Skin Disorders, Crumbs & Rashes in Cats

A condition known as feline miliary dermatitis, a type of skin disorder, results in rashes or scabby "crumbs" that appear on the cat's coat. Your cat will scratch due to the itching the condition causes, along with developing scales, thickened skin and hair loss; the scratching can lead to infections of the skin. This uncomfortable skin condition has many causes and requires veterinary care to diagnose and treat it.

  1. Parasites

    • One of the first causes of feline miliary dermatitis a veterinarian will look for is an infestation with skin parasites, most commonly fleas. Fleas inject a cat with saliva, which causes an allergic reaction that leads to itching, lesions and scabbing on its skin, primarily around the base of its tail. Mange mites on the cat's skin cause flaking and scaling, and skin lice can cause itching. Ear mites cause redness, itching and infections of the ears, along with a discharge that looks like coffee grounds or "crumbs." Get rid of these pests to alleviate your cat's dermatitis by treating it with a product that contains pyrethrin.

    Fungal Infections

    • Ringworm, a fungal infection common in cats, leads to a round, red, crusty and scaly inflammation of the skin. Both cats and humans can catch this highly contagious condition. The fungus also invades the shaft of a cat's hair, weakening it and leading to hair loss. You usually see ringworm lesions on the head, face, ears and paws. Kittens, geriatric cats and long-haired breeds, such as the Persian or Himalayan, catch ringworm from fungal spores more frequently than other types of cats. Those with suppressed or compromised immune systems, suffering from malnutrition, and those under stress are also more likely to suffer from ringworm.

    Allergies

    • A cat with miliary dermatitis may suffer from a kind of allergy, making its skin flaky, itchy, red and scaly. A cat allergic to ingredients in some types of cat food, such as the main type of protein it contains, can develop a skin rash. Changing the food to a hypoallergenic one with a different protein source usually resolves this problem. Other cats may suffer from atopy, an allergy to pollen, mold or grasses, or contact allergies to chemicals that touch its skin, including some pet shampoos. Cleaning away dust, vacuuming, running an air filter, or switching to a different grooming product can all help this problem.

    Diagnosis and Treatment

    • To diagnose your cat's skin disorder, a veterinarian will perform a physical examination, blood tests, and a skin scraping with a dull scalpel blade to examine the skin cells under a microscope. The veterinarian may also remove some hairs from the cat that he cultures in a laboratory to diagnose a fungal infection. Possible treatments include a hypoallergenic food trial for allergies, topical treatments to relieve the itching of the skin, antifungal or antibacterial medications for infections, and cortecosteriods or oral antihistamines. A reduction of your cat's stress, cleaning of its environment, feeding it a balanced diet, or giving it a fatty acid supplement may also help treat its skin condition.