Why Do Cat Scratches Itch

Cat scratches can be a source of discomfort, especially when they start to itch. Understanding why this occurs is essential for proper wound care and prevention of potential complications. There are multiple factors at play when it comes to the itchiness of cat scratches.

Why Do Cat Scratches Itch?

There may be several reasons for cats scratching.

• Parasite infection outside the body

Such as fleas and ear scabies can cause itchy skin in cats, and may also cause hair loss, redness and swelling.

• Fungal infections

such as ringworm, can cause symptoms such as itchy skin, hair loss, and crusting.

• Allergic reaction

Cats may be allergic to certain substances in the food and environment (e.g. dust mites, pollen, cat hair, etc.), resulting in itchy skin.

• Wound Healing

Wounds may trigger an itchy sensation as new nerves and blood vessels form during the healing process.

• Wound Infection

If the wound is not properly treated, bacterial infection may cause itching, redness, swelling and pain.

• Ear scabies infection

When cats are infected with ear scabies, they will feel itchy inside the ear and continuously scratch the ear part.

• Fleas

Flea bites can cause itchy skin and cats will frequently scratch all over the trunk.

Related: Flea in Cats: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

• Eczema

An inflammatory reaction of the skin to a sensitizing substance, characterized by redness, swelling, itching and pimples.

• Mange Parasites

Mange bites can lead to localized pimples, blisters and intense itching.

What Can I do About My Cat's Allergy Scratching?

I. Identify and avoid allergens

• Food troubleshooting

Single food test: If food allergy is suspected, a single food test can be used. Feed your cat a simple, single ingredient food (such as a single meat or cat food) for a few weeks and observe whether the scratching symptoms improve. Common foods that may cause allergies include beef, dairy products, fish and chicken.

Food record: usually keep a detailed record of the cat's diet, including food type, brand, serving size, etc., in order to discover possible allergic foods.

• Environmental management

Clean indoor environment: Clean the room regularly, including vacuuming, wiping furniture, washing curtains, etc. to reduce the presence of allergens such as dust, pollen and mold.

Changing cat products: If you suspect your cat is allergic to cat litter, kitty litter, cat toys, etc., you can try replacing them with products made of different materials. For example, switch from scented cat litter to unscented, and from chemical fiber to cotton.

Avoid contact with allergens: During pollen season, try to reduce the time your cat spends outside; if you suspect an allergy to a certain plant, keep your cat away from the plant.

II. Improve skin condition

• Keep the skin clean

Regular bathing: Use a mild, suitable shampoo  for the cat's skin type to bathe the cat, but not too frequently, usually once every 1 - 3 months. Too frequent bathing may damage the oil layer of your cat's skin, leading to dry skin and aggravating allergy symptoms.

Grooming: Brush your cat's hair with a pet comb every day or every few days. This helps to remove dust, stray hairs and dead skin and promotes blood circulation to the skin, as well as timely detection of skin problems.

• Supplementary Nutrition

High-quality cat food: Provide your cat with nutritionally balanced, high-quality cat food to ensure that it gets enough nutrients such as protein, vitamins and minerals.

Supplementary fatty acids: You can give your cat food or nutritional supplements rich in omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, such as fish oil. These fatty acids help improve skin health and reduce inflammation and itching.

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III. Medication

• Anti-itching medication

Under the guidance of your veterinarian, you can use some anti-itch medication for your cat. This medication can reduce itching symptoms by inhibiting specific cytokines.

• Steroid medications

For severe allergic reactions, your veterinarian may prescribe a steroid medication, such as Prednisolone. However, steroid medications have some side effects and need to be used in strict accordance with your veterinarian's recommendations.

IV. Veterinary Diagnosis and Treatment

• Prompt medical treatment

If the cat's scratching symptoms do not improve after taking the above measures, or if the symptoms are severe, such as broken skin, severe hair loss and mental instability, the cat should be taken to the veterinarian in time.

• Allergy test

The veterinarian may conduct allergy tests, such as intradermal test, blood test, etc., to determine the specific allergens so as to formulate a more targeted treatment plan.

How to Treat a Wound Scratched by a Cat?

I. Initial wound treatment

• Clean the wound

Flush the wound with saline to remove the dirt, hair and blood around the wound. Avoid using highly irritating disinfectants such as alcohol or iodine to rinse the wound directly, as these substances may cause pain in the cat, resulting in greater resistance to treatment.

If the wound is small and shallow, use a cotton ball dipped in an appropriate amount of iodine vapour to gently wipe around the wound to disinfect it, but do not allow too much iodine vapour to enter the interior of the wound.

• Hemostatic treatment

If there is bleeding from the wound, you can stop the bleeding by applying pressure to the wound with a clean gauze or cotton ball. The pressing time usually takes a few minutes until the bleeding stops.

II. Preventing your cat from continuing to scratch

• Wear an Elizabethan collar

Wear an Elizabethan ring (ring of shame) for your cat to prevent it from scratching the wound again and worsening the wound. Choose the right size of the Elizabethan collar to ensure that the cat wears it comfortably and that it will not interfere with its normal eating, drinking and activities.

• Nail Trimming

Trim the cat's nails appropriately to reduce the sharpness of the nails, but be careful not to cut into the cat's blood line, which may cause bleeding and pain.

Ⅲ. Observe the condition of the wounds

• Minor scratches

If the wound is shallow and small, after cleaning and preventing scratching treatment, the wound healing can be observed daily. Generally speaking, minor scratches will gradually scab and heal within a few days.

• Severe scratches

If the wound is deeper and larger in size, or if there is redness, swelling, oozing, fever, or the cat's spirit is low, the wound may be infected, and you need to take the cat to the veterinarian in time.

IV. Medical attention and follow-up treatment

• Veterinary examination

The veterinarian will conduct a more detailed examination of the cat's wound and may perform debridement to remove necrotic tissue from the wound. If necessary, the veterinarian will also suture the wound.

• Medication

Depending on the condition of the wound, the veterinarian may prescribe antibiotics, such as amoxicillin clavulanate potassium, to prevent or treat wound infection.

If the cat's scratching is caused by allergies or a skin condition, the veterinarian will also treat the cause accordingly, such as using anti-allergy medications or medications for skin conditions.

When to See a Vet?

Scratching is a common behavior in cats, but owners need to pay extra attention if the following situations occur:

Excessive frequency or force: this may lead to skin inflammation and infection, and common symptoms include red, swollen, itchy and painful skin, thinning and falling hair, excessive tears and drooling, as well as wounds, ulcers and scabs on the skin surface.

Scratching is confined to a certain area: for example, if the cat continuously scratches the ears, it may be an ear mange infection; if there is lumpy hair loss, it may be a fungal or bacterial infection; if there are bite-like marks on the skin, it may be a flea or parasite infection.

Accompanied by other symptoms: such as vomiting, diarrhea, sneezing, wheezing, etc. This may be a sign of an allergic reaction, and the cat may be allergic to certain food, environment or allergens.

Skin abnormalities: such as hair loss, rashes, scabs, scales, etc. This may be a sign of skin diseases such as ringworm and eczema.

Signs of psychological stress or anxiety: Cats may be stressed by changes in the living environment, noise, the arrival of new pets or reduced attention from the owner, resulting in excessive grooming and scratching behavior.

Parasite infection: If the cat has parasites such as fleas, ear scabies, mites, etc., it will cause intense itching and need to be dewormed in time.

FAQs

Conclusion

Cat scratches itch due to a combination of mechanical irritation, potential bacterial contamination, and the body’s natural healing response. While most cases are mild and resolve quickly, it’s important to clean and care for scratches properly to prevent infections or complications. By understanding the causes and taking preventive measures, you can enjoy a safe and scratch-free bond with your feline friend.