Fur and Skin

1 Can I bathe my Persian cat? How often and what is the right way?

2 My kitten has "acne" according to my vet, on his chin. It looks like bald patches, is these anything I can do to help this heal?

5 How can I reduce the dandruff on my cats? They out-right refuse to be bathed. Do you have any suggestions? Thanks so much

6 What do you use to get tar off a cat?

9 My cat has warts. Are they dangerous?

10 Why does my cat shed so much? Is there anything I can do to make her shed less?

11 I'm trying to find out more about my cat's condition. The symptoms are dandruff and matted hair (in some areas). It almost feels greasy. Please note that he is somewhat overweight. Any ideas?

12 How does ringworm get into a house with all inside pets?

13 My cat has a place on her belly that looks like a dry spot - she licks it constantly and now there is no hair there and sometimes it is red from her messing with it - is there a way to stop this?

14 My female cat has several small, hard, reddish bumps on her neck that extend somewhat down her chest. What could these be?

16 I have an overweight cat. When I am petting him I can feel lumps under his skin, but they don't seem like fat more like knots. Should I be concerned? He seems healthy and happy otherwise.

20 I have noticed that my cat scratches and bites herself a lot more than usual. I am afraid that she if suffering in some way. She does not seem to have fleas.

22 My cat is pulling out all of his fur from all over his body, legs, sides, and tummy. It started in patches and now he looks like he has a mohawk. He has no red or open areas, and seems content.

24 My cat has small bumps and sores on his back and around the base of his tail. What could be causing this?

25 My 3 year old Siamese cat pulls his fur out . Why is he doing this?

26 What are the symptoms of ringworm? How do you treat it in a multi-cat household?

29 I have a long haired cat and a short haired cat. They both seem to have a lot of flakes on their skin and the long haired one is full of static electricity. What can I do?

30 My 5 year old cat is losing hair on her tail. It has now continued to be lost up to her behind. Why?

31 My cat has little sores under her fur and is scratching constantly. I don't see any fleas, and she stays inside. What can I do to relieve the symptoms?

32 My cat has a lump under his chin? Do you think it is a dental problem?

33 I noticed my cat has sores behind his ears, they start to get better, but as soon as he scratches they start to bleed, what can I put on the sores to make them better?

34 Why is my cat pulling out her hair with her teeth?

35 My cat is losing her hair. I have taken her to the vet about three times and they can't find anything wrong, but all of her hair is gone off of her stomach and legs and up her side.

36 I have a white cat 7 yrs old who has sores all around his neck. What do I do?

37 Why would a cat lick continuously and pull her fur out with her teeth?

38 I have a 4 year old long hair female cat. I noticed dandruff- like flakes when I brush her. I brush her several times a week. The flakes do not seem to bother her. Should I be concerned?

41 Our cat has licked her belly until it's almost furless. Why has she done this and how can we help her so she doesn't continue?

42 Why does one of my cats obessively lick himself bald?

43 My cat seems to have very dry skin and dandruff. What can I do about that?

47 I just took over caring for a long-haired cat, approx. 7 yrs old. She has matts all over & under her tail (smells of urine). I am trying to clip the areas but is there anything else I can do?

48 My cat's ears seem to be very clean, but he scratches at the base of them. Does this mean he may have ear mites even with clean ears?

49 Why might my cat keep shaking his head?

1 Can I bathe my Persian cat? How often and what is the right way? Giving your cat a bath can be quite a challenge, particularly if he wasn't bathed as a kitten. Start by brushing his coat to remove any knots or mats. Wash your cat in the sink and use warm water. Have your supplies ready including towels, a spray nozzle and shampoo. Use a baby shampoo or a commercial shampoo that is labeled for use on cats. Never use a flea soap for dogs. If possible, have someone hold and soothe the cat while you do the bathing. Wet the cat thoroughly with the spray nozzle. Lather the coat with shampoo, being careful to keep it out of the ears and eyes. Start at the neck and work backwards. When thoroughly lathered, rinse well removing all traces of soap. You may have to repeate the process if the cat is really dirty. Special conditioners can be used but must be rinsed out completely. Never use any conditioner that is not specifically for cats. Dry the coat gently with towels. It will take a while for the coat to dry therefore it is best to keep the cat inside and out of drafts. Overbathing can remove the essential natural oils of the coat. Many cat owners prefer to bathe only when absolutely necessary. Cats with long hair may need bathing once or twice a month whereas shorthaired cats may only need a bath every few months.
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2 My kitten has "acne" according to my vet, on his chin. It looks like bald patches, is these anything I can do to help this heal? Feline chin acne is a disorder that causes the follicles of the chin and sometimes the lips to become plugged. Some cats may have one and only one occurrence of this disease in their lifetime; others may continually battle the problem. It is more common among cats with oily skin. Some feel that poor grooming contributes to the problem but in truth, no cause has yet been determined. The type of treatment will depend on the severity of the condition. Feline acne usually responds to cleansing of the skin twice daily with an ointment or gel whereas an extensive or deep infection may require antibiotics prescribed by your veterinarian.
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3 We have a 5-year-old cat that is in great health - very active, agile with good body tone. Recently though, I took off her collar, and noticed that the area (which her fur is worn, I'm sure from the collar) has large black splotches. She is a tiger cat, and it may just be part of her natural skin tone - the pads of her paws and places in her ear have similar coloring - but these particular splotches seem resigned only to her neck area, though her fur is too thick to get a reasonable look. Should I be concerned? If the skin is dry, irritated, and scaly she may have a skin irritation from her collar and should be examined. If the skin is just darker and nothing else, it may be the coloration from being a tiger cat. Interestingly when you shave some tiger cats the skin underneath the dark stripes is also dark. I would keep her collar off and keep checking the areas and see what happens.
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4 I have a Manx cat eight years old, who is big and round, while her littermate is long and thin. My Manx has had coarse hair and dandruff, but switching to Purina ONE™ has seemed to help her coat. Do you think in time her condition will clear up? If you have seen an improvement in her coat, that is likely to continue with the present diet. However, if her coat continues to be coarse or have dandruff other causes could be at work. Sometimes cats do not clean themselves well if they are ill or so overweight that they cannot reach all parts of their body. If any of these reasons appear to be the problem, please visit your veterinarian for an examination.
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5 How can I reduce the dandruff on my cats? They out-right refuse to be bathed. Do you have any suggestions? Thanks so much Dandruff on the skin and coat is often a sign of dryness. This could be a result of the environment (your house is dry in the winter months) or diet. Be sure you are feeding a good quality maintenance diet appropriate for the life stage of your cats. It also might help to brush them regularly; this can stimulate the oil glands in the skin. If that does not help, your veterinarian may want to prescribe a vitamin supplement.
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6 What do you use to get tar off a cat? Tar on your cat's coat could be a serious problem if it is ingested when your cat tries to groom herself. Any material that is generally used to remove tar may also be toxic to your cat. I would therefore suggest taking your cat to the veterinarian to have the area shaved to remove the tar rather than using chemicals on your cat.
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7 I took my 6wk old kitten to the vet to day because I noticed a rash on her face. I also got her first set of shots. The rash turned out to be ringworm. My first question is how do they get ringworm? And my second is that she has seemed to feel bad today and slept more than usual and not played at all. Is this a side effect of the shots? Ringworm is caused by an organism that is ubiquitous in the environment. Infection is more common in young animals, immune compromised individuals, and situations of poor management, poor nutrition and high population densities. It is likely that your kitten became infected in her first home. As for the decreased activity and sleeping, that can be a side effect of vaccination. If she remains lethargic, has a poor appetite or appears to have a fever, please contact your veterinarian.
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8 Hi, I have an 18 lb. long haired black cat. I live in Texas and as you can imagine it is very humid here. My family and I decided to try and clip his hair last night. This cat is extremely temperamental and after 90 traumatic minutes and several scratches and bites - we decided to wait and try to get something that would sedate him so we could finish our clipping. We got about 1/2 of his hair done and it is very evident how much better he feels so we are anxious to get the rest done. Can you recommend something over the counter that we could give him to calm him or knock him out? Using any type of sedation on your pet should be done under the supervision of your veterinarian. If your cat finds the process of hair clipping very traumatic, it might be best to have it done either by a professional groomer or at the veterinarian's office. This would allow the proper supervision needed for the use of sedation. When the temperature is quite warm a cat can benefit from having less hair, but the procedure should be done carefully so as not to traumatize the cat.
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9 My cat has warts. Are they dangerous? Warts are growths that are not as common in cats as they are in people. They usually occur on the skin of older cats. If they become irritated they may tend to bleed and therefore should be removed. I would check with your veterinarian to make sure that they truly are warts and not another type of growth. Once he has examined the growth he will be able to determine whether or not removal is necessary.
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10 Why does my cat shed so much? Is there anything I can do to make her shed less? Some people believe that the amount a cat sheds is related to seasonal temperature changes. In fact, shedding is influenced more by the amount of environmental light. The greater the exposure to light, the greater the shedding. For those cats that spend all of their time outdoors, the longer days and more hours of sunlight stimulate shedding which can last for many weeks. Cats that go outdoors only part of the day usually shed and grow a new coat around the beginning of summer. In the fall when the days are shorter, the coat begins to thicken to prepare for winter. Cats that are always indoors and exposed to a constant amount of light may shed year-round. There is no "magic bullet" to prevent a cat from shedding. However keeping your cat well groomed reduces the amount of hair shed. To accustom kittens to grooming they should start to be brushed or combed around the time of weaning. How often an adult cat is groomed depends on the type of coat (thickness and length) and the condition of the skin. Shorthaired cats may only need to be groomed once-a-week whereas longhaired cats such as Angoras may need to be groomed several times per week.
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11 I'm trying to find out more about my cat's condition. The symptoms are dandruff and matted hair (in some areas). It almost feels greasy. Please note that he is somewhat overweight. Any ideas? Your cat could have a skin condition or an infection. It is also possible that since he is overweight he is unable to reach all parts of his body to keep himself clean and groomed. You might try brushing him and see if that helps with the matting and greasy feeling in his coat. If the condition persists, consult your veterinarian.
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12 How does ringworm get into a house with all inside pets? Ringworm is not a worm but a fungus. Most cases are caused by the fungus, Microsporum canis, but a few cases are caused by other species. Typically ringworm in cats appears as scaly patches, irreregular hair loss, or just a few broken hairs around the face and ears. Ringworm usually does not provoke itching, however scabs and crusts may form which can lead to licking and scratching. Ringworm is transmitted by contact with spores in the soil and contact with the infective hair of dogs and cats. Humans can become infected from cats and can also transmit the disease to them. It can also be transmitted from carpets, brushes, combs, toys, and furniture. Kittens are particularly susceptible. Cats can also carry the fungus without showing any signs of infection possibly infecting other animals within the household. Pets should be treated as well as the house and the yard to prevent reinfection. Check with your veterinarian for treatment regimens.
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13 My cat has a place on her belly that looks like a dry spot - she licks it constantly and now there is no hair there and sometimes it is red from her messing with it - is there a way to stop this? Continual licking at one area of the skin is often a sign of a skin irritation. Your cat could have a skin infection, an allergy or a local irritation at the site. If the problem is not resolving on its own, then veterinary intervention is needed to determine the cause of the licking.
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14 My female cat has several small, hard, reddish bumps on her neck that extend somewhat down her chest. What could these be? It sounds like your cat might have a skin irritation or infection. The problem could be bacterial or due to fleas. Usually these problems do not resolve without veterinary intervention so I would urge you to visit your veterinarian to obtain proper treatment.
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15 My cat, Lucky, likes to lick her hair under her belly so that it is completely shorn. Is this normal? Also, she just recently has developed a very small spot on her leg in which her hair has been licked off. Should I be concerned? While grooming is a normal cat behavior, excessive grooming that creates areas of hair loss is usually a sign of a problem. Cats may groom themselves excessively due to skin conditions such as allergies to something in the environment or to food, fleas or infection. Some cats may increase their grooming if they are sick. Cats may also increase the amount of grooming that they do when they are agitated, frustrated or stressed. Changes in the environment such a moving, new household members, and different work hours all may create anxiety for the cat and result in increased grooming activity. A veterinary examination is needed to determine what the cause of the overgrooming might be. Once an examination is done, your veterinarian should be able prescribe the appropriate treatment.
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16 I have an overweight cat. When I am petting him I can feel lumps under his skin, but they don't seem like fat more like knots. Should I be concerned? He seems healthy and happy otherwise. Growths under the skin are usually tumors of some type either malignant or benign or they could be an infection. If they have recently changed in size at all or are becoming more numerous, veterinary attention is needed. The best way to assess them is for your veterinarian to examine him and perhaps do a needle biopsy to determine what is inside these lumps.
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17 One of my cats has had some type of irritation under his chin. He has lost some of the hair in that area. I have been combing his chin and getting out clumps of what looks brown maybe dry skin. After combing the area it looks sore and red and I have tried some salve, but nothing has worked. I don't think it is related to fleas because he is an indoor cat and I give him a flea control treatment monthly. Can you help me figure out what this is? What you are describing sounds like a skin infection. A cat will often get an irritation under their chin if the area is not clean. If your cat does not do a good job of cleaning himself after he eats, it may lead to an infection. You might want to try to clean his chin daily and see if that helps. If the problem persists, then a veterinary examination is needed to prescribe appropriate treatment.
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18 I found a lump on the right side of my 6 month old kitten's spine. I just had her at the veterinarians to be spayed and he said everything was fine with her. What could it be? Should I get a second opinion? The lump you noticed could be a number of things. If she received any injections recently, they could cause a mild inflammatory response under the skin and result in a lump. An infection in the skin could also result in a lump. Depending on the size of the lump, a bite from a parasite could result in a skin lesion. If the problem persists then another look and a second opinion might put your mind at ease.
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19 My sister's seven year old white cat has been living with me for several months. I've noticed he has small black flaky dots throughout the skin and fur on his head. My three year old orange tabby cat has developed a large black lump on his chin and it has the same small black flaky dots. What is it? Do they need to go to the vet? The black spots on the two cats may or may not be the same problem. The black spots on your sisters cat sounds like it could be flea dirt. When a cat has fleas you will find small black spots in the skin that signify that fleas are present. These are most easily seen where the hair is thinner or when the fur is white. Your orange tabby may also have fleas, but the lump under his chin could be from something else. Besides treating your cats for fleas, a veterinary examination is in order.
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20 I have noticed that my cat scratches and bites herself a lot more than usual. I am afraid that she if suffering in some way. She does not seem to have fleas. It can often be difficult to find fleas on a cat due to their persistent self-grooming behavior but they might be the cause of her scratching. Cats can also have allergies which might account for the scratching and biting that she is exhibiting. The best way to determine what is going on would be a veterinary examination.
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21 My cat has light dandruff. It doesn't seem to bother her, but it still strikes me as unhealthy. I've tried sprinkling her food with Brewer's Yeast, but this hasn't improved her condition. Any suggestions? A cat may have dry skin for any number of reasons. Be sure that she is on a good commercial diet and is getting proper nutrition. It also might help to brush her on a regular basis. In some cases using a soft, damp towel to clean the coat can also help. Finally, if you notice any raw areas, areas of hair loss or areas she is scratching, she may have a skin irritation that needs veterinary attention.
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22 My cat is pulling out all of his fur from all over his body, legs, sides, and tummy. It started in patches and now he looks like he has a mohawk. He has no red or open areas, and seems content. Licking or pulling out hair can be indicative of many problems. The first thing to check is whether or not he has a skin problem such as an infection or allergy. Some cats will lick their hair coat excessively when they have skin or food allergies. Another reason that a cat might pull out their hair is anxiety or stress. If there have been changes in the environment, new home, new housemates, or new work hours, these could make the cat anxious and result in the hair pulling. I would suggest a veterinary visit to attempt to get to the source of the problem and start appropriate treatment.
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23 I have 3 Siamese cats that live exclusively indoors with us. One of them constantly picks and chews his fur off and has bald spots all over. His appetite is good and he eats and drinks well. Could this be an allergy that only he is susceptible to? There are a number of possibilities when a cat is chewing at their skin and coat. Some cats do experience allergies to items in their environment such as dust, pollen and even their food. In other situations a cat may pull at their fur if they are anxious or upset. Although uncommon, even indoor cats can get fleas especially if they live with a dog that goes outdoors. The best way to determine what is going on is a visit to your veterinarian so she can evaluate the problem and prescribe the appropriate treatment.
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24 My cat has small bumps and sores on his back and around the base of his tail. What could be causing this? There are a number of things that might cause a skin rash in your cat. One common cause of skin irritation is fleas. Fleas are often found where their coat is the thinnest and that can be right over the tail area. Carefully check your cat for fleas or flea dirt. Not only will you need to treat your cat for fleas if you find any, you should consult with your veterinarian about the rash. If left untreated it could be very uncomfortable and irritating for your cat.
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25 My 3 year old Siamese cat pulls his fur out . Why is he doing this? Your cat may be pulling out his fur due to a skin condition. Allergies to things in the environment or to food may cause skin irritation that results in excessive grooming behavior. A cat may also excessively groom if they have a skin infection. Finally, when cats are very anxious and/or upset they may pull out their hair. Your veterinarian is the best person to help determine which of these is responsible for your cat's behavior, so schedule an appointment as soon as possible.
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26 What are the symptoms of ringworm? How do you treat it in a multi-cat household? Ringworm is the common name for a fungal infection of the skin. It is most often manifested by circular patches of hair loss that also can show crusting, change in skin color and be quite itchy. Accurate diagnosis is essential and is usually accomplished by either a culture or microscopic examination of hairs that fluoresce under a special light. Most animals are treated as outpatients using oral medication. Treatment in multiple cat households can be frustrating and difficult and should not be attempted without veterinary help.
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27 My male neutered cat is 6 years old. He is mostly an indoor cat but the past 2 years I let him outside for short periods of time- 20 minutes maybe longer. Recently he seems to be losing his hair by his back side on both sides of where his tail begins and on his side under his rib cage. What could be causing this? I have another male neutered cat who goes out occasionally also but his hair is fine. The one losing his hair recently had a rabies shot. The other one didn't. Please help me if you can. Is this dangerous? Could it be something internal or an allergy? Hair loss often is due to either a skin infection, parasites or an allergy. A cat that goes outdoors is susceptible to getting fleas. Some cats are very allergic to flea bites and will scratch and pull out their hair. In other cases, a cat might be allergic to grasses or pollen or even their food. The best way to determine the reason for the hair loss would be with a veterinary visit.
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28 My Persian cat has developed several bald spots. One is on her tummy and the other is by her shoulder. I have been monitoring them and they seem to be getting larger. The skin does not appear to be irritated but I've noticed that I can pull out her hair quite easily. Is this normal in Persians or is it a sign of something more serious? When a cat is losing hair and the skin is showing whether irritated or not it is cause for concern. Your cat may be grooming excessively and pulling out her hair. This might occur with allergies, or even anxiety. A visit to your veterinarian should help sort out the various possibilities and determine the best way to treat her.
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29 I have a long haired cat and a short haired cat. They both seem to have a lot of flakes on their skin and the long haired one is full of static electricity. What can I do? It is helpful to try and groom your cats daily, this will help them shed loose hair and keep their coat shiny. It is also important that they be fed a complete and balanced diet. Choices for adult cats include Purina ONE Salmon and Tuna Flavor and Chicken and Rice Formula. If your cats are seniors, then Purina ONE Senior Protection Formula would be an appropriate choice.
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30 My 5 year old cat is losing hair on her tail. It has now continued to be lost up to her behind. Why? There are a number of reasons a cat may lose their hair. A cat may overgroom or chew on their fur if they have a skin irritation such as an allergy. Some cats show extreme responses to fleas and may bite and chew off their hair due to skin parasites. Finally a cat that is very anxious or upset may overgroom which can result in hair loss. To determine which problem is afflicting your cat, a veterinary visit is needed. Once a diagnosis is made then appropriate treatment can be prescribed.
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31 My cat has little sores under her fur and is scratching constantly. I don't see any fleas, and she stays inside. What can I do to relieve the symptoms? Continual scratching may be a sign of an allergy or infection. It is also possible for indoor cats to get fleas. The best thing you can do for her is to take her to your veterinarian. She may want to run a few tests to attempt to determine the cause of her itching. Once that is done, she will be able to prescribe appropriate treatment and hopefully give your cat some relief.
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32 My cat has a lump under his chin? Do you think it is a dental problem? A lump under the chin could be the result of several possible problems. Your cat could have a dental or gum problem that has caused an infection or inflammation that has resulted in swelling. Cats also have sebaceous glands under their chin that can fill with fluid and become irritated and infected. Finally any growth has the possibility of being a tumor. A veterinary visit is necessary to find out what exactly is causing the lump under your cat's chin.
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33 I noticed my cat has sores behind his ears, they start to get better, but as soon as he scratches they start to bleed, what can I put on the sores to make them better? While the sores behind his ears appear to be the problem, you might want to check inside his ears for an infection or mites. Your cat might be scratching at his ears because of something wrong inside his ears. Infections or ear mites are common problems in cats and can cause them a great deal of discomfort. The best way to determine how to treat the sores behind his ears and figure out if a problem in his ears is contributing to them would be with a veterinary visit.
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34 Why is my cat pulling out her hair with her teeth? There are several reasons a cat might pull at their hair. If a cat has an allergy they may attempt to pull out their hair. In other situations skin irritation from parasites might cause itching and subsequent hair pulling. In some cases if a cat is extremely anxious they may pull out their hair as well. Finally, if there is a skin infection it may cause irritation and hair pulling. Your veterinarian would likely be able to determine what is causing the hair pulling and then prescribe appropriate care for your cat.
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35 My cat is losing her hair. I have taken her to the vet about three times and they can't find anything wrong, but all of her hair is gone off of her stomach and legs and up her side. There are a number of reasons that a cat might lose her hair. In some cases it can be an allergy to something in the environment, parasites or a food allergy. In other situations the cat may be grooming excessively and removing the hair. Cats that are anxious over changes in their environment might over groom. In other situations other animals in the home may make the cat anxious. Finally, some research has indicated that cats with chronic bladder irritation may over groom their abdomen and remove the hair. Please contact your veterinarian and have her check out these possibilities.
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36 I have a white cat 7 yrs old who has sores all around his neck. What do I do? There are several reasons your cat may have sores around his neck. He could be creating the sores by scratching himself due to a skin irritation such as an allergy. He also might be scratching himself due to fleas. Finally he may have a food allergy that causes the irritation. The best way to determine why he is scratching and what to do about it would be with a veterinary visit. Your veterinarian should be able to determine the type of sores, cause and then prescribe appropriate medication.
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37 Why would a cat lick continuously and pull her fur out with her teeth? A cat might lick at her hair if she has a skin irritation such as an allergy or infection. A cat may also spend an excessive amount of time grooming if she is anxious. If the cat is experiencing hair loss, skin lesions or spends most of her waking hours pulling at her hair, a veterinary visit would be a good idea. A veterinarian should be able to determine the cause of the hair pulling/licking and prescribe appropriate treatment.
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38 I have a 4 year old long hair female cat. I noticed dandruff- like flakes when I brush her. I brush her several times a week. The flakes do not seem to bother her. Should I be concerned? It is wonderful that you brush your cat so often; it helps keep her skin and coat healthy. If she is showing a great deal of dandruff she may have dry skin. If she is also itching at the same time she could have a mild allergy. Perhaps a visit to your veterinarian will help sort out what is happening and find the right treatment.
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39 I believe my cat has allergies. He is acting normal, still playful and all, but he is constantly scratching and cleaning himself and even losing some hair. We also just moved into a new house that may be part of the problem. He is 6 years old. Is there anything I can do to help? Your cat may have suddenly become allergic to something in the new home or if you switched his diet he may show an allergic response to his new food. But, while it is possible that your cat has allergies, it is also possible that he has fleas. If other pets lived in the house before you moved in there could be fleas in the environment. Carefully checking the skin and coat of your cat may show small dark spots that the fleas leave behind. If you see them, be sure to let your veterinarian know and she can prescribe the appropriate treatment.
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40 My cat, Piggy, has this black junk under her chin. It seems to peel off and flake. Our veterinarian told us it was "kitty acne" caused by using a plastic bowl. We switched to metal and then ceramic bowl but it has gotten worse. Just wondering how it can be cured and if it's feline acne? Some cats do get dermatitis where papules form under the chin. While it may be associated with the type of feeding bowl, in many cases there is also an associated infection. Some cats need to have the area treated with topical cleaners and creams and in some cases even oral medication. A return trip to the veterinarian would be needed to determine what course of treatment would be best for your cat.
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41 Our cat has licked her belly until it's almost furless. Why has she done this and how can we help her so she doesn't continue? There are many reasons a cat may lick all their fur off of a certain part of their body. They may have a skin irritation or infection that causes them to lick. In other cases it may be in response to a stressful situation. The first step is to be sure a medical problem is not the cause of the licking by having a veterinary examination. If she is healthy, discuss how certain situations within your home may be making your cat anxious and result in the licking behavior.
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42 Why does one of my cats obessively lick himself bald? There are multiple reasons a cat may overgroom and remove his hair. The most common ones are skin parasites and allergies. If a cat is allergic to flea bites, even one flea can cause a hypersensitivity that may cause him to continually lick at his hair and skin. In other situations a cat may have an allergy to food or something in the environment. Finally, a cat may lick himself excessively if there is stress and conflict in the home. A veterinary visit would be the best way to determine the cause of a cat's overgrooming behavior.
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43 My cat seems to have very dry skin and dandruff. What can I do about that? The causes of dry skin can be quite varied. Make sure your cat is on a complete and balanced diet such as Purina ONE Salmon and Tuna or Chicken and Rice formula. Next, it might help to brush her on a regular basis. If the dry skin continues, she may have an allergy or skin infection. A veterinary examination may help determine what the best treatment approach would be to help with her dry skin.
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44 My 6 yr old Siamese that I got from a shelter still sheds alot. I thought it was stress but it has been 7 months. Also she has been sleeping in a corner near a wall instead of her window seat or bed, should I be worried? Cats may shed a great deal if they are stressed or ill. They also may just shed their coat as part of the normal hair cycle. Often brushing the cat will help remove the dead hair and decrease shedding. Cats often change where they sleep depending on many factors. If they are also hiding, not eating well, less social, then the change may signal a medical problem and a veterinary visit would be prudent.
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45 I believe my cat has "kitty acne". He has dark brown scab like spots on his chin. I've been cleaning his chin with a damp paper towel but is there something I can buy at a pet supply store that would treat his acne better? Blocked glands on the chin are often a cause of "feline acne" and can be also infected. Although keeping the area clean is helpful, often antibiotics are needed. A veterinary visit is really the best way to determine the treatment that would work best for your cat's problem.
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46 Frieda, my cat, seems to have OCD. Despite my brushing and combing she continuously licks - even to the point of creating bald spots on various parts of her body. What can cause this and how can I help her to stop? When a cat continuously grooms herself and/or pulls out her hair, many different things could be happening. An allergy or infection could cause a cat to lick excessively. In other situations a cat may lick excessively when anxious or stressed. If the problem continues, a veterinary visit may help sort out what is happening and determine appropriate treatment.
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47 I just took over caring for a long-haired cat, approx. 7 yrs old. She has matts all over & under her tail (smells of urine). I am trying to clip the areas but is there anything else I can do? When the hair becomes very matted and perhaps even soiled with urine or stool, the best treatment is to clip or shave the area. In some cases the matted hair has allowed sores to fester underneath it and clipping can be difficult and irritating to the cat. If that is the case she may need to be taken to your veterinarian where they can sedate her and gently clip away the matted hair. Your veterinarian can also determine if there is a health reason that the cat soiled her fur and was not able to keep herself clean.
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48 My cat's ears seem to be very clean, but he scratches at the base of them. Does this mean he may have ear mites even with clean ears? It may not be possible to see irritation that is deep inside the ear canal and may cause him to scratch. He also may be scratching due to irritation outside of the ear on his skin. If the scratching is incessant then a veterinary visit is warranted to find the cause and get appropriate treatment.
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49 Why might my cat keep shaking his head? When a cat shakes their head excessively it may indicate an ear infection or irritation. The ear canal may also be red, have an odor or a discharge. These are all signs that should not be ignored. A veterinary examination should be scheduled to determine the cause of the head shaking and then get the appropriate therapy.
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