Cat Scratching
If you are an avoid cat lover you may think there is absolutely nothing negative about owning a pet cat. In many ways, you may be right. Cats are wonderful companions who bring joy to millions of American homes. Your job is to keep your cats as happy and healthy as possible. During the summer months, you may see your cat scratching himself more than usual. While it is normal for cats to claw their cat scratching furniture or cat scratching post, excessive scratching on themselves can signal a problem.
When you see your cat scratching himself aggressively, there may be one of several things going on. In the firs place, it is possible that your pet has an allergy. This could be an environmental or food allergen. If your cat spends a lot of time in his cat kennels or cat run outdoors, it may be pollen or grass that is causing his irritation. If this is the case, allow your pet to spend more time indoors and les time in his cat run during allergy season. Food allergies are generally caused by ingredients or preservatives. If you see your cat scratching incessantly and notice that his skin is getting flakey and red, food allergies are a definite possibility.
When You Notice Your Cat Scratching Himself Regularly…
If you suspect a food allergy, try switching to a different food. Carefully observe your pet in his cat kennels to see if the incessant scratching stops. If the cat scratching continues, you will want to consult with your veterinarian who can offer advice and assistance. Just because you notice your cat scratching himself, instead of his cat scratching post or cat scratching furniture, doesn’t mean he has an allergy. There could be another explanation—FLEAS. Fleas are especially a problem during the warm summer months. Determining whether or not your cat’s scratching is caused by fleas is simple. Roll your cat over on his belly to see if you can spot any fleas hopping around. Other signs of fleas include tiny black or red spots across your pet’s belly. If you spot any signs of these pesky creatures, you’ll understand why you’ve seen your cat scratching himself so much.
You should take immediate action to eradicate these fleas. Bathing your pet and applying a topical flea treatment is a good start. But it is not enough. If you don’t want to see your cat scratching himself for the rest of the summer, you will need to work extra hard to exterminate all fleas on your premises. This includes fleas that have been hiding in the cat scratching furniture and cat scratching post. Carpets, rugs and all other indoor furnishings should be sprayed with a flea repellent. The cat kennels and cat run should also be thoroughly disinfected in an effort to eradicate this monstrous regiment of pesky bugs. Once the fleas are gone, apply a topical flea treatment on your pet’s skin regularly. This will help prevent another outbreak or re-infestation. Once you’ve dealt with the flea issue, you should not see your cat scratching himself quite so much. Hopefully he will be a lot more comfortable and enjoy the rest of the summer.