Causes of Scalp & Sacral Itching in Cats

There are a number of reasons why a cat may experience pruritis, or continuous itching, on the head and around the lower part of the back. The symptoms often worsen, and secondary infections may develop from the cat scratching itself. The cause for itching can be diagnosed by a veterinarian.

  1. Flea Allergy Dermatitis

    • Cats are often allergic to the saliva in fleas. A cat with flea-allergy dermatitis will bite at the base of its tail and rump until open wounds form. It may also develop lesions called hot spots on its face and hips. Vets treat dermatitis with steroids. The doctor may also prescribe antibiotics or anti-fungal medication to treat any secondary infections that have ensued. Use a regular method of flea control to prevent flea allergy dermatitis.

    Mange

    • Cats can develop several kinds of mange. Cheyletiella, or rabbit-fur mites, causes itching and irritation mainly along the cat's back. It also causes dandruff and slight hair loss. Vets kill these mites using the insecticides pyrethrin and fipronil. Feline scabies, or Notoedres cati, causes itching on the ears and face before spreading to the rest of the body. It causes severe itching and hair loss. Doctors treat scabies with a medicated dip. Finally, localized demodex mange causes itching and hair loss on the head, ears and neck, while generalized demodex mange affects the rest of the body. Vets treat demodex with lime sulfur dips, oral ivermectin or topical amitraz.

    Atopy

    • According to Pet Wave, atopy is also called allergic inhalant dermatitis. It is a reaction to an allergen in the cat's environment. Atopy causes severe itching, hair loss, hot spots and even respiratory symptoms. Doctors use corticosteroids or antihistamines to reduce the itching. Secondary infections from scratching are treated using antibiotics or medicated shampoos. The most effective prevention is to determine the source of the allergen and limit the cat's exposure to it.

    Food Allergies

    • Food allergies frequently cause itching, irritation and hair loss in cats. Foods such as dairy, soy, beef and wheat gluten, among others, can cause allergy attacks. Use an elimination diet to determine what is causing the cat's discomfort. An owner can pinpoint the cause of the allergy by removing one ingredient at a time from the cat's diet. If the cat's symptoms improve after a particular food has been removed from its diet, try feeding it to the cat again to confirm the diagnosis. An allergy to a particular food can be positively diagnosed if the cat's symptoms recur after being reintroduced to the original food. Treated the allergy by avoiding the ingredient.