Cat with Scabs

by John Bouchard
(Surrey)

I love my 13 year old tabby. She's my family. In the last 2 or 3 months she has lost weight and developed bad skin. Her head is covered with little scabs and she has them on her body. Her left side has a small patch of fur missing.

I was feeding her Friskies, but have switched to a higher protein food in the last couple of weeks. I also give her baths every so often and brush her to try to prevent hairballs, which she gets more of due to the fact that she licks and scratches so much now. I can't afford to take her to vet yet.

Cat with Scabs Cat Health Guide Editor Comment

Dear John,

Thanks for submitting your question regarding cat scabs.

As skin is exposed to the environment, it is susceptible to many factors which can cause health problems. Cat skin problems can be caused by a problem that starts on the skin or that is due to an internal condition. The result is cat skin lesions, scabs and itching over the skin.

In this case, unfortunately, a definite diagnosis cannot be made on the basis of the description you provided. A clinical examination by a veterinarian is needed. Lab tests are also needed using skin scrapings and blood tests to confirm whatever is causing the cat skin problem.

However, based on the limited description provided, the age and type of cat; we can suggest some supportive measures and tips.

First of all, age is the most crucial part of your description. Tabby cats that are this age usually develop several internal conditions that can cause skin problems in cats.

In this case, it seems related to

the feline thyroid gland, as you said that the body is covered with scabs and fur is missing in patches and has lost weight. All of these signs indicate that your cat is possibly experiencing thyroid problems.

This does not mean that other possibilities should be eliminated, it is possible that your cat has secondary conditions as well, related to feline skin infections or parasitic infestations.

It is recommended that you use a quality medicated shampoo such as Clinical Care Antiseptic Antifungal Medicated Shampoo to bathe your cat. You can also try some natural remedies such as Skin and Coat Tonic, which can help to improve the health status of the skin and coat. This will help to reduce local symptoms such as itching, scabs, lesions and fur loss.

Additionally, groom your cat regularly as diseased cats usually do not groom themselves on a regular basis. You can try a furball remedy such as Furball Dr. as well.

Since, your cat is possibly having a cat thyroid problem, you can also try a natural remedy that supports thyroid gland function such as Thyro-Pet. Also, make sure that you are feeding your cat a quality cat food. Some components of cat food such as fish, beef and milk products should not be used, as these are most commonly related to skin problems in cats.

If the condition does not improve in a few weeks, your cat needs to be examined by a veterinarian who can administer the necessary laboratory tests. A definite diagnosis and specific treatment for the problem identified is the only way to treat your cat at this point.

Please keep us up to date on the cat scabs and your cats skin condition.