerous formations in cats, surgery, as well as radiation and chemotherapy, would likely be required. In most cases, the earlier the pets receive treatment, the higher the chance of survival.
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Is It Absolutely To Take Your Furball To The Vets
After learning all the possible answers to the question of "why does my cat have scabs", you have to think about what to do next. While it's possible for cat parents to address scabs in the feline by themselves, a trip to the vets is always a safe bet. Veterinarians would carry out a series of tests to deduce the origin of the scabs and how to tackle them. So if your top priority is the health of your kitty, it's widely advised that you make an appointment at the local veterinary clinics.
Keeping Scabs From Coming Back: Suggestions For Novice Cat Parents
It's nice to know how to answer the question of "why does my cat have scabs" but as prevention is better than cure, you should consider implementing certain precautions.
- Make The House Cat-Friendly: While they have reservations about unfamiliar things in the vicinity, cats also like to explore. As a result, it's strongly recommended that you keep sharp objects, chemicals, medications and so on away from the paws of your fluffy friend. It's essential to be thorough as cats happen to be both resourceful and persistent.
- Block Accesses To The Outdoors: If your kitty makes it outside, not only it would be exposed to vicious predators but it could also come into contact with troublesome parasites. Because of that, pet owners need to be on guard while entering/leaving the house. Your furball only need a small opening to escape into the outdoors, don't let it catch you off-guard. The curiosity of the pets in this case tends to bring them more harm than good as the outside contains a variety of dangers. That is why it's widely advised that you do whatever it takes to keep your fluffy friend stay indoors. You can either set up some scratching posts, cat trees or provide your furball with a comfy bed and satisfying toys. Put on the cat a collar with a bell so that you always know where he/she is.
- Isolate And Remove Known Allergens: If the immune system of your kitty reacts violently against certain foods, materials, particles, ... then it's necessary for you to get rid of them. In a couple of cases, scabs in cats go away for good after the owners remove everything that might provoke allergic reactions in the pets.
- Consider Scheduling Periodical Parasite Eliminations: Parasites (fleas, ear mites,...) cause all sorts of troubles for cats as well as humans. Hence, it would be wise for you to set up a schedule for parasite elimination. Overall, you should make arrangements to take care of parasites at least once a year.
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