What this means
A healthy cat scratches now and then, especially after waking or washing. It deserves attention when scratching becomes frequent, when a cat keeps going to the same spot, chews or pulls at its fur, shakes its head, or is left with scratches, scabs or reddened skin. Constant itching wears on a cat: it may turn irritable, sleep restlessly or play less.
A great many different things can make skin itch, and the cause cannot be guessed by looking. So do not assume at once that it is fleas or an allergy, especially if your cat lives only indoors and you see no fleas. The places where your cat scratches can help your vet: the head and neck, the ears, the belly or the back often point in different directions.
Cats like to lick and chew their fur in private, when nobody is home, so sometimes what you notice is not the scratching but tufts of fur on the floor, a thinning coat or small sores. Note where your cat scratches, since when, and whether its appetite or behaviour has changed too, and have a vet see it so the cause can be found.
Possible causes
These are things that can cause this sign. It is not a diagnosis, and they are not equally likely for your cat.
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Allergy
An immune reaction to something in food or the surroundings can cause itching, especially around the head, neck and ears. It is one possible cause, not the only one.
About the condition: Food and seasonal allergies -
Parasites
Fleas, lice or mites can cause intense itching, and sometimes cannot be seen with the naked eye. Even indoor cats cannot be ruled out.
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Skin infection
Inflammation caused by a fungus or bacteria itches and may come with bald patches, crusts or red skin. Some infections can pass to other animals and to people.
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Ear problems
If your cat scratches its ears or shakes its head, the cause may lie in the ear itself. A vet needs to examine the ear canals.
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Pain or another internal illness
Sometimes a cat chews or licks a spot that hurts, or skin changes accompany another illness. That is why the whole cat is examined, not just the skin.
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Stress or boredom
Some cats lick and chew their fur excessively because of stress or changes at home. This is worth considering only after a vet has ruled out other causes.
What else to watch for
These observations help your vet build the picture faster. Note down what you saw and when.
- Where your cat scratches: head, neck, ears, belly, back or the base of the tail
- Whether there are scratches, scabs, redness or bald patches
- Whether it shakes its head or paws at its ears
- Whether the fur on the belly or flanks is thinning though the skin looks normal
- Whether other pets or people in the home are scratching too
- Whether its appetite, mood or sleep has changed
When to book a routine visit
Book a visit if your cat has scratched or chewed its coat for more than a few days, if bald patches, scabs or sores appear, or if its behaviour has changed. A vet needs to find the cause. If scratching has opened wounds or your cat is struggling to breathe, go straight away.
Related conditions
Conditions whose entries mention this sign. The list is somewhere to read on, not a way to reach a diagnosis.
- Fleas Parasites Fleas are small, jumping parasites that feed on a cat's blood. They cause itching, can set off an allergic skin inflammation and carry tapeworm, and in a kitten they can lead to anaemia.
- Food and seasonal allergies Skin and coat A condition in which a cat's immune system overreacts to something in its food or in its surroundings, such as pollen, house dust mites or moulds. It shows mainly as itching, and the cat scratches and licks until the skin is damaged.
- Ringworm (dermatophytosis) Infections A fungal infection of the skin, hair and claws that spreads between animals and can pass to people. Despite the name there is no worm, and it does not always itch, so it can look like no more than a few small bald patches.
- Skin and coat disorders Skin and coat A wide group of problems: allergies, parasites, fungal and bacterial infections, and skin that is too dry or too oily. The skin is the largest organ of the body, so its state and the state of the coat say a lot about a cat's health.
Body systems: Parasites Skin and coat Infections