Top 3 Feline Skin Diseases & Prevention Tips

Under normal circumstances, a cat's coat should appear clean, fluffy, and lustrous, feeling smooth and not greasy to the touch. However, if you notice that your cat's fur is dry and tangled, there are scabs or sores, excessive shedding, or an unpleasant odor, along with repetitive licking or scratching in the same area, these could be signs of skin issues.

Top Three Common Skin Problems in Cats

1. Dermatitis

Occasionally, you may notice circular patches of hair loss on your cat, with the affected areas becoming red and inflamed. This condition often starts in the face, ears, limbs, and tail before spreading throughout the body. Ringworm, a type of fungal infection, is particularly common and highly contagious, often transferring to other family members, including humans.

Treatment Tips: If your cat is diagnosed with dermatitis, it's crucial to shave the affected areas quickly, if not the entire body. Ensure the area is thoroughly cleaned! Encourage more sun exposure! Supplement with vitamin B complex (but not human vitamin B complex) and avoid using corticosteroids as much as possible, as they may lead to quicker healing but also faster recurrence. Since ringworm is unavoidable in the real world, boosting your cat's immune system is the best way to combat fungal infections.

2. Ear Mites

Ear mites, also known as ear mange, are a type of tiny mite that is often invisible to the naked eye. A veterinarian can identify them using a detection tool. If you sleep with your cat, you could also be at risk of infection.

Ear mites can cause irritation and inflammation in the ear canal, leading to redness, swelling, and discharge. The most obvious signs are your cat constantly scratching its ears and the appearance of large amounts of dark brown earwax. If left untreated, this can lead to bacterial infections, abscesses, and even hearing loss.

Treatment Tips: Be consistent with treatment; ear mite eggs have an incubation period of 2022 days, so medication can only kill the adult mites. The eggs are protected by a shell and cannot be killed. Continue treatment for 2530 days daily to ensure that the larvae are killed once the protective shell breaks.

3. External Parasites

Fleas and lice are the most common external parasites in domestic cats, and they are the primary source of skin diseases. Allergic dermatitis can occur due to flea bites, causing red, bumplike lesions on the base of the tail, the back of the limbs, and the inner sides. The intense itching leads to scratching, which can result in wounds. Sometimes, these wounds can become infected with bacteria or fungi, causing the affected area to spread.

Treatment Tips: Opt for imported spoton treatments. Be cautious with flea collars advertised online; as a professional seller, I must inform you that they can only repel fleas, not kill them. Fleas can continue to thrive in your home, in floor and furniture crevices, and in the kitchen, continuing to reproduce.

It's important to note that ticks are another type of pest. These are commonly found in grassy and shrubbery areas, especially if your cat ventures outdoors. If you see these large bugs, seek veterinary care immediately. Do not attempt to remove them yourself, as there have been cases where humans have been bitten to the point of death.

Regularly use a petspecific comb to brush your cat's fur. This not only helps prevent your cat from ingesting too much loose fur, which can lead to hairballs, but also allows you to observe their skin and fur condition, enabling you to detect various issues early. When you notice skin problems, take your cat to the vet right away for a diagnosis so that the veterinarian can intervene promptly. Most skin issues can be resolved within about a month with proper and patient treatment.