Feline Fur & Skin Problems

Skin problems are one of the most common reasons pet parents seek veterinary help for their cats, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association. The condition of a cat's skin and fur is a good indicator of its overall health. When a skin problem occurs, cats will respond with excessive scratching, chewing and/or licking.

  1. Significance

    • Skin problems and the appearance of dull, coarse or unkempt fur in a cat can all signal greater health problems, such as parasites, poor nutrition, allergies and kidney disease. When an animal's body isn't receiving the proper nutrition--for example, because of a poor diet or due to kidney failure--its skin and fur will often reflect that there's a problem somewhere with the cat's body.

    Causes

    • Cats will often scratch and, sometimes, scratch until their skin is without fur and bloody, simply because they are allergic to certain substances. Cats can be allergic to their food or their environment. Common parasites such as fleas, ear mites, mange mites and lice can also all irritate the skin or cause some cats to have an allergic response when exposed to them, according to the ASPCA website. Other common causes include ringworm, reactions to chemicals such as shampoos, stress, hormonal imbalances, autoimmune disease and yeast infections.

    Symptoms

    • Depending on the cause of the skin or fur condition, symptoms will vary. However, scratching is the symptom most conditions have in common. Excessive scratching is usually accompanied by the thinning of hair above the base of the tail, Ringworm is characterized by small skin lesions that appear round and hairless. Other conditions can cause flaking and scaling anywhere on the skin and a dull or unkempt coat of fur.

    Management

    • Cats suffering from skin conditions might benefit from periodic bathing with an antimicrobial shampoo. This helps remove surface debris and control secondary bacterial infections, PetMD advises. Owners should also schedule follow-up appointments for blood tests as often as every one to two weeks initially. Later, owners can taper visits to once every three to four months.

    Prevention/Solution

    • Consulting with a veterinarian to make sure the cat is not allergic to food or something in their environment should be the first step in preventing skin problems. Owners should also change products or end exposure to household chemicals, such as specific shampoos and cleaning products, if a rash or redness occurs. Owners should also use mite and flea prevention medication to eliminate parasites.