Essential Guide:防治幼猫奶藓 for New Cat Owners

When kittens are young, their skin's resistance is lower, and combined with the moist environment around the mother cat's nipples, where the kittens often get沾染 during nursing, the skin is prone to fungal growth and infections. However, as the kittens grow older, they typically heal on their own without affecting future hair growth, and the condition does not transmit to humans or other cats. It is generally related to environmental factors during the nursing period, rather than the kitten's constitution.

Additionally, kittens between 2 to 3 months of age, when they transition to a new environment, may also experience this issue, which is a stress response. New pet parents should not be overly concerned.

Also known as nappy rash or nappy dermatitis, milk scab is a type of moist eczema that affects young kittens.

Young kittens, usually between 1 to 3 months old, are highly susceptible to milk scab, especially in households with multiple cats. Some kittens may show more prominent symptoms, while others may have very mild cases, often occurring in hidden areas and healing before the owner even notices. These occurrences are quite normal and hard to avoid, so cat owners should not worry excessively and should not take any measures. Typically, the condition resolves spontaneously within about two weeks.

Kittens that have had milk scab as puppies often develop antibodies within their bodies, which makes them less prone to fungal infections, or "ringworm," as adults.

Difference between Milk Scab and Ringworm:

Both milk scab and ringworm are skin fungal infections. Fungi thrive in moist and warm environments. Newborn kittens have weaker skin resistance, and it's common for them to get milk or urine from their mother or other kittens on their bodies. Both milk and urine contain proteins, and when combined with a warm and moist kitten bed, it creates an ideal environment for fungal growth.

How to Deal with Milk Scab?

1. Add a complex vitamin B supplement to the kitten's drinking water or food.

2. Choose a nutritionally complete kitten food.

3. Regularly disinfect the kitten's living environment, ensuring good ventilation and dryness.

4. Allow the kitten to bask in the sun daily, if possible.