Skin Problems to Watch for in Your Cat

While cats are meticulous groomers, they can still develop skin conditions. In this article, we’ll look at the 10 most common skin problems that your cat might develop, how you can spot them and what you can do to help them.

What are the signs of skin problems in cats?

Cats put a lot of time and effort into keeping their fur and skin in tip-top condition. You’ll be used to your cat’s fur being smooth and shiny, so usually when this changes, it becomes obvious pretty quickly. The exacts signs will vary depending on the underlying problem, but in general the most common signs are:

• Excessive grooming

• Scratching, especially around the head and neck

• Fur loss

• Bald patches

• Scabs

• Dandruff or flaky skin

What are the 10 most common skin problems in cats, and what can you do about them?

1. Fleas:
   Fleas and other parasites are a fact of life. They don’t mean your cat is dirty or reflect badly on you! Even if your cat doesn’t go out, fleas and other parasites can be brought in on people’s clothes and visiting pets. Some cats become allergic to flea saliva and can get severe irritation from just a few bites.

   Fleas don’t spend much time on your cat; they live in the soft furnishings of the house, so you may never see them. The most common sign is flea dirt, black specks which are actually flea excrement.

   You may also see scabs and hair loss, especially on the neck, head and around the tail base.

   Talk to your vet about effective products and how often to apply them, and fleas should be easy to avoid.

2. Stress-induced overgrooming: 
   This is also called psychogenic alopecia, and it is becoming more and more common. Cats are solitary creatures by nature, and these days there are lots of cats who live with other cats in their house that they don’t like. Even single cats may often encounter cats in the garden or further away from home. Stress causes lots of issues in cats, from fur loss to vomiting and diarrhoea and even serious bladder disease such as feline idiopathic cystitis (FIC), which weakens the bladder’s lining and leads to inflammation and pain.

   The main sign of this in skin is hair loss from overgrooming. It’s most common on the belly and the back legs.

   There are lots of things you can do to help your cat with stress, such as having one more food and water bowl than you have cats. These should be put all over the house so your cats don’t have to eat together or compete for precious resources. You can use pheromones to make them feed relaxed, and some special diets are also able to help with stress. Talk to your vet about your specific cat and what you can do to help them at home.

3. Atopy:
   This is where cats become allergic to things in their environment such as pollen, dust mites and mould. It’s also called atopic dermatitis. As with many other skin problems, the main signs are scratching, excessive licking and fur loss.

   Your vet may need to do blood or skin tests to diagnose this. Your cat may need medication to reduce the reaction, and you may be able to have a special, tailor-made desensitisation treatment administered.

4. Food allergies:
   Although food allergies can cause gastrointestinal problems, they can also manifest as itchy skin. Usually, simply changing to a therapeutic diet will keep itchiness at bay.

    

5. Fungal infections:
   Ringworm and yeast infections are possible causes of skin problems. These can also sometimes be infectious to humans, so watch for signs in yourself and family members too.