My tom cat has been constantly scratching himself for two weeks now, especially on his neck and behind his ears. I had him dewormed back in May and treated him for fleas with a spot-on product from my vet. Could it still be fleas again or more likely an allergy?
Fleas are definitely possible, even if you treated him in May. Spot-on products usually last about 4-8 weeks, depending on what your vet gave you. After two months your cat could definitely have gotten reinfected, especially if he goes outside or has contact with other animals. Scratching particularly on the neck and behind the ears is typical for fleas - they just love those spots. 🐱
But allergies are also a real possibility, especially since the symptoms have only been there for two weeks and didn't show up right after May. Food allergies or environmental allergies can develop and would also cause heavy scratching in certain areas. Sometimes it's also a skin infection or something else that developed after the flea treatment.
Honestly: take a close look at your cat. Can you find any small dark crumbs in his fur (flea dirt) or actually see tiny bugs? That would be a clear sign of fleas. If not, but the scratching continues, I'd go back to the vet and ask whether he should be treated for fleas again or if he can rule out other stuff (allergies, fungus, that sort of thing). Your vet can also check if the skin is inflamed or has any other abnormalities. 👍
Even if you treated him in May. Spot-on products usually last about three months, so the effect could be wearing off now - especially if your tomcat spends a lot of time outside or has contact with other animals. Neck and behind the ears are actually favorite spots for fleas, because the cat can't reach there as easily. The scratching pattern fits that pretty well.
That said, I can totally understand why you're thinking about allergies. A lot of cats also react allergically to food changes or environmental factors, and the symptoms really do look similar. The difference is often that with fleas you find tiny black specks in the fur (flea dirt) when you go through with a fine comb - or the scratched areas are more inflamed and have crusts. With allergies it's more like steady scratching without open wounds.
I'd suggest calling your vet first and making an appointment - that's always my preference because they have a magnifying glass and can check it right away. In the meantime you could go through his fur with a flea comb and see if you find anything. If it is fleas, you just need a new treatment - they're annoying but not serious at all. If not, your vet can then look more specifically for allergies or other reasons.
At my security job I've got plenty of time to watch my cats, and honestly they only scratch when something's wrong - but to be fair it's hard to say whether it's fleas or allergies without seeing the cat. The spot-on treatments vary in how long they last depending on the product, some only last 4 weeks, some up to 8, so it's definitely possible the protection wears off after two months. Have you already checked if you can find those little black specks in the fur, or can you get the cat to a vet for an exam? They can just take a look and see if there are parasites or a skin reaction going on.
It's definitely possible that your tomcat has fleas again despite the May treatment. Spot-on products usually work for four weeks, but depending on which product your vet gave you, the protection might have worn off by the end of July now. Fleas are stubborn and you don't always get rid of them on the first try, especially if your cat spends a lot of time outside. The spots you're describing (neck, behind the ears) are classic flea locations. If you look really closely, you should be able to see small black specks or the fleas themselves - that would be confirmation.
However, allergies can also cause that kind of itching. It could be food allergies or even an overreaction to pollen/dust in warm months like now in July. Allergies are often chronic and don't develop so suddenly, but it's possible. Another reason could be ear mites, especially if he's scratching a lot behind his ears.
My advice would be to go back to the vet soon and ask if another flea treatment is due. They can also tell you if it's something else. If it really is fleas again, I'd maybe try a different product this time or treat more frequently - some vets recommend every three weeks instead of four. In the meantime, you could wash his bedding more often and vacuum your apartment.
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