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Why Does My Cat Itch His Neck? (Fleas or What?)

If your cat is itching its neck you may be wondering why it is doing this and if it is a common issue with cats…

Why does my cat itch his neck?

Your cat may itch its neck for several reasons such as allergies, fleas, insect bites. These are some of the most common, but more exist. Depending on which one it is you can use some known methods to help get rid of this irritation.

So, now you know. But, could a cat’s collar cause this reaction? Is it likely to be fleas? What can you give to your cat for this? Keep reading for these answers, and much more…

3 top reasons why cats itch their necks:

Earlier I briefly explained some of the common reasons why your cat will scratch his neck. In this section I will explain each of these in more detail:

01. Allergies

There are many different allergies that your cat may have. But, one of the common ones is a food allergy. The symptoms of this include the neck itching you may have seen. But, can also include itching in other areas like its ears, face, etc.

02. Fleas

Fleas are a common issue for cats. However, sometimes it may not be obvious that they have them. Why? Because they are minuscule. Therefore, you have a better chance of seeing the flee dirt within their fur. This is basically dried-up blood left behind by the fleas.

Flea dirt, on the other hand, is easy to see and lingers around, sometimes after the fleas have moved on from your cat. making them an ideal sign of fleas.

03. Insect bites

Many insects will love to bite or sting your cats, such as bees and wasps. When they do this it can irritate their skin underneath their fur and make them keep scratching in this way.

Once you identify what insect it is, assuming it is this, you can work on a way to get rid of the insects so they don’t keep harassing your cat.

Could a collar make a cat’s neck itch?

A collar can make a cat’s neck itch. This can happen if it’s new to them or the collar is ill-fitted. If it’s new t them and fitted ok, then they may just need some time to adjust to it. However, if it’s ill-fitted you will need to adjust it accordingly or replace it with a more suitable one.

It’s important to make sure that the collar fits well, not just to avoid your cat scratching, but for their safety. An ill-fitted collar could result in the cat getting hurt, or losing the collar. This is one of the reasons why breakaway collars are so popular.

These types of collars allow the cat to escape, without being choked, if they are caught. And, if fitted well will stop the itching and keep them safe.

What causes a cat collar allergy?

A cat collar allergy can be caused by one of two things, either the material used on the collar itself, or the medicine used on it, but that is only if it is a flea collar. If it’s the former, the material on the collar, it could be various materials, such as nylon, leather, etc.

If this happens your cat’s neck will show some obvious signs of irritation, including it itching its neck. In some cases, it can get a lot worse than this.

The best cause of action would be to replace the collar but first identify what may be the cause. it’s important to understand, if it’s a material issue, what it is, so you can avoid this happening again with another style.

Could ear mites make a cat’s neck itch?

Ear mites could be a reason to make your cat scratch its neck. This is because these little mites may start in the ear and cause inflammation. But they move around and can land on their ski to irritate these areas they come into contact with.

So, if your cat is itching its neck it’s worth considering that it could be ear mites. But, you will need more symptoms than just it itching its neck to be sure that it is this.

What can I give my cat for itching?

Benedryl is known to have been used by other cat owners for help with allergies. However, it is worth checking with your vet to clarify that they agree with you using it before committing to it with your cat.

Even though you may be able to get hold of Benadryl easily it’s not worth chancing it without consulting with your vet.

Could your cat itch its neck because of dry skin?

Dry skin can be a factor when your cat is itching its neck. This can be for several reasons such as the climate, meaning the weather. Or, it could be an issue with their diet. If they are lacking in a certain nutritional requirement this could affect them.

When this happens you may see them itching or scratching in this way. If you see their skin, if this is the case, it may appear sore and flaky at that time which should confirm your suspicions.

When are cat fleas more common?

Cat fleas are more likely to be found in the summer months. But, this does not mean they are a threat at other times. they can, in fact, be around all year round. But, they are just more prevalent at this time.

If you fear that your cat has fleas it’s worth getting your vet to have a check to see if they agree and see what medication they recommend.

Can cat flea allergies cause a cat’s neck to itch?

Cat flea allergies can cause a cat to itch its neck a lot and you would expect an even bigger reaction than just this. This is because fleas do irritate any cat, but an actual flea allergy is even more than this, the reaction is more aggressive than just a simple itch here or there.

So, if you feared flea allergies now you know what it is, how it compares to a normal flea bite reaction, and why it’s known to be more of an aggressive reaction.

Could boredom make a cat itch its neck?

Boredom can cause some cats to itch their neck or other parts of their body. This can be because they are known to develop disorders, meaning compulsive disorders, like scratching when they are not mentally stimulated enough.

If your cat is bored, and this is the real problem for it scratching it is known to affect cats that are based indoors.  This is because they may lack the exercise and activity they need to stop this from happening.

The good news is, this is easily fixed with the addition of some activities like a cat tree (Click here to see the reviews, on Amazon #Ad), some cat toys (Click here to see the reviews, on Amazon #Ad), etc.