Accepted Answer

Hi again, Vicki, and thanks for your reply with additional and helpful information.

It's possible that although your cat is being treated with Advantage (the other cats should be, as well; flea shampoos aren't as effective as the monthly treatments like Advantage), if the house wasn't treated by a professional exterminator specializing in fleas, the effectiveness of the treatments may have been only temporary. If you're located in the USA, Fleabusters is excellent. I've used them myself. www.fleabusters.com As long as flea eggs and larvae exist in the environment, due to the life cycle of the flea, they can lay dormant for a while, and then hatch into adults when the environment is 'right', and the cycle starts all over again. There shouldn't be any live fleas on your cat if he is receiving Advantage, but he could be sensitive/allergic to the flea saliva, and the bite of just one can cause a body-wide reaction.

http://www.sniksnak.com/cathealth/allergies.html

Because you describe his scratching and scabs to be mainly around the head, shoulders, and ears, above the eyes, it's also possible he has ear mites, and these are very itchy. They can fall out of the ears onto the neck/shoulder area, and it would be a good idea to have your cat evaluated in person by the vet, to get a definite diagnosis of what's causing his itching. Typically, ear mites will cause a brownish-black debris in the ears, resembling coffee grounds, so check the inside of his ears. If you don't see that, it doesn't necessarily mean he doesn't have ear mites, but again, the vet should check him out in person.
http://www.sniksnak.com/cathealth/earmites.html

He also may have another type of mite called sarcoptic mange mites. These too, are very itchy.

http://www.petplace.com/cats/sarcoptic-mange-in-cats/page1.aspx

Because Friskies for Indoor Cats may contain grain fillers like corn, soy, wheat, gluten, dairy products, and artificial additives/preservatives, these are common allergens for cats, and he might have developed some food allergies, if no mites are found. Some well recommended quality foods which contain no common allergens are Wellness, Newman's Own, Innova, EVO, Natural Balance, and Halo. These are available at most major pet supply stores.

The vet will be able to take a skin scraping (painless) to analyze under the microscope, and this should help with the diagnosis.

I hope all will be well with your kitty!

Cher

Edited by Jessesmom on 10/5/2009 at 6:05 AM

Expert:	Jessesmom
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Answered:	10/5/2009

Feline Specialist Health/Behavior

Feline Healthcare and Behavior Specialist 40+ years Experience