Feline skin disorders can truly make your kitten miserable. Because kittens are so active they can easily get themselves into itchy situations!
- Dermatitis
Dermatitis is an inflammation of the skin caused by an allergic reaction. Feline allergic reactions can be caused by inhaling mold or dust, eating certain types of food, taking medications, or by any allergen coming in direct contact with the skin. Dermatitis can be mild or severe enough to warrant hospitalization.
Skin affected by dermatitis can look red and scaly. Skin could be warm to the touch, have hives, and raise bumps tiny bumps. You will probably see your kitten profusely licking and scratching the inflamed area. Treating dermatitis involves resolving the underlying condition. Treatment may involve making dietary changes, removing mold or dust, or simply changing your kitten’s brand of shampoo. Your vet may want to do specific allergy testing on your kitten.
- Wound Infections
Wound bacterial infections are common in felines. Your kitten may have been injured in rough play or may have accidently scratched itself. More serious causes of wound infections include car accidents and fights. The untreated wound can later become infected. If the skin infection is severe enough and progresses, it could lead to a blood infection (sepsis) and death.
Prevent wound infections and feline skin disorders by inspecting your kitten’s skin for any wounds or open sores on a regular basis. Wash minor scratches with soap and water. And be sure to keep the area dry and covered as your kitten may lick or get dirt in the wound. If you notice deep cuts, lacerations, or excessive bleeding, take your kitten to the vet. Your kitten may require stitches.
- Fleas and Ticks
Fleas and ticks can carry disease and also cause feline skin disorders. Flea bites can cause allergic dermatitis reactions in felines. Fleas can carry tapeworms and other diseases. Ticks can carry Lyme disease and other diseases. They can also create intense itching at the site of attachment.
Give your kitten flea and tick preventative treatments. There are many easy to use topical preventative treatments. Discuss with your vet the best treatment for your kitten.
- Ringworm
Ringworm is a quite common among the feline skin disorders. Ringworm is not actually a worm. It is a fungal infection that is highly contagious. The term ringworm is in reference to the ring-like appearance of the infection on the skin. In kittens, however, ringworm can look more like short, broken hairs and look less ring-like. The fungal infection can appear on various areas on the body. Kittens get ringworm from infected soil, toys, or bedding.
Ringworm can be transmitted from felines to humans and other animals. It is primarily treated topically. An oral medication may be prescribed if a case is particularly severe. Oral antifungal medications are strong medications and can cause side effects and birth defects in some felines.
- Hairloss/Excessive shedding
It can be alarming to watch your kitten’s once glorious, thick coat become full of bald spots. Feline hair loss and excessive shedding can have many underlying causes. Hair loss can be caused by excessive scratching or licking due to parasitic infections. Some kittens may cause hair loss themselves by compulsively pulling or licking their fur due to anxiety. A more serious health issue may also be brewing. Endocrine or autoimmune diseases can all create feline skin disorders.
Once your vet has ruled out any parasitic skin conditions causing hair loss, they will want to collect lab and blood work to see if there are any underlying medical problems.
- Acne
Human teenagers are not the only ones with acne. Kittens can also get this feline skin disorder. Feline acne commonly occurs as chin pimples with excessively oily skin. Feline acne can be caused by an allergic reaction or by clogged oil glands. Hairless felines tend to produce lots of skin oil and are often suffers of acne. However, all felines are susceptible.
Prevention of feline acne involves bathing hairless cats regularly. Bathing and skin exfoliation helps to unblock the pores of dirt and oil which can lead to acne. Just as with human, feline acne is treated with benzoyl peroxide or topical antibiotics.
- Dandruff
Yes, kittens can get dandruff, too! Well, kitten dandruff is not exactly like human dandruff. One type of dandruff that affects kittens is “walking dandruff”. “Walking dandruff” is also known as mange. It is caused by mites that create dry, flaky, and scaly skin on the body. As with other mites, “walking dandruff” is contagious.
Another type of dandruff is dry skin caused by a lack of essential fats in the diet. A dry arid climate can also make kitten more susceptible to dry skin. Diabetes and other endocrine disorders can cause kitten dandruff as well.
- Mites
Mites can create an itchy environment for your kitten. The miniature crab-like creatures are quite contagious and can infect other your pets. Mites can infect different parts of body from head to tail. There are many types of mites: ear mites, dust mites, nasal mites, etc.
Mites are best prevented by cleanliness. Keep your infected kittens away from non-infected pets until thoroughly treated. Wash infected linen in hot water (with bleach if possible) and dry in a hot dryer. Don’t allow your kitten to play in areas where mites are known to inhabit.
- Skin Cancer
Believe it or not, felines can be prone to developing skin cancer. Little-known of the feline skin disorders, skin cancer can make your kitty quite ill. Skin cancer can affect all feline breeds. However, primarily affects hairless feline breeds as well as felines with light-colored fur. Hairless breeds especially lack the fur coat that protects against the sun’s damaging rays.
Prevention involves using sunblock or sunscreen whenever your susceptible kitten is exposed to sun for long periods of time. For hairless felines use all over body, face, body, and tail. On light colored felines use sunblock on their nose and exposed skin surfaces.
During grooming and brushing time, inspect the skin for any unusual moles or non-healing sores: odd shapes, colors, and sizes. Your vet will want to take a sample of the area for a biopsy.
- Burns
Burns can range from mild sunburns to severe medical emergencies. Kittens are curious animals. They love to jump, run, and play and are often unaware of dangerous situations. Kittens can get burns from jumping on a hot stove or brushing up against a heater. Mild burns may look slightly reddened and tender to the touch. Severe skin burns can appear white and charred.
Take your kitten to the vet immediately for burns near the face or genitals or if you suspect a severe, deep burn. For minor burns, you should err on the side of safety and take your kitten to the vet as soon as you can. Kittens are fragile and burns could easily become infected. For minor burns, your vet may tell you to apply a cold compress to the area a few times a day until the area heals. For severe burns, your kitten may need an extended hospital stay.
Remember…different feline skin disorders can resemble one other. See your vet to get the proper diagnosis.
