Itchy skin is a common problem among cats for various reasons. The itchiness can be due to allergies, food reactions, flea infestation, skin infections, and problems like mange. Treatment for the cause is necessary, but there are a few things that you can do at home to provide itch relief for your cat while you figure out how to treat their underlying condition. Here are five home remedies for cats with itchy skin.
The 4 Methods for Treating a Cat With Itchy Skin
1. Humidify the Air
It is common for cats to get itchy when their skin gets too dry. It is important to determine the root cause of a dry skin problem, which is most effectively done when working with a veterinarian. Whatever the cause of the dry skin, you can provide your cat with relief from itchiness by humidifying a room in your home where your cat spends the most time.
Simply plugging a humidifier in and letting it run throughout the day will help keep your cat’s skin from getting too dry and itchy. The humidifier does not have to be large. A tabletop version should work fine in a bedroom. Just put your cat in the room with a cozy bed and a few toys, then close the door for a few hours. After a few days, you should see improvement in your cat’s skin.
2. Offer a Refreshing Bath
Most cats despise baths, which is why owners tend to consider all other home remedy options for their furry feline friends before ever considering a bath. However, a quick bath using medicated shampoo for dry skin is one of the first options that should be considered when your kitty cat can’t stop scratching their fur and skin. Many over-the-counter medicated bathing products found at the pet shop and online are designed to relieve irritation and itching in cats.
Keep in mind that these are not always permanent solutions to an itching problem. If the itching is due to a flea infestation, a medicated bath can only solve the itching problem once and for all if the cat was treated for fleas first. On the other hand, if itching is due to an allergic reaction or another health issue, a medicated bath will provide temporary itching relief until the allergic reaction or health problem is resolved.
So, even if a medicated bath does help your cat, it is important to figure out exactly why the itching is happening in the first place. Otherwise, you will have to bathe your cat regularly to maintain relief from itching, and other problems might start developing because the root cause of the itching has not been addressed.
3. Create an Apple Cider Vinegar Mist
Apple cider vinegar can be used to provide itchiness relief for cats, especially those suffering from allergies or problems like mange. The apple cider vinegar neutralizes pathogens and can even repel fleas when utilized regularly. Cats are not the biggest fans of apple cider vinegar, but luckily, it is easy to apply to cats without much fuss. You can add ACV to a bath, but it is easiest to make use of a spray bottle.
Just fill the spray bottle halfway up with apple cider vinegar, then add water to the fill line. Shake the spray bottle and it is ready to use. Simply spray the ACV solution on your cat’s fur while they sleep or are busy playing. Repeat the spraying process several times a day until your cat’s itching problems improve. Afterward, it is a good idea to keep spraying your cat once or twice a day to maintain those improvements.
- Related Read: How to Keep Cats Off Your Furniture with Vinegar
4. Make Grooming a Priority
Cats are known for being excellent self-groomers. However, sometimes, cats do not clean themselves as well as they should. If your cat seems to be a little lazy on the grooming front, the lack of grooming could be contributing to dry and/or itchy skin. The good news is that you can pick up the grooming slack for your cat and hopefully, get the itchiness to go away.
Use a fine comb to clean your cat’s fur every day. Take time to clean your cat’s ears out with cotton balls a couple of times a week. Two or three times a month, you can lightly dampen a washcloth and gently rub your cat’s fur with it to mimic licking and get rid of dander. All these actions should help keep your cat cleaner and less itchy, and it should help encourage your cat to clean themselves more often.
In Conclusion
It can be tough to figure out what is causing a cat to itch, so we recommend consulting with a veterinarian whether these home remedies provide itch relief or not. The root cause of your cat’s itching problem must be addressed if you expect long-term relief success. Hopefully, the home remedies outlined here will make the process of treating your cat for itchy skin less stressful and more effective overall.
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Featured Image Credit: rihaij, Pixabay
