Mary Allen
f your cat scratches excessively, you should check where the itch is coming from. Various causes are conceivable: Both inflammation and parasites such as ear mites can cause severe itching in the four-legged friends. You can read more about the topic here.
Like dogs or people, cats also have to scratch their ears from time to time – especially their ears. It is important that you as the holder make sure that your cat does not scratch itself sorely, as this could possibly be something more serious.
Symptoms: Recognize Itching in Cats
Does your cat scratch itself every now and then? So far, so normal. However, if your house cat feels severe itching, the behavior takes on unnatural forms. In the worst case, your cat will scratch itself sore or even bleed. At that point, you should see a veterinarian immediately.
But even before that, there are signs that you can tell that something is wrong:
- Lick and nibble on the affected areas
- Hairless and/or reddened skin areas
- If your ears are itchy: shake your head frequently to get rid of what you think is a foreign body
- The constant flapping of the cat’s ears
Cat Keeps Scratching: Possible Causes
The itching in cats can have different causes:
- infections
- parasites
- Allergies to feed, dust, or pollen (with the latter itching only in certain seasons)
- Autoimmune diseases and metabolic disorders, for example as a result of a hormone imbalance or a deficiency symptom
In order to determine the exact cause, appropriate examinations by the veterinarian are necessary. Once the trigger is found, appropriate treatment can be initiated. If your cat scratches its neck, this is more likely to indicate food or contact allergy. If the cat scratches its ears bloody, the reason is usually different.
Cat Scratches Its Ear: Why is It?
When cats suffer from itching, the ears of the four-legged friends are often affected. An initially harmless cause of this itching can be excessive earwax. A look into the ears of your house tiger reveals the problem: you can see a greasy, often dark coating. To ensure that no inflammation develops from this, you should take your cat to a veterinarian who will thoroughly clean the cat’s ear. You can also do the treatment yourself. However, you should first have your vet show you how to do this and find out about the right means of cleaning cat ears.
If there is already an unpleasant smell coming from the ear, an infection has probably already occurred. Then see a vet as soon as possible for a professional ear cleaning to prevent permanent damage such as deafness or life-threatening spread of the inflammation to the meninges. He will usually also prescribe ear drops for the animal as part of the treatment to relieve the itching.
Itching Caused by Ear Mites: Attention Risk of Infection!
Ear mites can also cause severe itching in the ears of cats. In about half of all cases, the parasites are also responsible for inflammation in the ear. Affected velvet paws often find the itching so unpleasant that they not only scratch their ears but also turn in circles in a completely uncoordinated manner.
Outdoor cats are more often affected than house cats. The reason: is that parasites are easily transmitted from animal to animal. But not only that: the ear mites of cats can also be transmitted to humans. If you see a black and crumbly secretion in the ears of your fur nose, this is a clear sign of ear mites.
Visit a veterinarian as soon as possible to rid your cat of the parasites and the unpleasant itching on the ears. Prompt treatment also reduces the risk of the parasites spreading to other parts of the body, to other animals, or even to human family members.
Itching from Scabies: Get the Cat Treated Quickly
In addition to ear mites, another type of parasite can be responsible for your cat scratching itself all the time: itch mites. A scaly rash on the outside of the ears indicates scabies in cats, which is actually called cat mange. The itch mites can also leave marks on the cat’s face.
Like ear mites, itch mites can be transmitted to other animals and to humans. The latter does not happen that often, but it cannot be completely ruled out. In this case, it is essential that you take your animal to your trusted vet as soon as possible.