Common Skin Problems that Afflict Cats

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When human skin has problems, it’s easy to tell in most cases. You just have to look for patches, spots or rashes. But, what about your cat’s skin? With all that hair, visible signs are hard to look for. However, an easy way to know if your cat’s got skin problems is to observe him/her for repeated chewing, licking, or scratching.If your cat’s doing any of that, there’s likely some skin condition affecting the little guy/gal.Speaking of skin conditions that affect cats, here are some of the most common ones.

Ringworm is a type of fungal infection. Symptoms for this condition include hair loss, scaly patches, and inflammation. You will also likely come across lesions on or near the paws, head or ears. In some rare cases, the symptoms don’t even show up.Ringworm is highly contagious, so make sure you take your cat to the veterinarian as soon as possible. If untreated, ringworm can spread to your other pets and even humans as well.

An ear mite infection can be spotted by observing the cat’s ears. If there seems to be redness and itching near over the ears, then there’s a strong chance our cat’s got ear mites. You will also come across a substance that resembles a coffee ground in the ear canals.

Mange mites and lice cause severe itching, which eventually leads to scaling and flaking.

Fleas are known to cause heavy skin irritation. Common symptoms include repetitive scratching, hair thinning over the base of the tail, raised and red skin lesions, and crusts. Some cats are highly sensitive to fleas and only the best

must be used.

Allergies can cause problems for your cat in the skin department as well. There are mainly 2 kinds of allergies that affect cats – seasonal allergies and food allergies.The former might be a result of your cat being allergic to mold, grasses, and other allergens from tress.As for the latter, food such as poultry, corn, milk and beef may not work well for your cat. Similarly, your cat’s immune system might detect food coloring and fillers as foreign objects. This can lead to certain food allergies.

If your keep or use a lot of chemicals at home and find your cat scratching often, there could be a connection. Your cat may have issues with the chemicals you’re using. This could be your floor cleaning lotion or detergent etc.Apart from that, your cat could also be sensitive to excessive heat or cold.These are some of the most common skin related issues that affects cats. If you suspect that your cat may be affected by any one of the above mentioned conditions, get in touch with your veterinarian immediately.