Scabs on Cats How To Cure Them Safely?

Scabs on Cats How To Cure Them Safely?
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Scabs on cats how to cure them safely, that are caused by miliary dermatitis, which takes on many forms, such as feline acne, feline eczema and flea allergy dermatitis. Scabs on cats are caused by miliary dermatitis, which takes on many forms, such as feline acne, feline eczema and flea allergy dermatitis.

→ Scabs on Cats How to Cure Them Safely?

Millet is a type of hardy, nutritious grass seed that has been cultivated by humans for thousands of years. It is highly adaptable, with a wealth of functions, providing food and sustenance for both livestock and humans. We say “it,” but actually millet is an umbrella term for at least 50 different varieties of this staple grain. They are drought resistant, have a rapid growth and harvest cycle, and usually gluten-free, so millets are experiencing a sort of renaissance among people with food allergies. But why are we going on about ancient agriculture? What does it have to do with scabs on cats?

It can be alarming to pet your cat and find scabs. This feline skin condition is miliary dermatitis, and it takes its name from scabrous sores that resemble millets. Like millet itself, this skin allergy affecting cats is not just one thing, but a symptomatic name that encompasses a range of potential allergens and reactions to them. Let’s look more closely at the possible reasons for scabs on cats and why they appear on your kitty’s back, neck and tail.

First, What is Feline Miliary Dermatitis?

Because cat skin allergies have so many possible causes and provocations, what we refer to as miliary dermatitis goes by a number of names. Ones you may have heard include the feline acne, feline eczema, along with the colorful and nonspecific “blotch,” the highly descriptive “scabby cat disease,” as well as flea allergy dermatitis. This last term describes the most common cause of scabs on cats and the one that confounds most cat owners. More on that in a moment.

There are a wide variety of causes of miliary dermatitis in cats, external and internal, but they express themselves in the same ways and with the same set of symptoms. We’ve mentioned scabs on cats, but these are only the most obvious and telling signs. Prior to the appearance of scabs on cats, you may notice your cat begin a regimen of outrageously excessive self-grooming. Now, cats spend nearly half their waking life licking and cleaning themselves, so is there a distinction?

With dermatitis, skin inflammation’s first yield is an itchy rash, which can be difficult to perceive, depending on the length of a cat’s coat. One sure symptom of miliary dermatitis? Repeated attention to — licking, scratching or biting — a specific and localized area. As the rash spreads, a cat may not only groom obsessively, but begin balding at those sites. Areas typically affected are the neck and the spot where the tail meets the trunk. Scabs on cats how to cure them safely.

What Causes Cat Dermatitis?

What causes cat dermatitis? Allergies themselves, then, do not cause scabs on cats at the back, neck and the base of the tail, but by the cat’s singleminded focus on getting relief from the allergy. The more intently a cat scratches, licks and bites at himself, and the longer the condition progresses, the more those telltale scabs will form. When it comes to scabs on cats, scratching at the scabs clears a path for further, secondary infections by usually harmless bacteria that live on cats.

Now, there are rashes and lesions present prior to the cat’s self-grooming traumas, and these arise from a number of possible agents. Things that can cause these allergic reactions and start the ball rolling toward scabs on cats:

  • Materials in new bedding, carpets, rugs or other home furnishings
  • An ingredient or ingredients in cat food
  • Seasonal allergens, like pollen
  • Common household chemicals, including cat shampoo
  • Mites, such as a sudden proliferation of ear mites or Cheyletiella (walking dandruff)
  • Fleas and flea bites

By far, the most common cause of miliary dermatitis in cats and the scabs on cats that accompany the condition is the bite of a flea.

Flea Allergy Dermatitis in Cats

Since a huge number of domestic cats spend most of their time indoors, we can anticipate the cries of protest and alarm. How can a cat express allergic reactions to fleas if she has no fleas? If the home is regularly cleaned? If the cat is taking preventative medication or wears a flea collar? For cats with flea allergies, especially those with sensitive skin, or younger cats and kittens with still-developing immune systems, the distinction between having fleas and being bitten by a flea is inconsequential.

All cats, indoor cats in particular, are fastidious groomers. Their rigorous cleaning routines mean that even cats who encounter fleas occasionally will not necessarily have them crawling and bouncing all over her body. In other words, a cat does not need to “have fleas,” per se, to experience the ill effects of a bite. If a cat gets out of the house during the warmer parts of the year when fleas are in abundance, even a brief period of supervised Caturday excitement can expose her to fleas.

For cats with sensitive skin, indoor cats with limited exposure to the natural world, or those whose homes are kept so immaculate that they don’t even wear flea collars, the saliva from a single flea bite is sufficient to provoke an allergic reaction. This condition, called flea bite hypersensitivity, is an increasingly common, if not the leading, cause of skin allergies among cats and dogs. It is also the first step toward the formation of millet shaped scabs on cats — usually on cats’ backs, necks and tails.

Treating Cat Dermatitis and, in Turn, Treating Scabs on Cats

Diagnosing miliary dermatitis is fairly easy for a practiced veterinarian. The placement of the rash, lesions or scabs on cats — depending on how far advanced the problem is— gives a vet a clearer idea of the true source of the allergic reaction and a good start to a reliable method of treatment. Determining the precise source of your cat’s skin allergy is key.

For cats who already have sores from excessive grooming where flea bites are at fault, knowing that they have a flea allergy is no condemnation of you as a cat owner or your home cleanliness. Cortisone injections can help alleviate persistent itching, and, if necessary, antibiotics prescribed to treat existing wounds.

Your vet may counsel preventative measures once you have knowledge of the cat’s allergy. Indoor cats who like to venture outdoors supervised may be cautioned against it, or regular use of anti-flea prophylactics may be recommended. Implementing prevention strategies might see you and your cat changing your normal routine, but being consistent with the new routine will ensure your cat doesn’t suffer from recurrent bouts of miliary dermatitis.

→ Why Does My Cat Have Scabs Around Her Neck?

Fleas, mites, and lice are by far the most common cause of scabs on your cat. Regardless of whether your cat is allergic to bug bites, fleas and other blood-sucking pests can lead to scabbing and bleeding after they bite your pet. If you notice scabs on your cat, immediately check your cat for any type of parasite.

This condition is also called scabby cat disease, papulocrusting dermatitis and miliary eczema. The rash appears most often around the neck and head of the cat, going down its backFeline miliary dermatitis is a term used to describe several skin conditions, usually as the result of an allergic reaction.

  • These type of scabs can be indicative of a hypersensitivity to flea bites, particularly if they are located close to the tail. This is the most common type of scab. Fleas are wingless parasites that live on your cat’s skin and feed on his blood. Read my guide on flea control to see treatment options
  • It is common for cats to develop an allergy to flea saliva, causing a localized reaction. These can become quite uncomfortable and itchy, and when your cat scratches at them, they can bleed and may result in an infection. The scabs can range in size from 3 mm to more than 1 cm.

What Need To Do?

  • As with most things, prevention is the best way to make sure your cat doesn’t suffer. If your cat goes outside, a flea collar is a must. Every time they come in, check their fur and skin for any signs of lesions or fleas (ticks too!). Your vet may prescribe topical cream to rub on the scabs to heal faster and/or to stop the itching.
  • Ask your vet before using any home remedies like PolySporin, as it could be dangerous for your feline. Your vet may also prescribe a cream to kill and prevent fleas. If you have more than one cat, it’s important to treat them all.
  • Flea powder is not always effective, so ask your vet before applying it to your cat. Also make sure that the environment indoors is free of fleas – that includes the cat bed, blankets, toys, etc.

Write comment below to us about: Have you ever seen scabs on your cat? How did you treat them? What was the cause of scabs on cats in your case?

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This Post Has 32 Comments

  1. Kelli

    My two cats, male 19 year old brothers, both have recently developed chin acne. My problem is that they are not cats that tolerate being picked up or held at any time…ever. I can not even clean their face if they have eye goo. Our relationship is completely on their terms. How can I treat without stress or injury (to me)?

  2. Jade

    Hello. My cat is an inside cat and he has been getting these small bumps on one side of his neck he doesn’t seem to mind me touching them I just don’t know what they could be and how to help him get rid of them. Would you know by any chance?

  3. Rachael

    My 12 yr old ginger male short hair, allowed outside, cat just had an inter-dermal sore removed from his head. He now has to wear a cone for 3 weeks to protect stitches on the head.
    Over the last year he has developed flea dermatitis and has bad miliary scabs all over top of head and around the bases of the ears. His head was shaved for surgery so now the scabs are very obvious. He gets expensive flea drops monthly and since the allergy, capstar tablets if I ever see a flea. I also flea bombed the flat again and washed everything possible.
    Yet, a week after surgery the scabs are more obvious and seem worse than ever!
    Is there something topical I can use to speed the healing of the scabs? Especially those in the shaved areas while they are exposed??
    Please help! 6 months of fighting fleas and cat still suffering!

    1. Rachael

      Forgot to mention… vet diagnosed flea dermatitis but gave no other treatment apart from anti-inflammatory for healing surgery stitches. Only advice was continue flea treatment.

      1. Allison N.

        Hi Rachael
        If vet diagnosed flea dermatitis but gave no other treatment apart from anti-inflammatory for healing surgery stitches, I reccomend go to other vet clinik.

  4. Francesco Philippon

    “Having read about scabs on cats I thought it was very enlightening. I appreciate you taking the time and effort to put this article together.”

  5. Helena Spurr

    My cat’s scabs have dried and are quite crusty but the moment I removed the cone she started licking the lesions and wouldn’t stop. I immediately put the cone back on. She has been wearing the cone for two weeks now and is very grumpy and desperate to go out. When can she go out.

    1. Katrin Camtont

      Hi, Helena

      It is advisable when the itch passes and the cat will not lick itself. There are a variety of treatments to soothe itchy skin associated with allergies, but avoiding exposure to the irritants is the best strategy.

  6. Sarah Belle Murphy

    Hello!!! What cream can I put on my cats scabs?

    Great article.
    Best regards,
    Sarah Belle Murphy

  7. Amy Mills

    Hey, How do you treat miliary dermatitis in cats?

    1. Katrin Camtont

      Hey, Amy

      Your veterinarian may prescribe a short course of anti-inflammatory drugs such as corticosteroids to make the cat feel more comfortable and reduce the constant itching while the specific treatment takes effect. Other treatments may include antihistamines, essential fatty acids, and cyclosporine (brand name Atopica®).

  8. Emma Wheaton

    What causes scabs on cats?

    Flea allergy is the most common allergy in cats. … These scabs are often referred to as miliary dermatitis, a term that was coined because the scabs look like millet seeds (see handout “Miliary Dermatitis in Cats” for more information on this skin condition).


  9. Cindy

    You’re very knowledgeable on this subject! Thank you! However, what drew me in to read your informative article was to learn how to treat my scabby cat as your title claims to but you dont mention even ONE treatment! You just say what you think a Veterinarian may do to treat my cat! So your title is most misleading even though you explain the condition very well you didnt offer anything a person can do about it except go see a Vet.

    1. Katrin Camtont

      Hello Cindy
      Each disease in cats has its own characteristics as in humans, a single medicine, as you know, does not exist for various diseases, therefore it is always recommended to consult a veterinarian rather than self-medicate, especially if your pet has this problem in the first. This article contains information about this issue and general recommendations. In the future, we take into account your comment and, if possible, recommendations will be described on the treatment for scabs on cats. Thanks

  10. Millage Schuler

    Should you pick cats scabs? Thanks

    1. Katrin Camtont

      Hello, Millage S. Some cats have a single breakout, while others have recurring symptoms. If the condition is severe, you may notice hair loss, redness, and even nodules or bleeding scabs. For this reason, it’s important to remember that you shouldn’t squeeze, pick at, or otherwise try to remove your cat’s pimples.

  11. Vendra Therburne

    I ask all, how do I treat my cats scabs?

    PS You need to be a part of a contest for one of the highest quality websites on the internet. I am going to highly recommend this website!|

    1. Katrin Camtont

      Hello, Vendra

      Usual first need clean the sore with hydrogen peroxide on gauze or a cotton ball, and after it dries, spray the area with cortisone cream. Do this twice a day until the sore starts to dry out or a scab begins to form.

      PS Thanks, Ok

  12. Teneva Fosko

    Somebody know why does my cat have scabs on his chin?

    1. Katrin Camtont

      Hi, Teneva
      Feline chin acne can often be mistaken for just a “dirty chin.” This dirty look is caused by scabs and crusts stemming from infected hair follicles and plugged oil glands. Your cat’s chin may be swollen and painful. In a single cat household feline chin acne is often labeled “idiopathic” or without known cause.

  13. Karly Landero

    Hi, how’s it going? Just shared this post with a colleague, she cats have scabs. Can she put Neosporin on cats scabs?

    1. Katrin Camtont

      Hi, Karly. In combination, the three topical antibiotics in Neosporin are effective at keeping small cuts and scrapes bacteria free. They are very safe for topical use in people. For these reasons, despite the fact that Neosporin is technically safe for topical use in cats, it is not actually recommended for use in cats.

  14. Timmi Holin

    I found your blog on Google. Good Job! My cat does not have scabs on the body, but I think it will be useful to know about it.

  15. Allie

    I went to this blog again, there was a problem with scabs in a cat, while we are studying information, I hope we can quickly overcome this ailment in my cat. Thank you for the article.

  16. Tifani Stonk

    Hello everybody. I have not noticed the scabs on my cat, we always try to monitor its nutrition and the things that surround it. But thanks anyway for your blog Katrin, it is very beautiful and informative.

  17. Cabana


    1. Katrin Camtont

      Thank you, i are very pleased to read your comment that my work was done not in vain.

  18. Lamar Nickelson

    I was examining some of your posts on this cat blog and I think this website is real instructive! Retain posting.

  19. Keith Mcknight

    Great website. Lots of helpful info here. I’m sending it to a few of my friends. thanks for your hard work!

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