red sore patch on back of my cat's neck

jasper27

I've got a 5 yr old British Shorthair Cat I adopted last year and she's been fine, but tonight I found a sore red patch about the size of a penny on the back of her head/neck just above her collar.

I hadn't noticed it until now as her fur is so dense. She doesn't like being picked up and I only felt it by chance as I was stroking her.

I've tried to check her over for fleas or any droppings as best I could, but it wasn't easy on a cat that doesn't like being handled

I couldn't find any evidence of fleas, but I could be wrong. Is there anything else that could be causing it?

She is an indoors cat, although she's been in my back garden a few times but doesn't stay out long.

Also what are the likely costs if I take her to a vet? I've just started work again and my first wage was very poor, so money is a problem.:(

bedpotato_2

When you say this patch is "red and sore" how red is it exactly? Is it flaking? Is it weeping? Is it bleeding? Are there any scabs? Is it bald? Is it getting worse, better, or staying the same?

Given the location, the first thing that springs to mind is an reaction to pesticide. Did you by any chance apply Frontline or something similar to the back of her neck recently?

If not that, then I guess she could have been fighting or hurt herself somehow, or she could have an allergy to pollen, but only a vet could say. Depending on how bad it is, I'd keep an eye on it and see if it heals up by itself before taking her to a vet.

jasper27

bedpotato wrote: »

When you say this patch is "red and sore" how red is it exactly? Is it flaking? Is it weeping? Is it bleeding? Are there any scabs? Is it bald? Is it getting worse, better, or staying the same?

Given the location, the first thing that springs to mind is an reaction to pesticide. Did you by any chance apply Frontline or something similar to the back of her neck recently?

If not that, then I guess she could have been fighting or hurt herself somehow, or she could have an allergy to pollen, but only a vet could say. Depending on how bad it is, I'd keep an eye on it and see if it heals up by itself before taking her to a vet.

Hi bedpotato thanks for your reply..
it's more 'wet' than dry and flaky, it's pinky red and in the short time I got to look at it, I couldn't see any weeping.

I've not used any Frontline or any other treatments on her. She definately hasn't been fighting as the only time she goes out is if I go in the garden with her and comes back in with me or usually before me. I haven't used any pesticides in my garden so it can't be that.

Should I just leave well alone and see if it clears? It doesn't seem to bother her, except when I pick her up and try to look at it ..:)

Fire_Fox

That doesn't particularly sound like a flea issue because the patch is too large, nor a spot that it is easy to overgroom. What collar are you using? Do you have a regular vet? Some might accept a payment plan if you are honest and up front, and explain the new job situation. It is against the rules here to ask for veterinary advice unfortunately.

When was the last time you did any flea and worm control? Are you vaccinating annually? Indoor cats are still at risk from fleas from you walking the eggs in and therefore worms because fleas are carriers, and at risk of a host of parasites and bacterial infections if they go into the garden so should be treated the same as an outdoor cat.

jasper27

Fire_Fox wrote: »

That doesn't particularly sound like a flea issue because the patch is too large, nor a spot that it is easy to overgroom. What collar are you using? Do you have a regular vet? Some might accept a payment plan if you are honest and up front, and explain the new job situation. It is against the rules here to ask for veterinary advice unfortunately.

When was the last time you did any flea and worm control? Are you vaccinating annually? Indoor cats are still at risk from fleas from you walking the eggs in and therefore worms because fleas are carriers, and at risk of a host of parasites and bacterial infections if they go into the garden so should be treated the same as an outdoor cat.

Hi Fire Fox

she has a normal collar on although it's got a reflective coating on which is peeling off (I initially intended her to go outdoors, but she's not bothered).

I haven't registered her with a vet as yet, she came with all her papers and is fully vaccinated. I haven't done any flea or worm control since I had her as I didn't think she would need worming at 5 yrs old?

Its many years since I've had a cat, I had a lovely dog for the last 17 years, so maybe I'm out of touch with cat care

Fire_Fox

jasper27 wrote: »

Hi Fire Fox

she has a normal collar on although it's got a reflective coating on which is peeling off (I initially intended her to go outdoors, but she's not bothered).

I haven't registered her with a vet as yet, she came with all her papers and is fully vaccinated. I haven't done any flea or worm control since I had her as I didn't think she would need worming at 5 yrs old?

Its many years since I've had a cat, I had a lovely dog for the last 17 years, so maybe I'm out of touch with cat care

IMO take the collar off immediately, presumably she is microchipped anyway? Maybe the peeling coating is rubbing, or whatever is underneath is causing an allergic reaction?

Cats and dogs need worming throughout their lifespan, care is basically the same just some of the products vary. Is your dog getting regularly wormed and de-flead, if so what with? Issues in the digestive system including parasites can reflect in the skin.

bedpotato_2

A great thing for worming on a budget is diatomaceous earth. I use it for my dog (and I take it myself as well as a general supplement). It's a special edible powder that does not harm the host in any way but is lethal to parasites. Compared to pesticides you buy from the vet, it's dirt cheap (no pun intended) but not only is it cheaper, it's kinder as well, because it is not poisonous.

I buy a huuuuuuuge tub for about £40 and it lasts me for about a year. You give it to them every day in their food. Dosage is approximate but a cat would need about one teaspoon mixed in per meal.

However the patch on your cat's neck may not be worm-related and only you can decide how serious it is and whether you need to take it to the vet or not. If it were my pet and the skin did not look too serious I would monitor it for a couple of days and see if it improves (that does not constitute veterinary advice; I'm only saying that's what I do with my dog when he has minor ailments. I monitor him before rushing him in to the vet perhaps needlessly).

HTH

jasper27

Fire_Fox wrote: »

IMO take the collar off immediately, presumably she is microchipped anyway? Maybe the peeling coating is rubbing, or whatever is underneath is causing an allergic reaction?

Cats and dogs need worming throughout their lifespan, care is basically the same just some of the products vary. Is your dog getting regularly wormed and de-flead, if so what with? Issues in the digestive system including parasites can reflect in the skin.

I've taken the collar off now

Yes she's microchipped.

I had to have my dog put to sleep last year but he was treated regularly for fleas, although he wasn't regularly wormed and never had a problem in all his 17 long years.

bedpotato_2

jasper27 wrote: »

I've taken the collar off now

Yes she's microchipped.

I had to have my dog put to sleep last year but he was treated regularly for fleas, although he wasn't regularly wormed and never had a problem in all his 17 long years.

Oh that's very sad about your dog. I'm sorry. I would be inconsolable if mine died.

Sadly you are probably wrong about the worms because dogs and cats are exposed to worm eggs on a daily basis. There's no way they can not have worms. Even if they present no symptoms, the worms will be there. That's why it's essential to worm them. Amongst other things, they get them just from walking on grass.

Hookworms wait in the grass and enter their host by going through the skin when the person (or animal) walks on the place where the baby hookworms are. Grass, sand, soil; if you've ever been anywhere barefoot outside, you probably have hookworms and don't even know it. Some owners deliberately keep their dogs off wet sand to avoid them getting worms - yet for some reason they do not apply that to themselves. Humans walk barefoot on beaches all the time. I didn't know I had hookworms until I started taking the supplement and they all came out. :eek: Then my "IBS" suddenly went away. It had not been IBS making me ill. It was hookworms.

Even if your cat is an indoor cat she will have been outside at some point and in any case you yourself at some point will have been outside and will probably be carrying hookworms without realising it, and will be passing them on to her. When pet owners get worms they often blame it on their pets for passing them on, but it works both ways and since humans regularly worm their pets but do not worm themselves, they are often the ones reinfecting their pets! :eek:

Anyway sorry for rambling about worms but it's a topic of interest to me. Hope your cat's sore skin gets better. xx

jasper27

bedpotato wrote: »

A great thing for worming on a budget is diatomaceous earth. I use it for my dog (and I take it myself as well as a general supplement). It's a special edible powder that does not harm the host in any way but is lethal to parasites. Compared to pesticides you buy from the vet, it's dirt cheap (no pun intended) but not only is it cheaper, it's kinder as well, because it is not poisonous.

I buy a huuuuuuuge tub for about £40 and it lasts me for about a year. You give it to them every day in their food. Dosage is approximate but a cat would need about one teaspoon mixed in per meal.

However the patch on your cat's neck may not be worm-related and only you can decide how serious it is and whether you need to take it to the vet or not. If it were my pet and the skin did not look too serious I would monitor it for a couple of days and see if it improves (that does not constitute veterinary advice; I'm only saying that's what I do with my dog when he has minor ailments. I monitor him before rushing him in to the vet perhaps needlessly).

HTH

I've heard of diatomaceous earth before I'll definately look into that, thank you.:)

jasper27

bedpotato wrote: »

Oh that's very sad about your dog. I'm sorry. I would be inconsolable if mine died.

Sadly you are probably wrong about the worms because dogs and cats are exposed to worm eggs on a daily basis. There's no way they can not have worms. Even if they present no symptoms, the worms will be there. That's why it's essential to worm them. Amongst other things, they get them just from walking on grass.

Hookworms wait in the grass and enter their host by going through the skin when the person (or animal) walks on the place where the baby hookworms are. Grass, sand, soil; if you've ever been anywhere barefoot outside, you probably have hookworms and don't even know it. Some owners deliberately keep their dogs off wet sand to avoid them getting worms - yet for some reason they do not apply that to themselves. Humans walk barefoot on beaches all the time. I didn't know I had hookworms until I started taking the supplement and they all came out. :eek: Then my "IBS" suddenly went away. It had not been IBS making me ill. It was hookworms.

Even if your cat is an indoor cat she will have been outside at some point and in any case you yourself at some point will have been outside and will probably be carrying hookworms without realising it, and will be passing them on to her. When pet owners get worms they often blame it on their pets for passing them on, but it works both ways and since humans regularly worm their pets but do not worm themselves, they are often the ones reinfecting their pets! :eek:

Anyway sorry for rambling about worms but it's a topic of interest to me. Hope your cat's sore skin gets better. xx

I was inconsolable, and so were my kids and ex-husband, we all went to the vets and was with him in his final moments, it was so sad. My ex paid for his cremation and I've now got his ashes in a casket.

Oh dear, I feel so bad that I've been ignorant over worming:o I will definately get a vet visit sorted as soon as I can, in the meantime I will keep an eye on the sore patch and keep the collar off.

Thanks again for all your responses