Feline Acne may be affecting your cat if you’ve noticed black specks around Kitty’s face and mouth, and if his or her fur is oily, too. Teens aren’t the only ones who can have problems with skin acne- cats can too. Acne, which is a glandular disorder in humans, as well as in cats, is caused by overactive skin glands. When cats suffer from Feline Acne, it’s because their sebaceous glands are producing too much sebum. An excess of sebum causes blackheads and pimples to form in the clogged skin pores, thus Feline Acne.
You see, cats have two types of glands in their chin and jaws. The first type is the sweat gland, and the other type is the sebaceous glands. The latter produces an oil called sebum. Sebum is an oily substance that helps to make your cat’s coat shiny and waterproof. It also has a scent that can only be detected by other cats. This is why your cat likes to rub his or her chin and jaw on you. In doing that, they’re marking their territory with the sebum.
Human teens are more prone to have skin acne than adults. But with cats, they can get feline acne at any age. Especially if they don’t clean their face and jaw areas enough to reduce the amount of sebum they have on their skin.
So, how can you tell if your cat has Feline Acne? Telltale symptoms include a greasy appearance to their fur, especially around the facial area. You might also see dark spots in the fur around their face and jaw area.
However, even though your cat has the symptoms, it might not actually have Feline Acne. There are two contagious diseases that act like this Feline Acne. They are dermatophytosis and demodecosis. Or, the symptoms may be a result of your cat having a food allergy, an allergic reaction to plastic food bowls, or a yeast infection.
A mild case of Feline Acne can often be treated at home. If you do notice that your cat has the symptoms of this health problem, you can create a homemade treatment by carefully cleansing the affected area with a mild antibacterial soap. The soap will not only remove the oily sebum, but it will also kill bacteria and germs.
To do this homemade treatment, lather the facial area with an antibacterial soap. Then, rinse it off thoroughly with warm tap water. Pat the area dry with a soft towel. In order for this Feline Acne homemade treatment to be effective, you’ll need to repeat this process twice a day.
Since not all cleansers that humans use are good for a cat, be sure to check with your veterinarian to find out what soap would be the best to use for treating Feline Acne. Your veterinarian might prescribe a solution of benzyl peroxide too, such as a product called Bactroban Rx™ ointment. Benzyl peroxide is the chief ingredient in many products that are made to treat human acne.
Another homemade treatment for Feline Acne, if your cat will sit still long enough, is Epsom salt in warm water. This treatment is a great way to draw the infection out. Mix two tablespoons of Epsom salt into one quart of warm water. Soak a rag in the mixture and wring it out so it’s not sloppy wet. Then, hold the rag against your cats chin and jaw for five minutes or so.
When a cat has Feline Acne, and it is left untreated, it can easily turn into a more serious health problem known as Folliculitis. Follicultis is an inflammation of the hair follicles in a cat’s skin. Here again, it looks much like an acute outbreak of human acne. The hair follicles develop pus-filled bumps. A cat’s lymph nodes can often become swollen and sore.
Folliculitis cannot be treated at home. If your cat develops this skin condition, you must take him or her to the veterinarian immediately. The vet can prescribe therapy with steroids or antibiotics along with an antibacterial cream or lotion. These medicines will treat the Folliculitis, as well as the underlying Feline Acne problem.
