What Can I Spray on My Cat to Stop Scratching?

If your cat is scratching herself excessively, there may be many reasons for why she is doing so. Common problems that cause itchy skin include allergies, fleas, mites and seborrhea. In order to effectively treat the scratching, it is imperative to find the cause. Once the diagnosis is made, you can choose which product can best help your cat.
  1. Diagnosing the Itchy Skin Culprit

    • Take a look at your cat's skin. If your cat has long hair, you may need to shave the cat in order to thoroughly examine the skin. If your cat has fleas, you will commonly see black specks that look like pepper. This is the feces of the fleas, also called "flea dirt." An appearance of raised, red bumps could be a topical infection. Additionally, if you see flakes or scaling, there are a number of different issues that could cause the skin to respond in that way, including dry skin due to allergies and seborrhea. Ringworm can cause scratching, along with scales and hair-loss. Your veterinarian can perform tests to check for ringworm, along with mange and other skin problems. When the cause is found, you can begin the treatment.

    Topical Sprays for the Relief of Scratching

    • If your cat has fleas, use a topical spray in order to remove them, such as Frontline. This spray is effective at killing the fleas that are on your kitty, as well as preventing them. Beware of over-the-counter flea remedies, as many cats have become seriously ill or have even died due to poisoning from those productions. In addition, many do not work that well. Topical infections, such as folliculitis or flea allergy dermatitis, may be treated with oral antibiotics or antihistamines. However, there are a few topical sprays that contain steroids that are used to control the itching, such as Genesis Spray. This spray is applied to the affected area a few times a day and is available by prescription from your cat's veterinarian. Try to prevent your cat from licking the product -- this may be done through the use of an Elizabethan collar. Furthermore, if your kitty has dry skin, there are many anti-itch sprays available. For instance, Relief Spray, a pleasant-smelling product that is available through your veterinarian, contains collodial oatmeal, along with other ingredients to relieve itching. Relief spray not only helps treat the dry skin, but also reduces the scratching.

      Once you have determined the problem, treating dry skin can be a cinch with easy-to-use topical sprays.