Feline Acne Treatment

There are many options available for feline acne treatment. But first off, let's talk a little bit about cat acne.

Acne on My Cat, Really?

Cat acne, also called feline acne, is actually somewhat common. Many cases are mild to moderate and respond to treatment fairly easily. If left alone however, the acne can get worse and lead to secondary bacterial infections.

Just like regular human acne, there is no cure. But again, just like human acne, there are treatment options.

Cats first get blackheads on their chins in mild cases, and they can be hard to spot with longer or dark haired felines. If your cat is more greasy than average be sure to keep your eye out for this.

What are the Causes?

Just like us, cats have sebaceous glands that produce sebum (oil) to lubricate their skin and fur. They also use it for waterproofing and territory marking - thank goodness we don't!

These glands get clogged, although nobody is really sure how. Doesn't that sound a little familiar?

Here are some possible factors that could trigger feline acne:

• a weak immune system
• allergies
• cats frequently miss their chins when grooming themselves
• stress, such as a big change in your cat's environment

Hormones don't appear to be a factor as they are in humans or dogs. Both females and males are at risk, and can occur frequently in the cats life or only once. Typically it's seen anytime after 6 months of age.

Prevention

• Keep your cat's chin clean.
• Avoid the use of plastic food bowls, as this can irritate the cat's chin. They get nicked and chipped which will scratch the cat and are great breeding grounds for bacteria.
• Feed your cat a healthy diet to ensure healthy skin.

Feline Acne Treatment

Cat chin acne is generally mild to moderate. If you spot it early, it's going to be fairly easy to treat.

If not, it could develop into more severe papules and pustules. Your cat's chin could become itchy, and cat's don't have as much self control with scratching. The scratching will just make things worse.

Avoid the use of strong human acne treatments, unless told to do so by your veterinarian.

Wash your cat's chin daily with warm water. If that doesn't appear to be working, try a gentle cleanser such as Cetaphil. If there are open wounds, gentle cleansing with salt water will help.

If you do not see any improvement over the course of a week or two, or if the condition worsens, see a veterinarian. They will be best able to assess the situation and provide the correct solution.

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