Skin Problems in Cats – Common Causes and Treatment

Skin Problems in Cats: Skin problems are very common in cats and can be caused by parasites, allergies, bacterial infections or fungal infections, tumors and systemic diseases. Your cat’s skin may be pink or black depending on the pigmentation of his species or his personal genetic background.

Your cat’s skin should be free of crusts, itching, dandruff, white / black spots, rough spots, sores, or infected or irritated areas. The coat should be soft and shiny and free of brittle hair, loose areas or dandruff.

The hair can fall all year long but it is in summer or fall that they fall the most at the time of molting. You will have to groom it often and invest in a good vacuum cleaner.

Many Skin Problems in Cats

Below are the Common Skin Problems which we can see in cats are listed. We also provided the Treatment for the same skin problem below each and every Cat Skin problems.

Dry skin problem in cats

Your cat’s skin may be affected by your home environment. High temperatures can dry your cat’s skin and cause itching. However unless your cat is constantly scratching, dry skin is not a major health problem. Consult your veterinarian to find out how to improve your cat’s skin and pay attention to the quality of his food.

External parasites of cats

Fleas and ticks commonly affect cats and are the cause of specific skin problems. But stay tuned for the different symptoms in your cat: dry skin, irritated, scratching intensely. Because beyond the parasites we think most often, cats, like us, can suffer from skin conditions and allergies.

Skin allergies in Cats

An allergic reaction can occur on your cat’s skin in case of prolonged exposure to a substance, the allergen, that creates the reaction. This process involves the production of antibodies by the immune system, which causes a series of events in the body resulting in the release of inflammatory and itchy substances. If your cat is exposed to allergens, you will see him scratch and his skin will be irritated. Skin lesions and infections may develop and hair loss may occur.

There are many allergenic substances that can lead to skin allergy (dermatitis) or dermatitis, including:

• Inhaled allergens such as mold, pollen, and household dust.
• Flea allergies: Some cats are allergic to flea saliva.
• Contact dermatitis: caused by exposure to an irritating substance, such as soaps, sprays and household and garden products, flea collars, feathers or wool.
• Food allergies: the cat may be allergic to any of the proteins in the food.

Diagnosis of Skin Allergies

A visit to the vet will be necessary to diagnose the cause of your cat’s allergy. During your visit, tell your veterinarian about the complete history of your pet’s symptoms, including the time of year that the signs of allergy appear. Before determining the cause of your cat’s problem, your veterinarian will consider all or some of the above causes.

• In some cases, the allergy may be caused by a combination of factors and the reduction of the impact of all or part of them will be considered in order to decide on the best procedure to adopt for your animal. In severe cases, your veterinarian may recommend skin tests to help determine the exact cause of the allergic reaction.
• If the cause of the allergic reaction is food, your cat may show signs of bowel disorders. In this case, it is important to examine your cat’s diet and try to isolate the cause. You can find more information here.

Skin Allergies: Treatments Dedicated to Cats

Your veterinarian may recommend a set of treatments to contain skin allergies and relieve symptoms (irritated skin, which causes the cat to scratch hard and hurt), such as medical treatment, treatment regimen and/or behavioral treatment. They can be used alone or in various combinations.

Skin allergies can be unpleasant for your cat, take a long time to disappear and require long-term treatment. However, most pathologies can be cured and controlled to produce satisfactory results for a healthy and happy cat.

Some More Cats Skin Problems are as Follows:

Itching, red patches, wounds. Cats also have their skin diseases

Read Solution for this Problem: How Do You Treat Ear Mites in Cats?

1. The Chips

Does your cat scratch and lick frequently? It may have fleas, a common parasite that can, however, cause itching, sources of wounds, which sometimes become infected. But the presence of fleas is sometimes asymptomatic. Inspect your cat’s skin.

“If you find small black grains, made of dried blood, which turn red when placed on a wet Sopalin, you are in the presence of flea droppings,” says Dr. Emmanuel Bensignor, veterinarian specialist in dermatology and allergology.

Solution: A pest control every month. No more no less.

2. Ringworm

This adversary is more insidious because the cat with ringworm does not scratch. On the other hand, the presence of these microscopic fungi is clearly visible. It is often characterized by the appearance of small areas without hair at the level of the face (around the eyes, ears, muzzle) or on the ends of the legs.

“But it’s a question of reacting very quickly because the ringworm is contagious to the man, in whom it causes unsightly red patches on the arms, sources of itching,” recommends Dr. Bensignor.

Solution: After prescription of a veterinarian, a drug by general route (tablets or syrup) because the hairs are very impregnated with the spores of the mushrooms. The treatment can last from one to three months. Only a laboratory biological examination can certify the total disappearance of the fungus.

3. Allergies

Like us, the cat may be allergic to dust mites, dust, pollen, substances in our environment … It then presents lesions on the skin that can be reminiscent of eczema. He may also have asthma and bronchospasm. The allergic cat also sometimes carries on the belly of the plates which can ooze, lesions in the form of cords in the back of the thighs or ulcers on the chops.

Solution: A symptomatic treatment by the general or cutaneous way (spray or cream), then once the allergen is identified by the veterinarian, desensitization via punctures or drops, as in the human.

4. Stress

The cat who is bored, depressed or anxious, will lick excessively. His rough tongue will eventually tear off the hair, usually on the belly. Cats living confined in apartments are more often concerned, for lack of stimuli and social interactions.

Solution: the game! Regular practice of a few minutes, morning and evening, can soothe a stressed cat. Beneficial effects on the owner cannot be excluded either …

Three Tips for a Healthy Cat Skin

1. An Excellent all-natural home remedy is chamomile tea due to its antiseptic and medicinal properties.
2. Create a Soothing solution by brewing a strong pot of tea and chilling in the refrigerator.
3. Once it’s chilled, pour the tea into a spray on the affected areas of your cat.