My Daisy is a 4 year old Snowshoe Siamese.  She lives in my small studio
aprtment with her brother Mickey.  Daisy is a timid cat and she often growls
(deep gutteral growling) and hisses at Mickey.  Sometimes he deserves it, as
he throws her off the cat tree.  Other times he is simply walking by her.
Yet, much of the time they co-exist peacefully, although not lovingly as
they did when they were kittens.

A few months ago I noticed a small patch of lost hair and raw skin on her
neck, just below her chin at the uppermost part of her neck she could reach
with her tounge.  Within a few days it got larger and uglier, as she licked
at it incessently.  I took her to the vet and they took a culture to test
for ringworm and gave me an antibiotic to give her.  Taking her to the vet
was traumatic for the both of us.  Both she and her brother hide from other
people and it was the first time in years she was confronted by another
human.  Surprisingly, she seemed so frightened that she was very docile and
easily examined.  I was absolutely amazed.  Giving her meds is a very
difficult experience for both of us.  She is not easily handled and if she
wants to hide behind the bed, It can't be done.

I brought her back after a week when it got no better.  Both vets on duty
looked at her and consulted.  They concluded that she had an allergic
reaction (alopcia, something) and that it was in an unusual place on her
body.  They made me cut out all fish from her diet, and to examine all cans
of food for fish products, even beef foods.  (Surprisingly, a turkey food
can sometimes be mixed with fish)  They prescribed a steriod cortisone pill
dexamethosone?  First, they gave her a strong shot of it.  Then I gave her a
half pill every day for three doses, then every other day for three more
times then every third day for three more times.  Luckily, I found a perfect
way to give her the pill.  She loves little pieces of grilled cheese.  So, I
crush the pill up and roll it on a piece of cheese and she eats and licks it
from my finger.  Unfortunately, I have to have a grilled cheese sandwhich
every few days.

Within a few weeks she was almost 100%.  The spot got smaller and smaller
and would occassionally scab up.  The scab fell off and the skin underneath
healed and then a smaller scab, etc.  The hair started growing back.  Then,
she had a small set back and I was told to continue the regiment, although I
had come to the end of our original prescription.

So, two weeks later she is 100%, all the hair is back and the spot
non-existent.  Then, last night, after not having medicine for 4 or 5 days,
she starts licking it raw again.

I am very stressed out and concerned about this whole affair.  She has
undoubtedly increased her appetite and water intake, so I am worried the
drugs could bring on Diabetes.  Although, the water intake is not
outrageous.  She has become a bit more docile, and for that I'm happy,
although, it really isn't her way and it bothers me.

The vet says she may have to stay on a low dose cortisone forever, although
not necessarily this one.  She says she may be allergic to something else,
dust or perfume in the kitty litter.  If its dust, then we're all out of
luck, as I am a bachelor and could NEVER clean this place sufficiently.
There is no perfume in the litter, but I told the vet I do burn incense, and
she said that might be the culprit.  I also thought the problem might be
stress related from the other cat, but the vet said the culture indicated an
allergy.

So, I am concerned about a host of things, and worried, and very tired of
eating grilled cheese sandwiches.  Anyone out there have any ideas, support,
anecdotes, etc., that might help me and Daisy through this.  If she gets
Diabetes from the drugs, it would be catostrophic, as I am not living the
kind of lifestyle where I could give her the constant care she would need.
I do not like the idea of her on meds forever, especially strong meds.  I
hate seeing her lick herself raw.