Cat Skin Problems

Cat skin problems are common. The cat has an allergic reaction to something that's in contact with his skin, becomes very itchy and scratches excessively. He may also bite at the itchy areas. This can lead to a shabby looking coat, scabs on the skin and bald patches.

1) Causes

Cat skin allergies are caused by an over-reaction of Kitty's immune system to something he comes into contact with. Common causes include:

• Cat fleas
• Other parasites - e.g. ticks, lice, mites
• Certain foods
• Certain plastics - e.g. from feeding bowls, some floor coverings

The list above isn't exhaustive by a long shot. Like human allergies, there are many different things that can cause cat allergies.

2) Prevention

The best way to prevent cat skin allergies is to completely avoid exposure to whatever's causing the problem. Depending on the cause, this may be possible, partially possible or impossible.

The majority of allergic cat skin problems are caused by fleas, and preventative treatment against them is always a good idea. Once the fleas are got rid of, there's a fairly good chance the skin problem will be resolved. Click here for detailed information on cat fleas.

Fleas on kittens are potentially more dangerous than cat fleas, and need to be dealt with differently. Click here for advice on kitten fleas.

If the flea problem is sorted but the skin problem still persists, if there are no other parasites on the cat, it's possible that it's his food that's the problem. Some cats are allergic to certain ingredients in the food they're eating. Your vet can advise you on a suitable diet to try (called a hypoallergenic diet). These diets are low in - or free of - the substances that most commonly cause allergic reactions.

If food isn't the problem either, the vet can perform skin and blood tests to try to ascertain the cause. However, it isn't always possible to work out what the cause is, even after testing.



3) Treatment

If the cause of the cat skin problems can't be figured out, or if it's impossible for your cat to avoid exposure to the substance that's causing the problem, he may need to go on long-term medication. Steroids are often used to suppress the immune system reaction. Anti-histamines and antibiotics may also be used. For advice on health insurance for your cat, click here.