Why does my cat have sudden open, oozing, bleeding skin sores?

Your cat could have allergies, to fleas, substances in the environment, and most often, to foods. I recommend getting your cat seen by your vet for an exam and treatment and consider doing a food trial. There are commercial foods that have a single protein source. Try feeding your cat a food that contains a protein that he has never been exposed to, such as duck or venison. If his skin improves then he likely has an allergy to the protein in his old food.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Rainstorm could have allergies with a secondary infection from them. She could also have an insect bite hypersensitivity. Either way, she should see the vet for a better diagnosis and probably an antibiotic. Best wishes to you and Rainstorm!

Itchy skin like this is often due to one of the following things: 1) Allergies - this can happen suddenly and is usually due to an environmental (i.e pollen) cause. Allergies need to be diagnosed by a veterinarian, because other problems can look similar and the treatment would be different. 2) External parasites - fleas, lice and mites can all cause intense itching. It's best to have a vet check him for mites, because these are microscopic and can cause intense itching. 3) Over-bathing, or using the wrong product for bathing - Bathing too often can cause the skin to get dry and irritated. Cats should normally be bathed no more than once a month with a shampoo that is labeled for cats. If you bathe more than that, or use a shampoo or soap that is meant for people, then you could be damaging the normal protective barrier of the skin. One thing you can do for itchy skin, is give a bath with cool water using an oatmeal or aloe shampoo. You can get these shampoos at the pet store. Do not apply shampoo to the sores - it's better to just flush them with cool water. Considering he is scratching to the point of having open sores, I recommend taking him to the vet for an examination. We can usually discover the cause quickly and provide the most effective treatment. For more information about allergies and itching, I recommend you read the information at the links below. https://www.petcoach.co/article/how-to-tell-if-your-pet-has-allergies/ https://www.petcoach.co/article/4-great-strategies-for-relieving-your-dog-s-allergies/ https://www.petcoach.co/article/skin-allergies-vs-food-allergies/ I hope that helps and Tito gets better soon.

Tiger should be examined by a vet. That wound on his leg looks pretty bad, and he probably needs good antibiotics and pain medications. If Tiger goes outdoors, he may be getting into fights with other cats. Cat bites are notoriously nasty and can transmit some bad bacteria that cause infection and abscesses. If these wounds are not from infected cat bites, then I would be concerned about an autoimmune disorder or a severe body-wide infection.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Boo. Her sores look very irritated. They appear too raw for a topical ointment. She should see her veterinarian as she will likely need an oral antibiotic and potentially a medication to control any itching. In cats, I worry about allergies, ringworm, mites or even fleas with skin disease. Even without going outdoors, she could potentially contract any of these conditions. I hope this information helps!

Poor Inky could have allergic skin disease and a bacterial or fungal infection going on. He really needs to get some antibiotics on board, and likely your vet will want to do a skin scraping to look for mites and make sure he doesn't have fleas or other parasites. He may also need anti-itching medications to feel better.

If Jagger goes outdoors he may be developing abscesses at the base of his tail that are rupturing and healing - abscesses most often form after a cat bite. He may also have a dermatological condition like allergies, fleas, or 'stud tail' that is causing bacterial infections at the base of his tail. I would recommend making an appointment with your veterinarian to have these sores examined. He may need antibiotics.