Most cats scratch themselves on occasions and it is often part of the cleaning ritual. However, if you spot your cat scratching itself on a regular basis then it needs to be investigated. This is especially true if the cat scratching concentrates on one particular area. Continual scratching in one particular part of the body can cause skin trauma and bleeding which can then lead to infection. So it is important that you investigate the cause before it becomes serious. The first step is to inspect the area to see if there is any obvious reason for your cat scratching. Using a flea comb you should brush your cats fur to see if there is any sign of flea infestation as this can often the most common cause of cats scratching. Some cats seem to be able to ignore the presence of fleas whilst to others they cause intense irritation. A cat can become sensitive to the saliva from a flea and develop a flea bite allergy. This can be painful and cause the cat to persistently scratch the area. You may well have to take your cat to the vet to have the skin infection treated and have your cat disinfested. Another cause of scratching is ear infestations caused by ear mites. These tend to go well down inside the ear canal. Your vet may use an aural scope to look for the little devils. If your cat starts shaking its head a lot or scratching at its ear you should take it to the vet as soon as possible. Thee sooner treatment starts the less likely it is that the problem will become severe or recur again later. The problem with mites and fleas is that they will easily transfer from one animal to another so if you discover that one of your cats has fleas or mites you should treat the others as well. Ear mites can transfer between cats and dogs, especially if they are in close proximity to one another. There are a variety of treatments for the removal of fleas including treated collars, powders and sprays. One of the easiest and most effective flea treatments is called Frontline. This comes in a small plastic pipette and you just squirt the fluid onto the cats neck in a couple of places. This is a very quick and effective treatment which should be repeated on a monthly basis to keep your cat flea free.
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Most cats scratch themselves on occasions and it is often part of the cleaning ritual. However, if you spot your cat scratching itself on a regular basis then it needs to be investigated. This is especially true if the cat scratching concentrates on one particular area.
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