Like humans, cats also have acne, which lasts from mild to severe. Any feline may have acne. This condition is common in cats with long hair and skin folds. Below are some things you need to know about cat acne.
What Is Feline Acne?
Usually, feline acne occurs around the chin area and is called cat chin acne. It is generally described as inflammation near the cat’s chin area. This acne in cats could be painful, irritating, and swelling around the chin area. Your feline may be rubbing the chin area near the acne. It may be itchy, which can worsen the condition. Usually, acne in cats are mild and get unnoticed. But there are cases where it might get severe, and you may have to rush to the vet for treatment. In such medical emergencies buying pet insurance is advised. Cat insurance policies cover a feline fur baby’s testing, treatment, and medication costs during accidents, allergies, injuries, and emergencies.
Reasons For Cat Acne :
The primary cause of acne in humans is oily skin, whereas the exact reason in felines is unknown. In cats, there is an overproduction of keratin, a kind of protein found in the skin. One of the main reasons behind cat acne is when the kitten’s follicles are blocked because of the extra keratin production. The hair follicle in a cat traps excess keratin, which forms blackheads and becomes acne when infected through bacteria.
Reasons cat acne may be caused through:
- Bad grooming
- Allergic to food
- Poor immune
- Excessive sebum and keratin production
- Stress
- contacting allergies
- Hormonal imbalances
Treatment For Feline Acne :
To treat acne in cats, you should first get to the root cause. Treatment involves preventing blackheads and infection and removing excess oil. Cat acne can be treated using an antibacterial wash or mild peroxide. Take some antibacterial wash on cotton and clean the acne-prone area. Cleanse the area gently, or else the condition might worsen on the inflamed area. Your cat will require an antibiotic course for serious acne issues and infections. After thoroughly diagnosing the problem, your vet will suggest the proper medication for your cat. Your cat may also have contracted a fungal infection and would be needed to be put on steroids and retinol to reduce inflammation.
The veterinarian may advise you to use shampoos, wipes, or mupirocin. However, these treatments in cats might get tricky as they usually lick off things you apply to their skin. If the topical products help the acne outbreaks, you may reduce their use gradually over two to three weeks.
How To Prevent Cat Acne?
There are measures you can take to prevent feline acne. If you want to avoid acne in the chin area, follow the below steps:
- Stick to using stainless steel or glass dishes and avoid plastic. Plastic is harmful to cats as it contains chemicals and might react to the food served in them.
- Always keep your feline’s water and food dishes cleaned regularly. Use disinfectant to wash the dishes.
- Use a clean cloth or towel to wipe your cat’s chin after it’s done with its meals. Maintain hygiene with cats so that they don’t contract any infections.
- Always watch your cat and what you feed and give them. If you introduce them to something new and they develop acne around the chin area, immediately stop that and look for improvement. This way, you will know what suits your cat and what doesn’t.
- Acnes are painful if you pick at it. Be careful with your cat’s acne. Don’t pick it, as it might be painful and infectious.
How Long Does Cat Acne Last?
Mild acne and scars on your cat’s skin may fade away. But in severe cases where the acne is infectious, treatment by the vet is necessary to prevent the infection from spreading. Also, cats may have to be on antibiotics for two to four weeks in extreme situations.
Acne is treatable in most cases, and good hygiene can reduce the chances of frequent acne sprouts. Cat insurance helps provide your furball with top-notch medical care during distressing health scenarios. Contemplate purchasing pet insurance in the least so that providing basic health care need not be a significant financial challenge in times like these and many more.
