Why does my cat have little raised bumps all around his neck?

Our question this week was:

Dr. Debra – I have a 3-year-old indoor/outdoor cat that has little small bumps all around his neck. What are these? They also seem “itchy”.

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Janet M. – Fort Meyers, FL

Answer

Hi – thanks for your email. You wrote asking that your cat has small bumps around his neck and wonder what they are. Small bumps around the neck that are itching are often called Miliary Dermatitis. The humps are caused from skin irritation and are a common sign of some sort of allergy.

They are itchy. They can be caused by fleas, food or other types of allergies.

I’d recommend checking your cat for fleas and seeing your veterinarian. They can help you to determine the underlying cause and treat the problem.

An article that might be helpful to you is Allergic Dermatitis in Cats.

Best of luck!

Dr. Debra

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