A great majority of cats will at one time or another during their lives experience some form of skin irritation. However, cats are most susceptible to these irritations during the warmer summer months than they are in the wintertime. The following describes the skin afflictions your cat may find himself with, and the remedies that are available to treat them.
Skin Allergies
During summer, many plants are in full bloom and some of them are seeding. While these plants are dormant in winter, cats are not affected by them. As such, the summer months are when most skin allergies are present in cats.
There are a number of allergies cats can have to plants in the summertime. Some of the most common plants cats are allergic to include:
- Wandering jew
- Paspalum grass
- Most seeding grasses
These allergies can cause skin irritations on your cat’s entire body, but especially to vulnerable areas like his undercarriage and legs. You may observe your cat dragging his belly across the carpet to try to relieve the constant itching and burning.
When your cat has this type of skin irritation, you should seek treatment from your veterinarian. He may give your cat a cortisone shot, or oral medication, both of which are highly effective.
Parasites
Another type of skin irritation your cat may be more susceptible to during the warmer summer months is from parasites. During warmer weather, parasites can live outdoors, and attack your cat from virtually anywhere. Common parasites include fleas and ticks. Fleas and ticks can both cause excessive itching for your cat, as well as skin irritations or allergic reactions.
To help remove skin irritations caused by summertime parasites, you should consult your veterinarian. He may recommend a special type of shampoo to bathe your cat with. In extreme cases, he may recommend a professional exterminator to assist you with this problem. However, in lighter cases, he may recommend over the counter products or a more natural approach. In any case, he may suggest some preventative measures be taken in the future.
Sun Irritations
Cats tend to spend more time outdoors during the summer months than they do any other time of the year. When your cat spends too much time in the sun, he can get skin irritations. If this happens, he may need to be seen by the veterinarian.
Your vet can recommend several different things for treatment of skin irritations caused by the sun. He may recommend for you to use a prescription product if the irritation is severe, or something over the counter for less serious afflictions. There are also times when a homeopathic method may be recommended as a treatment for your cat’s skin irritation.
No matter what is causing your cat’s skin irritation, your best course of action is to seek the advice of a professional veterinarian, as he will be equipped with the knowledge to help you choose the best course of treatment. If you believe your cat has a skin irritation, you should take him to the vet as soon as possible before it worsens.