Cats love to groom, so much so that it’s quite normal for them to groom themselves for up to half of the time they are awake! But if you notice that your cat suddenly seems to be doing little else, it could be a sign of skin irritation or itchiness. There are lots of reasons why your cat may start itching, scratching and overgrooming. In this article we’ll look at the most common causes and how you might get your cat some welcome relief.

Common causes of itching in cats

1. Parasites. Fleas are far and away the most common cause of itchiness and overgrooming in cats. Even if your cat spends most or all of their time indoors, they can still get fleas because they can be brought in on our clothing. Fleas tend to cause most irritation around the head, neck and the base of the tail, so if you notice these areas being tended to most, fleas may well be the issue. Fleas actually spend most of their time off the cat, so for every flea you see on the cat there will be at least another hundred in the house! Bald patches and scabs, especially in the areas we mentioned are common, especially if your cat is allergic to fleas. In these cats, just one bite can cause huge reactions and severe itching and irritation.

   Other parasites like mites may also be an occasional problem.

2. Atopic dermatitis (atopy). Some cats are allergic to things in the environment such as pollen, grasses, dust mites and so on, and often they have multiple allergies. In the case of pollen and plants, you may notice that your cat is worse at certain times of the year.

3. Food allergy. Just as with atopy, food allergies can cause skin irritation and itching, too. The most common food allergies in cats are beef, fish, chicken and dairy products.