Two cats with skin issues -- intermittent scabbiness.

[Flaxbee]

These two girls (Hedy and Marilyn) are from the same litter and seem to have a very different genetic makeup from their sister (Ingrid).

They're part Maine Coon, and have an entirely different body shape from the third girl from the litter (there were only three girls, brought to us by their mommacat; we kept the whole family). MommaCat and Ingrid have zero health issues (aside from slight pudginess).

Marilyn and Hedy have skin problems - doesn't seem to bother them aside from some slight itchiness. Cortisone makes it go away, but I don't want to subject them to continual steroids. Both girls also have very negative reactions to a variety of feline antibiotics.

So, I'd like to experiment with changing their diet to see if eliminating grains, or changing proteins, will help them. I can't afford allergy tests at the vet -- and the vet confided that quite honestly, tests might not determine the problem anyway - could narrow the issue down to a food allergy, but allergy to what?

Anyway - those who have experience with this issue, should I try first a grain-free diet? Or should I go for an alternate protein (rabbit, duck, venison) diet first?

Any thoughts? Thanks in advance...

(Cross-posted in the pets forum)

[haele]

1. Make sure they're not eating from cheap plastic containers.

Cheap plastic food dishes don't handle kitty saliva very well, and have been known to be a contributing factor to "kitty zits" or chin, cheek, and neck bumps that often become scabby. A friend of mine swears by an herbal "water" water made from distilled equal parts water, basil and thyme and a half part rosemary. (It also helps keep down flea and mite issues) It would take about six weeks to work, though.

The alternate protein diet first sounds a good first step. You may also want to use more chicken and turkey rather than fish and beef; ocean fish protein and beef protein are less "natural" to the tree and desert cats that housecats are descended from.

Haele

[Flaxbee]

6. Yeah, one of them had developed kitty acne and my vet had me

switch to ceramic or stainless steel; that's all I use anymore. No plastic.

I'd be interested in learning more about the herbal water -- how does she offer it to her cats? And how does she make it?

They eat a lot of chicken/turkey based dry and fish moist; I never feed them beef. I also feed high quality dry - Evo, Natural Balance, California Natural, Solid Gold, etc. - but they get a teaspoon of Fancy Feast (some sort of fish, which they love) every day. More expensive canned, also, when I can afford it, but with six cats I have to economize somewhere (seeing as though I probably spend more on their food than mine...).

They never used to have this problem year-round, it used to only show up when the temps got about 70 consistently; the vet thought it might have been heat, or might have been a spring/summer allergen. A cortisone shot clears up the scabs right away, in 2-3 days, so the vet concluded it was most likely an allergy.

But this year, the scabs didn't go away when the temps dropped.

Both girls are four years old; this didn't show up until they were 2, and this is the first year it hasn't disappeared when the weather got colder.

Poor kitties.

[haele]

15. She uses a dropper bottle and "washes" the chin and neck.

It's amusing to watch, and requires lots of towels and a helper if the cat objects. She often got them high on Catnip first, then when they started getting sleepy, dose them with it.
And from experiance, Shamwows don't work on cats very well.
If it is triggered by heat, unless it's a food or flea allergy (which can happen during the late spring/summer when the fleas first come out), it might be some sort of psoriatal or skin gland issue. Cats don't sweat and something might be fermenting at the skin level.

Good luck

Haele

[redwitch]

2. Kitty Gloria has severe reaction to fleas.

Same thing, she scratches and scratches. We make sure she never has fleas. Could be other allergies too. Good luck!

[Flaxbee]

7. thanks! This seems to transcend fleas, happens whether they

have them or not...

[fizzgig]

3. sounds like it might be mange

we have a cat who we're pretty sure is part maine coon and she has had problems with mange for most of her life, but it doesn't affect the other two girls (her mom and sister). it's easily controlled with a foul-smelling dip, but it's a two-person job to dose her because she's so big and strong.

i hope you are able to get it figured out.

[Flaxbee]

8. thanks. Just read up on mange, and it doesn't sound like it fits...

also have taken them to the vet many times for this and mange wasn't mentioned, but I'll keep it in mind. Glad to hear a dip will work, though, if that's what it turns out to be....

[Kali]

4. what are you feeding them now?

if it was me I would try switching the grain first - if they are on a corn based food switch to A) a better quality (protein source should always be the first ingredient for cats) food and B) one that has NO corn or corn by-products

If you are really dedicated you can MAKE fresh food for them - they do really well once they start eating it, but it can be a PITA to do if you are busy.

[GoCubsGo]

5. That is excellent advice for any cat, IMO.

Get them away from corn, soy and wheat-based foods. Lots of good dry foods out there. Mine usually get Blue Buffalo's "Spa Select" or By Nature, which I get at PetSmart. Spa Select has a "sensitive skin formula, BTW. PetSmart's house brand, Authority has a "sensitive stomach" formula that is c/s/w free. I haven't tried it because it's not "light" and I have a fat cat. There are several others out there, including Brandon Farms, Wellness, Newman's Own, Chicken Soup for the Cat Lover's Soul... My older cat is 15, and his coat looks great for a geriatric cat. Well, except for some flare-ups of acne, but that's not always diet-related. The fatso has a beautiful coat, too.

If you can afford to go grain-free, do it. When I could afford it, my kitties were on Serengeti--until the shop discontinued it. They had samples of Solid Gold "Indigo Moon", and a few others. They loved the Indigo Moon. Blue Buffalo also puts out a grain-free. Again, tons of other brands, too. A lot of the stores that sell them tend to have free samples, BTW. There are lots of canned foods out there that are grain-free, including some Fancy Feast and the store-brand versions of it. Just read the label. Mine get that in the evening.

[Flaxbee]

10. Thanks... some very good suggestions, and I'm familiar

with all those brands.

Just wasn't sure to try grain free, or alternate protein first... b/c from everything I've read, it will take anywhere from 6-8 weeks to be able to tell if there's any improvement.

[rebel with a cause]

11. Dog owners face these same issues.

We have to get our dogs special food because one of them has allergies. She is sensitive to poultry, corn, oats, carrots, and almost every other food imaginable. She now has a intestinal problem on top of that and cannot be given any thing other than dry dog food except for snacks/treats of green beans. She is not a happy camper since she is a very food oriented dog. And the poor other dog has to be there with her since they are always together. Ugggh.

[Flaxbee]

9. No corn in their food! I REFUSE to buy any food that

doesn't have a protein listed first, and no corn (or at least not a major ingredient). I give them Natural Balance, EVO, California Natural, Wellness, and Solid Gold dry (usually mixed together in one big container...) and Fancy Feast moist, about a teaspoon a day per cat. I'd like to feed them higher quality moist, but with six cats, I just can't afford it all the time... so I get the best quality dry I can find.

I might start making some of their food once we move --- do you have any good recipes? I don't have a lot of time, but I'll try it if it'll make them better.

[GoCubsGo]

13. Canned Fancy Feast is actually decent stuff...

Especially if you get the "gourmet", instead of the "cuts", "shreds", "grilled" stuff that has wheat gluten in it. You can improve it by mixing it with some cooked peas and carrots. The frozen kind are fine.

[Flaxbee]

14. hmm.. I don't feel so bad, then. Peas and carrots? I'll give them a try!

This'll be fun. Wonder what they'll do :) I feel stupid - my mother's cat absolutely loves green beans; I should have supplemented their food with veggies a long time ago.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

12. My three beasts get grain-free food, Wellness and Indigo Moon.

They've never had skin problems, so I don't know whether that will make a difference, but they have beautiful, glorious, shiny, soft fur.

[Gormy Cuss]

16. This may not be relevant, but my cat's fur and skin seems healthier since I started giving him

VitaKitty treats. The product claims to promote better fur, eye health and other stuff.