Feline skin conditions may be pretty challenging to diagnose, a series of tests may often be needed since there may be an extensive list of possible causes. So do not be surprised if your scratching feline may leave your veterinarian scratching his head as well.
Common signs of a skin condition include but are not limited to:
Itching
Scratching
Hair-loss
Excessive licking
Scabs
Redness
Patches
Infection
In order to shed some light on these annoying and frustrating conditions we can take a look mostly at those commonly diagnosed.
Skin conditions known to cause itching:
FOOD ALLERGY
More and more cats are presenting at vet offices due to allergies. Cats will be itching and scratching all day long even until they are raw and hairless in some areas. Owners may notice scabs and blood crusted areas throughout their coat. Diagnosing which food your cat is allergic to may be a challenge for your vet, he/she will have to rely on his/her strong investigative qualities. Usually, the cause is found by exclusion. Your vet may ask you to put your cat on a special diet and monitor for several weeks. Unfortunately, all the tests and trials may turn out pretty costly and there is no guarantee that the food culprit will be found. In most cases, treatment starts by prescribing anti-histamine medications and in severe cases by giving a steroid shot.
ATOPY
This is an allergy to something present in the environment. Culprits may be just about anything your cat gets into contact with. Common causes are dust, pollen, chemicals used in the yard, household products and so forth. Again, finding the exact cause may prove challenging. In seasonal cases, the allergy may be easily associated with pollen.
Intra-dermal skin testing may at times bring good results.
Antihistamines and steroid shots may be used as well to alleviate this annoying skin condition.
SCABIES (Notredic mange)
Tiny mites are the cause of this skin condition. Cats will be particularly scratching the area around their head and neck and they will also exhibit hair-loss. Sometimes they spread as well to the abdominal area and feet. Humans may be affected as well but the symptomatology would be only limited to itching. Diagnosis is pretty easy as they patches of hair-loss are pretty typical and the skin scrapings will confirm. Treatment consists of hair clipping followed by a medicated shampoo and finally a series a Lyme dips.
FLEAS (and their saliva)
Fleas may cause itching but when a cat is allergic to a flea's saliva there may be much more going on than normal itching. A cat suffering from flea allergies will scratch excessively and will develop a lot of small red crusty bumps in various areas of the body. Cats may get easily irritated by the itching and may lick, scratch and twitch its skin excessively. Treatment of course will consist on monthly topical flea preventatives and by using special growth inhibitor sprays to treat the environment, right around the areas your cat frequents the most. Your vet may recommend some of these sprays that are safe and effective.
CHEYLETTIELLA (Walking dandruff)
This condition involves small little mites that can affect cats, dogs, rabbits and even humans. These small mites may be seen walking on the cat's skin as tiny white particles thus the name walking dandruff. Cats will also exhibit mild itching, crusty areas,redness and small papules. Treatments consists of medicated shampoo, dips, and flea control spray to treat the environment.
FELINE HYPERESTESIA
Also known as "rolling skin disease or rippling skin syndrome", this condition is not to common but is being seem more often lately. A cat affected by this condition may seem extremely itchy ad will manifest the discomfort by twitching its skin on the back, swishing its tail, taking off running, trying to chase the tail, jerking, avoiding touch and excessive grooming. Siamese cats and other oriental breeds seem to be affected the most. Diagnosis is obtained by exclusion of other conditions. Treatment consists of corticosteroids, anti-anxiety and anti-seizure drugs.
Skin disorders that may cause hair-loss (alopecia):
RINGWORM
This fungus causes typical round patches with no hair. Ringworm is a zoonotic condition meaning that it may be transmitted to humans. While some cats seem to not be bothered by the condition, some cats may be itchy. The fungus is transmitted by contact with other affected cats, their bedding, their grooming equipment, carpets and any other area where the spores of this fungus may have landed on.
Lime sulfur dips and the medication Griseofulvin may help the cat overcome this infestation. It is important to carefully clean the environment afterward.
PSYCHOGENIC ALOPECIA
Stress may cause cats to literally pull out their fur in chunks. For some reason Siamese and other cats of oriental descent seem to suffer from this condition the most. Common causes of stress in cats derive from recent moves, new family members, new pet adoptions, loud noises, separation anxiety and so forth. Treatment will depend on reducing the stress triggering
events. Feliway, a pheromone diffuser has helped in some cases. Bach flowers or Rescue remedy may be used if holistic remedies may want to be tried. Veterinarians may prescribe anxiety relieving medications such as Valium.
ENDROCRINE ALOPECIA
In this cases the hair-loss is linked to hormonal changes. There are particular hormones that are responsible for proper hair growth, in cats with endocrinological disorders hair is shed but the hormonal response of regrowing new hair is absent. Bald patches are the sign of an hormonal imbalance. Treatment involves hormonal therapy.
These are only a small chapter of the whole quantity of skin disorders that may affect cats. If your cat develops a skin condition be prepared to have a good amount of tests run and trial medications along with treatments. If you are lucky enough that your vet "hits it on the nail" consider yourself blessed as most skin disorders may be very challenging to diagnose and therefore properly treat.