Natural Remedies for Feline Skin Irritations

Feline skin irritations can have a variety of causes. A poor diet causes your cat to scratch as well as fleas, allergies, bathing in general, or bathing too often with an irritating shampoo. If your cat displays allergy symptoms during certain times of the year, the cause can be seasonal allergies. However, if your cat displays allergy symptoms year round, the cause can be household chemicals, plants, dust, mold and smoke. To soothe skin irritations, several natural remedies are available.

  1. Fatty Acids

    • Fatty acids improve your cat's coat quality and its shine. According to the Pet Education website, research indicates that omega-3 fatty acids help relieve allergies and their symptoms. The best type of fatty acid to use is made from fish oil. Most cats need to use omega-3 fatty acids everyday for several weeks, or even several months, in order to have significant benefits. Best used with a diet lower in fat, the omega-3 fatty acid supplements have few side effects.

    Colloidal Oatmeal

    • Topical therapy, such as colloidal oatmeal, can be used to soothe dry irritated skin and provide immediate but temporary relief. Colloidal oatmeal is oatmeal ground into a fine powder. If your cat has an itchy rash due to an allergic reaction, bug bites or poison ivy, the oatmeal can be added to her bath water. Colloidal oatmeal can also be purchased in the form of a pet shampoo.

    Biotin

    • Biotin, a B vitamin, is beneficial when used daily for treating irritated feline skin. This includes dry itchy skin and seborrhea, according to Pet Education. Often combined with fatty acids, biotin is useful for treating skin problems caused by allergies. Biotin is available in a supplemental powder form, or in a brewer's yeast supplement that contains other ingredients.

    Herbs

    • Several herbs can be used to relieve skin irritations. This includes turmeric, an an anti-inflammatory. Added to canned cat food, turmeric can help with hot spots and itchy skin due to allergies. Making a cooled chamomile tea rinse helps soothe itchy skin. If your cat does not like to be bathed, the tea rinse can be sprayed onto your hands and then rubbed into your cat's skin. If flea bites are the cause of skin irritations, shampoos made from neem tree oil drive away fleas. Arum triph is a homeopathic remedy that reduces swelling and redness on the cat's skin.

    Nutrition

    • Poor nutrition can cause dry skin. A quality cat food should provide vitamin E and essential fatty acids which, in turn, help eliminate skin irritations. According to the ASPCA, cats can also be allergic to their pet food that causes them to scratch their necks and heads. If your cat has a food allergy, a prescribed diet will be recommended to find and eliminate the cause. After diagnosis your veterinarian will prescribe a natural diet of home-cooked foods, or other specific foods.