Skin Conditions

Cats are beautiful creatures that are covered in fur (depending in breed) and the shine and visual appearance of their coat are a direct reflection of their overall nutrition and health condition. An owner will notice a significant change in coat appearance if certain parts of diet fall short or another underlying issue is affecting a cats health. The coat of a cat is always good to be aware of, using grooming maintnencace to keep it looking pristine will go a long way in cat caring. However, what some owners may not pay attention to is what sits below the coat and ontop of the flesh, skin. Just like humans, skin care is also important to cats and if dirt builds up around the pores of the skin, blockages will occur that cause acne to emerge on the upper layer of the skin. The blockages develop acne because of the over secretion of an oily substance named Sebum which are released from the pores for a number of reasons.

One could compare a cat to an adolescent teen who is going through chemical and physical changes except cats are constantly on this cycle. This is especially prominent in male cats that will secrete copious amounts of Sebum with the intention of spreading their scent around and expanding territory. In some cases, the oily substance will secrete at the end of a cats tail, if blockages occur in this area and cause acne it will be known as “Stud tail”. This will commonly occur in male cats that are active as the name infers. The acne will of course not normally be visible to visual inspection and will need to be regularly checked by an owner through close inspection. The best way to catch a skin condition problem is through regular grooming and interaction with the cat. While grooming, some emphasis on checking under the coat will be highly beneficial in searching for possible areas of acne occurence. This of course contributes to better hygiene and will help catch any parasites that may have latched on in the process.

If an owner discovers a case of acne, immediate advice should be sough from a vet. Different cat breeds will have different skin reactions with treatment and its best to understand the issue being faced is. Acne in general can be treated using a course of prescribed antibiotics and anti inflammation products. Once treated, an owner may need to actively clean a cats skin to ensure blockages will not occur again. Dandruff is also another issue that can affect cats and needs to be considered when cleaning and grooming. A suitable conditioner and bath schedule should be kept up to help moisturise the skin. If issue s persist then there may be another underlying condition that requires further investigation from a vet.