Blackheads in Cats

Many owners are often surprised to hear that their cat has developed a case of acne. Fortunately for most cats and their owners, acne is not a serious issue and, in most cases, does not require treatment.

  1. Identification

    • Blackheads, also known as comedones, occur when the pores and hair follicles of the skin become filled with excess oil, dirt, dead skin cells and other debris.

    Causes

    • Unlike human acne, hormones do not appear to play a role in feline acne. For cats, the cause of the acne is often unknown but may occur due to poor grooming habits, various skin conditions or even touching their chin on a plastic or dirty food bowl.

    Symptoms

    • For most cats, acne does not cause any symptoms. In severe cases, some cats may suffer from hair loss, swelling of the chin, secondary bacterial infections and itching.

    Diagnosis

    • Feline acne is diagnosed by testing the skin scrapings to rule out other more serious conditions such as allergies, yeast infections or ringworm.

    Treatment

    • There is no cure for feline acne, but, if necessary, it can be controlled with shampoos, sprays and gels that contain benzoyl peroxide, which helps remove oily buildups. Regularly wiping off the cat's chin and switching to stainless steel or glass bowls also seems to help.