Cat Skin Health Issues:

Skin disorders are one of the major disorders in cats and one of the most common health problems that they suffer.



A lot of the disorders in humans are manifested in cats too. The condition of the coat of a cat is an indicator of the general health of the animal. If the cat has skin conditions like itching, sores and other infections, these could be an indication of other underlying health conditions.



The skin diseases in cats can be mild to severe. Some of them are acute and can be completely cured with treatment. However, there are other cat skin conditions which are chronic and may require extensive treatment that lasts for several years.

Here are some of the common cat skin disorders:

• Fleas: Fleas are small black or white colored parasites that attach themselves to the skin of the cat and feed on their blood. Fleas often cause itching and scratching in the cats. A cat with fleas may end up with several sores and small wounds.
• Mange: Mange’s are microscopic mites that cause intense itching around the neck, head and face. Mites may cause hair loss in the areas where they infest. They cause mild itching but can also cause yellow or grey colored crusting around the edge of the ears and other parts of the head and face where they usually infest.
• Dandruff: Just like other furry pets, cats too have dandruff on their body. Dandruff can be seen as white colored specks on the head, neck and the back of the cat.
• Ticks: Ticks are black and brown colored insects that cling to the skin and suck blood. They are small in size but as they keep sucking blood, they may even become as big as a pea.
• Chiggers: These are small parasites which can bite in several places on the skin and cause irritation in the skin. Chiggers usually bite around the mouth, ears and paws. They appear as tiny red, orange or yellow specks.
• Ear Mites: These parasites are the most common cause of ear infections in cats. Cats tend to get infested with ear mites that infect the inner ear canal, causing infections.
• Lice: Lice can infect humans and other pets in the house as well and therefore should be taken care of as soon as possible. Ticks are found all over the body of the cat. These are caused due to a lack of hygiene.