Cat Skin Care Problems
The cats skin is actually tougher than human skin. This being said, it’s important to perform regular check-ups on your cat to see if there is anything abnormal going on. Many cat owners won’t notice any change in the condition of their cats skin until it’s become extremely painful and uncomfortable for the cat. A few symptoms of a skin irritation or skin disease are severe itching, bald spots from itching or dry and flaky skin. Listed below are the most common skin conditions in cats to look out for:
Cheyletiellosis – A skin condition caused by microscopic skin mites that will cause itching and flaking of the skin. This can also be passed onto humans.
Alopecia – An excessive loss of hair. A few causes of this condition include flea allergy, food allergy, ear mites, stress, drug reaction, mange and ringworm. Alopecia isn’t an actual disease but a symptom of a disease.
Acne – This is a common condition in cats but very easily treated. This is a life long condition that is believed to be caused by an excessive amount of oil on the cats skin and the hair follicles get plugged. This appears around the chin and mouth area.
Mange – A skin allergy that causes extreme irritation, hair loss and is transferable to other pets and possibly humans. There are 3 different types of mange which are Demodectic, Sarcoptic and Cheyletiella mange. These are more common in outdoor cats.
Ringworm – A skin disease caused by fungus. They name may throw you off but it has nothing to do with an actual worm. Ringworm is often caused by a fungus called Microsporum canis. It’s an infection that lays within the dead layer of the skin.
Always pay close attention to your little fury friends to make sure they aren’t experiencing any cat skin discomfort. Keep your cat health in mind always (along with yours) and they will live much longer lives!