Feline Acne

Well! It’s not only humans that suffer from acne, sometimes animals suffer from it to and the cat seems to be the most affected animal by acne. Feline acne is quite common in cats and is often located at the chin and lips of the cat. Cats too have the sebaceous gland that secretes oil and is located at the eyelids, chin, and surface of the base of the tail, lips, scrotum and prepuce.

Just like the causes of human acne are not known, similarly the causes of feline acne are also not understood. It is thought to be caused by a number of factors such as feeding in plastic bowls, which apparently are bacteria prone objects, as they trap the bacteria and this then gets on to the cat’s chin.

Dirt and poor grooming habits could also be a leading cause for feline acne. Other than this is the usual excessive sebum created by over active sebaceous glands. All this results in black spots or swollen red pustules that lead to bleeding, therefore a regular visit to the vet is very important if you want a healthy, bacteria free pet.

If you would like to buy over the coutner products, opt for Topical vitamin A or Topical retinoid solutions. If your cat is suffering from a severe form of feline acne, you will first have to clean it with benzoyl peroxide or chlorhexidine first. After that, use topical glucocorticoids to heal the inflammation.

Before doing all this however, take your cat to the vet who may solve the problem by clipping the fur around the chin and clean up the area with antibiotics. And NEVER make the mistake of treating feline acne with medications, ointments and gels meant for treating human acne. Instead try to prevent feline acne by using ceramic or metal food bowls and ensure cleanliness of the cat and its utensils, sleeping place etc. Wash the cat’s chin properly after it eats and keep it clean and healthy.