[sacramento]

I have five cats, four of which have been developing small scabs around their necks, throats and the backs of their heads. They allow to scrape them off, without complaint, but they recur within several days. I have no idea what they could be or how to get rid of them. I hope someone can help me!:confused:

[mrscoltweaver]

Sounds like a secondary skin infection that will require antibiotics-this will be a bandaid to the reason WHY they get the scabs in the first place. The most common reason to get bacterial overgrowth which causes the scabs or irritation is an allergy. The most common allergy cats and dogs face is an allergy to flea bites, flea saliva, seasonal and inhalent allergies, food allergies and being allergic to the containers their food and water are served in being the least common. Are they on topical flea preventative purchased from your vet? It's an easy thing to try-apply once monthly without fail for a few months and see if that doesn't take care of it. Even if they never go outside, you don't see them on the cat, they don't appear to be scratching-all of these things do not mean they are not challenged by them. Advantage is a great, non toxic flea control to try that can only be purchased through your vet. The stuff sold at pet stores or other stores simply does not work. If you think I'm nuts and want to try something else, switch your plastic food/water bowls for stainless or vice versa as well as try a hypoallergenic formula to feed. Another reason for the scabs can be ear mites: again, treat with a prescription from your vet and repeat in 2 weeks to kill the eggs. Hope this helps!

[HSK]

If you have five cats with only four of them having these scabs, it could be that the cat w/o scabs is roughing up the others a bit. It may not be mean and just play, but cats that like to wrestle around often have small scabs in all the places you described. Just a thought if the topical medication does not solve the problem.

[sacramento]

Your answer makes sense except that only the three youngest and the oldest play and roughhouse. The one that has no scabs never plays like that! She is too busy sitting on my lap or my computer monitor! I am trying flea treatment and will see what happens but thanks for the input.