Treatment FAQ

why is my cat scratching so much after flea treatment

by Jordan McCullough MD Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago

Why is my pet still scratching after applying flea treatment? It's fairly typical after you've applied Itch Flea for there to be a period of hyperactivity amongst the fleas as the product takes effect, and this can cause an increase in itching. It should settle down though after 24 hours.Apr 23, 2021

Full Answer

Why is my cat so afraid of flea treatment?

Why is my cat so afraid of flea treatment?

  • tigermuma. She always reacts by scrunching up her neck and trying to run away. ...
  • mani. It's pretty smelly stuff and cats have very sensitive noses. ...
  • goholistic. Yes, one of my cats tries to "run away" from the smell. ...
  • tigermuma. I use advantage.
  • ondine. Yes, it can sting or itch. ...
  • matts mom. Revolution smells like alcohol. ...
  • sneakymom. ...
  • MA LESTER
  • doomsdave. ...
  • MissKitty29. ...

How to stop a cat from scratching itself?

Why Do Cats Compulsively Scratch, Lick, or Chew?

  • Parasites. Fleas are often the culprits behind compulsive cat scratching or cat licking behaviors. ...
  • Allergies. Just as some people develop skin irritations in response to certain foods or environmental triggers, cats may have itchy, irritated skin if they are allergic to something in their ...
  • Dry skin. ...
  • Pain. ...

What you should do for a cat bite or scratch?

Your doctor will likely do the following:

  • Clean the wound again and apply antibiotic ointment.
  • Prescribe antibiotics, such as Augmentin, if there’s an infection concern.
  • Give you a booster shot if your tetanus vaccine is out-of-date.
  • Determine whether the wound needs stitches.

What is the best remedy for Itchy cat?

Why Is Your Cat Itchy?

  • Flea Bites. Fleas can be a nuisance to find on your cat, but the flea-bite sensitivity that follows is easy to pick up on.
  • Parasites. Skin parasites, like mites, can also be the culprits of an overly-itchy cat. ...
  • Food Allergies. ...
  • Behavioral Reasons. ...
  • Environmental Allergies. ...

Can flea treatment make my cat itchy?

Unfortunately, some pets can have an adverse reaction to these chemicals, especially those who are young, old or sick. Symptoms of pyrethrin and pyrethroid toxicity range from hives, itching, vomiting and diarrhea to depression and muscle tremors, and the consequences can be serious.

Why does my cat go crazy after flea treatment?

If your flea already has a flea infestation, then they might be acting irritable or annoyed because of the fleas. It might take a little time for the treatment to become effective. Another reason your cat might be acting weird is that you have had to take them to the veterinarian.

Why is my cat scratching more after frontline?

The ingredient in FRONTLINE Spot On and FRONTLINE Plus that kills fleas makes them hyperactive before they die. So you may see fleas come to the surface of your pet's coat and your pet might feel a bit more itchy than usual until those fleas are killed.

How do I know if my cat is having a reaction to flea treatment?

If your dog or cat is having a reaction to a flea and tick product, it may show some of the following symptoms:Skin effects. Irritation. Redness.Stomach or intestinal problems. Vomiting. Diarrhea.Nervous system effects. Trembling. Depressed appearance. Seizures.

Can cats have bad reaction to flea treatment?

Signs of Flea Control Product Toxicity in Cats and Dogs Common signs of toxicity from flea products containing organophosphates are diarrhea, vomiting, difficulty breathing, small pupils, muscle tremor, weakness or falling over, and drooling.

Should I brush my cat after flea treatment?

Even after medicinally treating your cat, you'll want to comb him with a fine-toothed metal flea comb from head to tail at least once a day. This will skim off adult fleas and their eggs and ease his itching. Then, dip the comb in a mixture of water and liquid dish detergent to kill the fleas.

How do you know flea treatment is working?

A. The active ingredient in FRONTLINE (fipronil) kills fleas by affecting their nervous system, making them hyperactive before dying. These dying fleas often rise to the top of your pet's haircoat, so the presence of visible fleas after treating your pet, is a sign that the product is working.

Why is flea medicine not working?

Incorrectly applying topical flea prevention is the most common cause for its failure to work. Flea prevention is expensive, and you don't want to waste a dose. Topical medication should be applied directly to the skin, not the hair. You must part the hair so that you can apply it to the skin at the base of the neck.

Do fleas jump off after treatment?

Flea larvae can remain dormant in your home for months, so new fleas may continue to emerge — even after treatment. These fleas will quickly die after hatching if you've treated your home and kept up with regular flea preventive for your pet, but it can take a while for all the existing fleas to hatch and be killed.

How can I soothe my cats itchy skin?

Your vet may recommend giving your cat a soothing oatmeal bath or a rinse of vinegar diluted to one tablespoon vinegar per quart of warm water. Regular brushing is also helpful in distributing the natural oils in your cat's skin and removing dead skin.

What does a flea allergy look like on a cat?

Symptoms of Flea Allergy Dermatitis in Cats If your cat has flea allergy dermatitis, their skin will appear red (erythema), be mildly to severely itchy (pruritus), and may have crusts or small bumps (papules). Most pet parents notice their cat scratching frequently and excessively grooming.

How long does flea dermatitis last?

Recommended. “Your pet may itch for up to 2 weeks after a bite, and the itching will be severe and even damaging to your pet's skin,” Osborne says.

What are some other causes of itchy skin in pets?

After flea allergies, most itchy skin disease is usually due to an underlying allergy of some sort, be it your pet’s food or something in their environment.

What is atopic dermatitis?

After ruling out a food allergy, if your pet is still itching, and it’s in the typical locations of the ears, between their toes and their belly, then a diagnosis of atopic dermatitis may be reached.

How Itch can help your pet

Fleas are a nuisance, and they do make our pets itchy. But in addition to this, the worst-case scenario is that your pet may be flea-allergic.

Why does my cat react to flea serum?

Other times, your cat might simply have an adverse reaction to the serum because of a weak immune system. You might be the one at fault, as well; if pet owners use dog flea medicine on cats, or adult cat medicine on kittens, their pets are likely to behave erratically after their treatment.

How to treat a cat with fleas?

How to Perform the Treatment. Deworming and anti-flea treatments are crucial for your cat’s safety. Administering them is a bit uncomfortable for the cat, however. You have to take a pipette and apply the anti-flea serum onto the nape of your cat’s neck. The process is rather simple:

What do fleas eat?

For instance, flea larvae tend to feed on tapeworm proglottids. Each proglottid stays inside of the larva during the pupal stage. Once a cat ingests the pupa, the tapeworm can manifest inside the cat and continue its life cycle.

Why does my cat change his behavior?

A change in your cat’s behavior always causes concern. Your cat’s changing behavior may result from illness, injury, pain, stress, or fear, but before you can bring your cat comfort, you must get...

What is a flea?

Fleas are external parasites. They attach themselves onto the body of a host, usually a mammal, and bite their flesh. Most often, a flea will simply jump up from its natural habitat and attach itself to the host. However, animals (as well as humans) can also pick up larvae while walking through tall grass or wooded areas. The larvae will then develop on the host’s body until they mature into adult fleas.

Can cats get flea spray?

When you apply them onto the fur, the cat can ingest them by accident and get flea treatment poisoning. In fact, it doesn’t even have to do it consciously. For example, if I were to get an anti-flea spray, I could accidentally spritz some of it into my pet’s mouth. And it doesn’t end with ingesting the product, either.

Can a cat ingest flea medicine?

More often than not, the cat will ingest flea medication by accident, and its body will react. That will result in flea treatment poisoning, or flea collar poisoning if you’re using a special serum-filled collar. Other times, your cat might simply have an adverse reaction to the serum because of a weak immune system.

Why does my cat act weird after flea treatment?

Other reasons your cat acts weird after flea treatment. While poisoning is the most worrying reason your cat might act weird after flea treatment, it is not the only one. If your flea already has a flea infestation, then they might be acting irritable or annoyed because of the fleas.

How does anti-flea poisoning occur in cats?

How does anti-flea treatment poisoning occur in cats. The contents of the anti-flea treatment pipette are absorbed into the skin. Intoxication can occur when the components are too strong for the individual cat's system. Perhaps they have a weakened immune system or are an otherwise vulnerable cat.

Why do cats put flea treatment on their neck?

This is why flea treatment is applied using a pipette on the nape of the neck. Prepackaged pipettes control the dosage and the placement prevents the cat from ingesting the toxic chemicals. While deworming and flea treatment is relatively very safe, you may wonder why your cat is acting weird after flea treatment.

What diseases can fleas cause?

There are many other possible diseases which can be caused by flea infestation. A report from 2017 even claims that “the prevalence of flea-borne diseases has been greatly underestimated by health practitioners and agencies” [2]. The same report reveals some of these diseases which include: 1 Rickettesial disease (caused by the bacteria Rickettesia) 2 Bartonellosis 3 Plague 4 Tapeworms 5 Flea allergic dermatitis 6 Feline leukemia virus (FLV) 7 Calicivirus

How do you know if your cat has flea poisoning?

They will show signs of irritation which may include vocalizations and even slight aggression. However, these behaviors should stop eventually once they have calmed down. This is why it is very important to know the symptoms of flea treatment poisoning in cats.

How do fleas pass on to cats?

Fleas are an external parasite and pass on to the feline host by attaching themselves to their coat. This occurs either by an adult flea jumping on to the coat of the cat from another animal or person, or by the larvae developing in the environment and attaching themselves to the cat.

How long does a cat's hair stay in a pipette?

Most applicators will come in a prepackaged pipette which gives your cat enough protection for a certain amount of time, usually around 3 to 6 months. The hair is parted at the back of the cats neck and the contents are squeezed out. The area is then gently massaged into this part of the cat.

Why do cats scratch their skin?

Allergies. Just as some people develop skin irritations in response to certain foods or environmental triggers, cats may have itchy, irritated skin if they are allergic to something in their environment. Dry skin.

How to treat a cat that is scratching and chewing?

Treatment for Your Cat’s Scratching, Licking, and Chewing. Eliminating parasites. Because it can be difficult to diagnose flea infestation in cats, some veterinarians recommend trying reliable flea control products purchased from a veterinary office for six to eight weeks to see if it reduces the incidence of licking, scratching, or chewing.

Why do cats lick their fur?

Because there are a number of medical problems that may result in scratching and licking behaviors, be sure to consult with your veterinarian to help determine the cause and the best course of action.

Why do cats have hot spots?

Cats with self-mutilating behaviors may also cause red, irritated areas called hot spots to form, but they are less likely than dogs to do so. Although compulsive cat scratching, licking, or chewing behaviors can develop in any animal, they are more commonly observed in Siamese cats and other Oriental breeds.

Why do cats chew?

Compulsive cat chewing, scratching, or licking behaviors often develop in cats who are bored, stressed, or anxious. These mental disorders are more likely to occur in indoor cats, which may be due to the fact that they receive less exercise and excitement than outdoor cats. Compulsive disorders often begin when there are changes in ...

How to help a cat with anxiety?

Counter-conditioning, by training your cat to associate something pleasurable, like a treat, with something they fear may also help reduce stress and anxiety. Many times, boredom licking (also known as psychogenic alopecia) is improved by adding another cat or pet.

What causes a cat to become compulsive?

Compulsive disorders often begin when there are changes in a cat’s environment, including a new animal or baby in the house or a move to a new location. Also, behaviors that started in response to a medical problem sometimes persist as compulsions after the condition is resolved. Eliminating parasites.

Why does my cat keep scratching and losing fur but has no fleas?

Does your cat keep scratching and losing fur, but has no fleas? Food allergies may trigger itching, especially after flea treatment. Your cat could be allergic to the flea treatment for cats, as well as to one of the ingredients in the food, or even an additive that is in the food.

How do you know if your cat has fleas?

One way to tell if your cat has fleas is by feeling its skin for small bumps. You may notice small round red bumps on your cat’s skin, which if left untreated, could lead to a skin infection. The faster you fight the battle against the fleas the better.

What to do if my cat scratched her neck?

Flea preventive medication – If cat scratching neck raw and suffers from itchy skin, it might be due to fleas, then applying flea preventive medication can be very effective. In addition to this, give anti-flea shampoo baths to your cats or use anti-parasitic dips.

Why does my cat lick my face?

Well, Cat itching, licking, or biting are usually symptoms of fleas. But just remember, fleas and allergies are not the only reasons behind itchy skin.

How to stop cat from itching when it's dry?

Drinking plenty of water – very helpful if the itching is due to dry skin. Food allergies – changing the food and environment might be effective. In response to allergy, your veterinarian might suggest a hypoallergenic cat diet. Hairball problem – Half a teaspoon of butter for few days is a good remedy.

What are the symptoms of dermatitis in cats?

Cat symptoms of dermatitis include red and itchy bumps. Ear mites are another skin problem in cats that also cause itches. Its symptoms include: Shifting and tilting of the head. Scratching of ears. Brown waxy material in the ear.

What is the best treatment for cat itching?

Coconut oil for cats itchy skin – coconut oil is one of the best natural remedies that are known to relieve itchiness and skin sensitivity. Homemade dip of rosemary and peppermint – This cat itchy skin home remedy is a humidifier, and along with a healthy diet, can moisturize the cat’s skin.

Why does my cat react weirdly after flea treatment?

In some instances, a cat may act weird after flea treatment as a result of stress and anxiety.

Why do cats run around after flea treatment?

When cats sense the overly active fleas on their bodies, they may run around, scratch, rub themselves against surfaces, vocalize, and pant. Worry not because your cat’s strange behavior after getting flea treatment will go away on its own, usually when all the fleas on it are already dead and no longer moving around.

Why does my cat have anemia?

Many things can cause a cat to suffer from anemia. One of them is a severe flea infestation. Fleas can drink lots of blood, which can deprive a cat’s vital organs of much-needed oxygen — the blood, the red blood cells (RBCs), in particular, are the carriers of oxygen.

Why do cats pick up fleas?

Because cats are very curious animals, they can pick up fleas rather easily. As a matter of fact, up to 18% to 19% of cats have fleas. The good news is that a flea infestation is highly treatable. However, once upon a time, you may have noticed a cat acting weird after flea treatment. There are five most common reasons why ...

How long does an anti-flea collar last?

What’s so nice about an anti-flea collar is that it can provide results for five to eight long months. On the other hand, a spot-on flea treatment’s effect can last for only about one month. But for an anti-flea collar to keep your cat free of fleas for months, it should be worn by your pet all the time.

What to do if my cat is fleaing?

Two of the most popular include applying a spot-on flea treatment and using an anti-flea collar. Some cat owners prefer taking a trip to the vet. Regardless of which flea treatment you prefer, it’s possible for your cat to act weird afterward.

Why does my cat scratch so much?

Sometimes, a cat may experience severe itchiness and scratch violently because of flea allergy dermatitis. As the name suggests, it’s a form of dermatitis resulting from flea bites, and it can cause skin infections, scabbing, and hair loss.

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