wtf is wrong with my cat

[poorcathelp]

He has been scratching his neck for months now, we've finally got the allergy blood test results back, he's not showing any allergies !
I thought it was stress but I really don't think it is, he's absolutely fine in himself, still eating, still acting himself, still playful etc. He doesn't have any fleas, he is treated with the stuff on prescription from the vets and wormed too.
The only thing I've noticed is the last few days he doesn't really want to go outside but he does this every year when the end of summer is coming and wants to eat loads ! So that isn't really anything new.
Any ideas ??
It's only his neck he scratches

Berry bugs? They're a miniscule tick that we get in rural areas, which live in dry grasses, compost piles, etc. My mums cat reacted badly to them, and they don't go away with the normal front line type treatments. It's a late summer kind of thing.

Hi, we don't live rural though. Also this has been going on since February. I just can't think what on earth it is and nor can the vets. He has steroid injections and even they don't do much for him.
I'm wondering if it's itching so much because it's trying to heal, and because scabs itch he is constantly knocking it off starting the healing process again

My daughter is a vet. They had a cat brought in with a needle stuck in her neck. They found it when they actually operated when the wound kept opening. Could it be that? Have they xrayed it. My daughter adopted the cat because it was a stray.

The itch scratch cycle needs to be broken can the area not be covered and dose him with antihistamine until it heals?

Sorry no suggestions but I felt I to say he looks a real character. Lovely wee face.
He looks as though he thinks he's on the naughty step.
I hope you find the solution and the neck heals.

Any changes to his food? We went through this with DCat (ate his belly raw basically ) and it turned out to be the other type of food he eats(he alternates between two because he gets bored). It was a type of food he ate perfectly well for years and actually came to us on it from the shelter. No more Dreamies either, poor bastard.

We switch between two foods aswell because he can be fussy and not eat it but he's had them both for years now. Plus he was allergy tested for over 60 different allergens common in cats including foods and all clear

Yes well I think he needs a cone but I know he'll struggle with it. I've been giving him piriton which didn't help

I'd get him treated, has he had steroids or any topical creams? Cone him, one of those soft , fabric-y ones for a while to break the cycle and give him a chance to heal. Then try keeping him on one kind of food only anyway (the one he wasn't on when this started) and see if it makes a difference. It actually took us a few months to have him fully healed .

He randomly became allergic to Felix at 9 years old , he's had it since he was a kitten.

@NowImNotDoingIt He's had oral steroids and injection steroids, used hibbi scrub. The vets haven't given a topical cream but might be worth me asking tomorrow (he is going the vets tomorrow because of this, again)
Could flea treatment cause this ??
Yes I will stick to the one food from now on.

Oh he is a character, very cute and friendly but a typical cat 😆

I would try a soft cone if you can find one that covers the area without rubbing, and also stop using spot-on treatments, perhaps try Program injection.

I have an itchy cat. Never been tested for
allergies but as soon as Easter arrives, off the scratching starts. Always neck or in front of ears. I think putting on a cone is the only way. This with treatment will give it time to
heal and hopefully the cycle won’t start again. I know with my cat that even while having the meds (Atopica in this case) it won’t heal unless she has the cone too.

I honestly don't know, I guess anything is possible. We had a really good cream from the vet the first time this happened , a blue gel thing that worked really well but I can't remember the name. The second time (not our normal vet) only did steroid injection and antibiotics. When I asked about the cream (not sorted) he said he doesn't like prescribing it and first gave us some vitamins/oil for his skin, then gave us a hypoallergenic food, then did the allergy test (nothing showed up here either) .

I figured out by chance it was the cat food and haven't had any issues since we stuck to Sheba only. Then discovered Dreamies didn't agree with him either , which was devastating... for him.

The thing is, first he needs something to break the cycle of sore/itchy -scratch at least for a week.

My cat is the same we cover it with an old sock so she can't get to it, but as soon as we take it off she starts again. Our vet has tried everything and he thinks the sock is the best way to stop it!

Ask for a referral to a veterinary dermatologist.

Absolutely this. Could meanwhile get infected.

Thanks at the vet now.

What else could it be though ?

Yes flea treatment could cause it my cat tore a hole in his neck when I used a different treatment his healed after I bathed him and removed the collar (it was a flea collar) looked quite similar but he didn't aggravate it further I did use wound powder ftom the pet shop to dry it up

Cat has a cone, he's not too happy but for his own good. Just hope he doesn't get it off.
The plan going forward is to see if it will heal while he has a collar on, he's had steroid injections today and antibiotics injections. Then once healed (hopefully) we're going to look at flea treatment and see if missing a dose might reveal if that's the cause of his bad skin, and then trying a new flea treatment.
If all this doesn't work then vet is going to refer to a skin specialist (which I'm sure will cost me a fortune lol)

There are many differentials. Cats are oddballs. Lots of very different skin conditions can present looking very similar despite having very different causes. This is why you need a dermatologist. I am not going to try to diagnose a cat I haven't physically examined myself on the basis of a couple of photos. That would be unprofessional.

Aww look at him! Hope you get to the bottom of it.

Well we have one sad pussycat ! He sulked all day yesterday on ds' bed. Last night he went out and I couldn't get him back in til 5am! Did not want him out all night with the cone on but you try telling a cat what to do...

Any tips with feeding? When he came in I had too hold his food up on a saucer for him to eat, food everywhere ! In reluctant to take the cone off because I don't think I'll get it back on very easily. But he can't mutilate himself anymore which is a relief !

Please don't let him out wearing a cone, he needs to be kept in. His vision will be limited and he's also at risk of getting stuck somewhere. You should also change the strap holding it on for a safety collar so it releases if he gets stuck.

He should be able to work out how to eat, mine managed with her usual small Mason cash bowls, though ended up scooping up biscuits and crumbs which she helpfully deposited in my bed!

A soft cone might suit him better. They look like floppy ruffs so they cover shoulders, which means he will have full movement of head but still won't be able to scratch.

Or, for the brave, you can get body suits...