Ask Bill: Cats & Hot spots
Q: My cat has this spot on his size that looks like a hot spot. His hair is falling out and the skin is raw and moist. What do I do?
A: When dealing with an unknown skin issue, make sure you have your vet rule out anything serious (such as roundworm) before you begin treating. Hot spots, though, are very common and very easy to treat. They affect both dogs and cats.
First, be sure your cat is on a good, meat-based diet with little-to-no grain. Cats systems in particular are not equipped to deal with grains, and this can cause skin issues. A 6lb bag of Chicken Soup for the Cat Lover's Soul is $9.89 and it is an excellent value food with good ingredients.
 | Furminator for Cats Thick, dense coats can trap dirt, bacteria and moisture close to the skin, creating the perfect environment for hot spots to occur. Make sure your kitty is well groomed. Come in and check out the furminator for cats. It's GREAT for pulling out that dense undercoat, which will help to keep your cat cleaner, cooler and less prone to hot spots. $29.98 |
Fleas are a major cause for skin lesions and hot spots and running a $.49 flea comb over your cat is a great way to find stray fleas or check for telltale flea dirt.
 | Bark 2 Basics Shampoo If your cat will let you, bathe him in an oatmeal anti-itch shampoo. With its 16 to 1 dilution rate, a bottle will last a year! Choose from an oatmeal anti-itch or a hypo-allergenic shampoo. $12.98 (16oz) |
 | Biocane First Aid Lotion Biocaine first aid lotion reduces pain and itching and promotes healing and can be applied directly to the sore. It also contains a bitter tasting substance that discourages your cat from licking at the area. $10.98 |
 | Homeopet Hot Spots or Skin & Itch Relief And finally, we carry a line of homeopathic remedies that are very safe and effective. By putting a few drops into your cat's water, you can help them find relieve from itching and even hotspots. A 15ml bottle is $14.98 and a cat dose is only 5 drops a day. Long lasting, gentle and very effective on hot spots. It dries them up within hours! $14.98 |