[Annissa]

When I scratch my cat, Sabby, along his back he will start licking his front legs and paws. If I don't stop he starts gnawing at his upper front legs. He doesn't like it and will start to yowl and growl when you scratch him. It's awful because he's trying to tell you to stop while he's gnawing away at his fur. It used to be kind of funny because he can't seem to control it and he didn't mind when it first started. But lately it's starting to look very painful and he's becoming extremely sensitive. Like his muscles twitch when he's being petted. I've started petting him down his sides to avoid the sensitive parts. I think it might stem to an accident he had about five or six years ago when he was either hit by a car or fell off a very high perch. Both of his back legs were dislocated. The vet told me they'd heal on their own, but they never healed properly and he hasn't been able to jump very well ever since. He has a hard time jumping onto my bed. Poor thing. It's so sad because he loves being petted, but I'm afraid it's becoming painful for him. Has this happened to anyone else?

 

[queen of the nile]

My cat Cleo has a very sensitive back. Since she is overweight, she has troubles cleaning this spot, so the dandruff builds up and her skin gets a bit sore. Light brushing of the area has helped a bit, along with slow weightloss. I don't know if it's the same thing, but that has been my experience.

 

[Annissa]

Ohh! Sabby does have quite a bit of dandruff. I think I'll pull his slicker brush out more often and see if that does the trick.

 

[queen of the nile]

You can fight the dandruff with foods that contain Omega-3 fatty acids. I think with Sabby's diabetes though, that you don't want to be switching foods... My vet told me to add half a capsule of salmon oil a day to Cleo's food to combat the dandruff. It would probably be easiest just to talk to your vet when you next bring Sabby in to see what s/he recommends.