Cat - scratching and fleas

Question
Hi there!
My 3 yr old recently got out and disappeared for about a week (normally an indoor cat). Now he has a lot of fleas and has started scratching and licking so much he's ripping out chunks of hair and causing little wounds and scabs all over his head and neck.
I'm going to get some flea medicine today, but is there anything I can do for all his sores, or should I just leave him be and let them heal?

Answer
He might have developed a flea allergy Liz. Some cats get those and then they get a condition called milliary eczema. It is what causes the sores then he scratches at those and makes a bloody mess.

First thing you need to do is get some Ovitrol spray to kill the adult fleas, and it will also kill the larvae and eggs. It has an IGR in it, or insect growth regulator, so that the flea issue doesn't worsen.

Here is a web site that explains about the flea problem better than I can:

http://www.flea-info.com/cab/en/cat_fleas_lifecycle.shtml

As you can see from that, the biggest issue is the larvae, eggs and cocoons.
Topical flea products will kill some of the adults, but won't touch the worst part, the lower part of that pyramid.

I use Sentinel on my two cats and dog to keep fleas away and protect them from heartworms. I haven't had a flea on any of my pets in over 12 yrs and I have 3 acres that they roam about and have wildlife all over. So I know this stuff works and works well!
But for immediate relief you need the Ovitrol spray. I use a rag and spray the rag then wipe down the cat with it since the spraying sound scares them.
It also facilitates you getting in on his head and neck better that way. One place the fleas run to is higher ground and that means his ears and face.

So that is my recommendation for the fleas. If the sores are not healing after all this flea treatment you might want to get some cream for them like a hydrocortisone cream at the drugstore. If they are not healing in a weeks time then he should see the vet to determine if he has developed milliary eczema or scabby cat as some vets call it.

You can get Ovitrol spray at any vets or some pet stores carry it. Call around first and ask.
Let me know how he does in a week.