Cat Skin Disease: Hair Loss, Ulcers, and Pus - What to

When cats exhibit symptoms such as excessive shedding, skin lesions, and even abscesses, these issues can stem from a variety of causes, including skin diseases, mange, allergies, and endocrine disorders. It is crucial to seek veterinary care promptly to identify the specific cause. If the dermatitis is caused by a bacterial infection, treatment can involve antibacterial ointments and antiinflammatory medications.

Understanding the Common Causes of Cats' Hair Loss, Lesions, and Abscesses

1. Fungal Infection (Ringworm)

Cause: Caused by fungi such as Microsporum canis and Trichophyton mentagrophytes.

Symptoms: Localized skin areas show circular or elliptical hair loss, redness, itching, and dandruff. In severe cases, there may be ulcers and abscesses.

2. Skin Bacterial Infection

Cause: Bacterial infections, such as Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus species.

Symptoms: Local skin redness, warmth, pain, pustules, accompanied by hair loss and itching.

3. Cat Scabies

Cause: A highly contagious skin disease caused by mites.

Symptoms: Local skin redness, itching, hair loss, and in severe cases, thickened skin and lichenification.

4. Allergic Dermatitis

Cause: Cats may be allergic to certain substances like food, medication, pollen, or flea saliva.

Symptoms: Cats may excessively lick or scratch at itchy areas, leading to damage and secondary infections.

5. Endocrine Disorders

Cause: Hormonal imbalances in the cat's body, such as hypothyroidism or Cushing's syndrome.

Symptoms: Generalized skin lesions, such as hair loss, itching, and redness, which may lead to secondary infections.

What Can We Do?

Cleaning and Disinfection: Trim the hair around the affected area and wash with hydrogen peroxide to prevent the spread of bacteria or fungi.

Elizabethan Collar: If the infected area is accessible to the cat's scratching or licking, use an Elizabethan collar to prevent further injury.

Seek Immediate Veterinary Care: Take your cat to the vet for a proper diagnosis and treatment. If a vet visit is not possible, you can initially apply an antiseptic ointment like Furegon (zinc oxide ointment) or other antiinflammatory creams, and give the cat amoxicillinclavulanate potassium or Cefadroxil tablets for inflammation.

Improve Living Conditions: Regularly clean the cat's living space to maintain cleanliness and dryness, reducing the chances of pathogen growth.

Adjust Diet: If food allergies are suspected, switch to a highquality, hypoallergenic pet food.

Regular Deworming: Regularly deworm your cat to prevent skin irritation caused by fleas and other parasites.

Personal Hygiene: Fungi and certain bacteria can be transmitted to humans, so practice good personal hygiene when handling a cat with skin disease to avoid crossinfection.

Skin diseases in cats are not incurable. With timely detection and proper treatment, we can help our feline friends overcome their discomfort. When faced with such situations, remain calm and avoid haphazardly administering multiple medications to your cat. This can hinder skin repair or lead to other adverse reactions.