Cat Acne- What Is It & How Do I Treat It?
September 7, 2009 by lucky
Filed under Cat Allergies, Cat Diseases, Cat Health
Cats can suffer from acne as well as humans, and feline acne is actually fairly common. It is caused when the hair follicles become blocked and debris accumulates, causing spots resembling blackheads to develop. These are found primarily on the cat’s chin and lips- your cat’s chin may appear ‘dirty’ or you may notice black specks resembling fleas or flea dirt. Sometimes these can become infected and pustules or even lesions can develop. This can cause itchiness, so your cat may scratch the area causing further trauma.
The exact causes of feline acne is not known but are thought to include;
Over active sebaceous glands- the sebaceous glands secrete oils (Sebum) to lubricate the skin. Feline acne can be caused if excessive oils are produced, as this blocks the follicles.
Poor grooming, especially as your cat ages and is less able to groom herself properly.
Stress.
Allergies; Some plastics used in making food bowls can cause skin allergies.
Some cat breeds with flatter faces, such as Persian cats, can have a hereditary skin disorder causing greasy black head forming debris in the folds of their faces.
Feline acne can occur in cats of all ages and affects both male and female cats equally. It can either be a recurrent condition or affect your cat only once or twice during the course of her life.
How to Treat Feline Acne
If you suspect that your cat may have acne, consult your vet to rule out other possible causes, such as mites. Feline acne may not be fully curable but can easily be managed with your vet’s help.
Don’t be tempted to try to squeeze the blackheads or pustules, as this can be very painful for your cat, and could spread infection. Also, don’t try to treat your cat with acne products developed for humans.
Provide your cat with porcelain or stainless steel food and water bowls to avoid plastics allergy.
Many cases of feline acne can be managed with gentle regular cleansing or the affected area with iodine, Epsom salts or special cleaning agents. It is advisable to wipe your cat’s chin after eating, especially if she is a messy eater.
A 50/50 solution of water and white vinegar applied to your cat’s chin with cotton wool twice a day should help to dry excess oils from the affected area.
Try adding essential Omega-3 Fatty Acids to your cat’s food each day, or fish oils.
If the acne is persistent, then your vet may prescribe Benzyl Peroxide based solutions to clean the area and eliminate excess oils.
Oral glucocorticoids may be prescribed to reduce inflammation, and antibiotics may be required to treat any infection.
You may need to keep the fur around your cat’s chin clipped to enable regular cleaning. Your vet may want to take a biopsy sample of the affected area if the acne is unresponsive. With a little effort, however, most cases of feline acne can be managed effectively.
My cat had chin and lip acne/blackheads. My vet gave her a topical cream which burned her skin, next step was steriods. No thanks! I tried the Red Desert Clay from ThePetAlternative.com. I made it into a paste, rubbed it onto her skin thick, she licks most of it off, but what’s left dries over night. The next morning the blackheads were extracted from her skin, dried out with the clay, ready to be wipped off her face! I did it 2 more times and all acne was cleared up. P.s. it healed her burnt chin in 48 hrs! I now brush her teeth with it every night. it keeps her gums healthy and clean. she has great breath, no bacteria, no tarter build-up.
Also, change her bowls to stainless steel, and clean them with every feeding. Before applying the clay, clean her chin with a mild soap and rinse off to completely clean the area first.