Most cats will scratch on occasion, but if you notice that the occasional scratch and regular grooming turns excessive or a cat who appears uncomfortable, cat skin problems may be present and you should schedule an appointment with Dr. Lacie here at Cat Care Center of Baton Rouge.
Excessive scratching, hair loss, and a mildly frantic cat are signs that cat skin problems may be present, and your feline friend needs medical attention. An uncomfortable cat will have trouble enjoying daily life until those symptoms are under control.
The skin is the largest organ in the cat's body. It provides cats with protection from the environment, regulates body temperature, and many other functions! There are many things that can cause skin disease in our cats, and these can be associated with where we live and our cat's lifestyle (indoor vs. outdoor). Certain breeds of cats are more prone to skin disease than others. It's a good idea to spend some time every week brushing your cat and paying extra attention to their skin and hair during petting sessions. This will allow you to catch any potential cat skin problems early on and bring it to the attention of your veterinarian.
Recognizing Cat Skin Conditions
So how do you recognize cat skin conditions? Here are some key signs to look for:
- Hair loss is a common sign of cat skin problems. Have you noticed any bald patches? Is your cat shedding more than normal?
- Excessive grooming can also indicate cat skin conditions are present. If the grooming appears more frenetic and less relaxed than normal, it may be because your cat is pruritic (itchy) and uncomfortable.
- While brushing your cat, if you notice any red, scaly, patchy, or scabby areas, schedule an appointment with your veterinarian.
- Fleas and ticks are common parasites which may be found on the skin.
- If your cat shakes their head excessively, this could indicate they may have a skin problem or an issue with their ears.
Types of Cat Skin Conditions
The following are some types of common cat skin problems you should be aware of:
- External parasites such as fleas can cause itchy skin and cat skin allergies. The may scratch, bite, or excessively groom themselves if parasites are present. Some cats may exhibit sudden erratic movements and appear as if their skin is crawling.
- Mosquito bite hypersensitivity, especially noted on the ear tips and nose, are common causes of allergic reactions in cats in Louisiana.
- Ticks can attach to your cat’s skin causing a raised bump or localized swelling. The bump is the cat’s response to fight off the tick.
- Mites or ear mites can produce itchy ears. This is more commonly seen in kittens. The cat may hold its head with a tilt and may have an odorous discharge coming from one or both ears. Cats can also have ear infections which need to be treated promptly by your veterinarian.
- Cats can also develop polyps in their ears. A thorough veterinary exam includes an otoscopic exam of the cat’s ear canals.
- Cats can also be prone to food allergies. Your cat can develop an itchy face or itchiness all over. Your veterinarian will determine if you need to change your cat’s diet. This will generally include a food trial and may require several attempts to rule out a food allergy.
- Contact allergies can also be present in cats. This is very similar to how people develop allergies to common substances in their environment.
- Cat skin cancer. As in humans, cat cancer is a potentially life-threatening condition. If you notice new or changing skin spots or bumps, make a veterinary appointment ASAP.
- Cat acne. Some cats are prone to chin acne. While this may appear similar to a rash or dirt, the treatment of cat acne may involve prescription medications and water source modifications.
- Cat dermatitis. Typically cat dermatitis is due to an allergic reaction to grooming products, food, or environmental irritants.
- Excessive grooming due to stress (this requires a thorough medical and behavioral investigation).
- And others
Schedule an appointment with your veterinarian as soon as you see any of these symptoms. Sometimes it takes a while to diagnose the problem, so the sooner, the better.
Testing and Diagnosing Cat Skin Problems
Your veterinarian has many types of tests available when it comes to cat dermatology issues:
- One common test is to collect some of the material in the ear and look at it under a microscope.
- Your vet can also take a small scraping of the hair follicles or the debris on the skin and look at it under a microscope. They will be looking for mites, yeast, bacteria, or certain types of cells to determine the cause of the discomfort.
- Ringworm is a common cat skin condition that can be transmitted to children or adults, so this is something that needs to be diagnosed and treated immediately.
There are many things your veterinarian will be looking at to determine what is the most appropriate treatment for your cat.
Treatments for Cat Skin Conditions
Getting a diagnosis from your veterinarian is the first step. It depends upon what we are dealing with and it may take time to get to the correct diagnosis and treatment.
- If you are dealing with fleas, your vet will treat with flea control.
- If you are dealing with food allergies, your vet may have to switch your cat’s food.
- Your vet may have to use an immune modulating medication to suppress allergic response in your cat.
- Anti-itch medications may be used to make your cat feel more comfortable.
- If ringworm is present, antifungal medication will be prescribed.
- Some medications may be injected by a veterinarian while other medication can be administered by you at home.
It is important that you work with your veterinarian to accurately describe the symptoms of cat skin conditions. Then, your vet will perform a thorough exam and recommend the appropriate treatment.
Schedule A Cat Dermatology Appointment
Schedule an appointment with your veterinarian as soon as you notice any changes in your cat’s grooming behavior, excessive itchiness, or if you notice red, scaly patches on your cat’s skin. Cat skin conditions can quickly worsen, becoming more difficult and costly to treat. Early detection and treatment are key in the fight against cat skin problems. Schedule an exam with Dr. Lacie by calling (225) 228-1039.