Cat licking his neck raw...

[WorriedOne84]

Hey, everyone!  I have a 4 year old cat that continues to lick a spot under his neck, to the point where it is very irritated and raw.  It's probably about a 1-2 inch circle which he now has no fur.  He had been licking on his back right at the top of his tail but hasn't done that for a while, just his neck.  He is otherwise in good health and has been eating and drinking as normal.  His skin on the rest of his body doesn't seem to be dry to irritated.  What could be causing him to lick?  What can I do to help it heal?

[nancyjac]

My guess would be ringworm, which isn't actually a worm but a fungal infection.  Ringworm is often self resolving, but it sound like it started on the tail (a common place for ringworm) when he was licking it and then he spread it to other areas via his tongue.  Try to keep him from licking it (you could use a funnel collar) and treat the affected area with a fungal ointment such as those sold for athlete's foot.  Keep him from licking the ointment off as it could cause nausia and vomitting if ingested.  Ringworm can be very persistant and it may take a while to get rid of it.  Spores can survive for months even in bedding and such.

[opus88]

good morning Wone....poor kitty is in some sort of distress, IMO this is usually due to food allergies or something that is internal.

this seems to be a common problem, I have found posts by 2  Dermatologist Vets on this subject here on the 'ask a Vet forum'..and they have answered the question quite thoroughly.

at the top of this page you'll see a white bar that reads 'symptoms treatments' (or something similar)
On that bar type in 'feline alopecia'
that will bring you to some posts. click on the 3rd one on that page
titiled 'licking fur off belly' the feline Dermatologists on this forum have alot of suggestions.
good luck and please post again letting us know how kitty is doing.