Cats are notoriously mysterious animals, and it’s often difficult for an owner to interpret their behaviour without intensive experience in kitty ownership. Occasionally it is even difficult to tell when they are suffering from a medical problem,eg an indication of a skin affliction such as a cat hair loss. So as to properly treat cat skin sicknesses, a pussy-cat owner must first be well placed to recognise when the cat is afflicted by a skin illness.

Cats don’t always display clear indicators of skin illness the way dogs do. Canines make it easy to tell when they’re itchy and irritated, because they scratch with their claws. Scratching with the claws not only tells us that the dog is itchy, but also has a tendency to make the skin more irritated and even infected, thus drawing more attention to the issue. Cats do not have a tendency to scratch with their claws as much as canines do. More often, cats will simply lick the irritated area, which is not different than their normal grooming behavior. You may see your cat grooming more than normal, especially concentrating on one area. You’ll notice that your cat seems agitated or anxious, or twitching of the shallow back muscles. You might even notice that your cat is hiding and not seeking attention as normal. All the above can be signals of skin illness in a cat.

If you think that you are observing signs of skin disease in your cat, the very first thing you must do is investigate your kitty further. Check for any scabs or bumps, paying special attention along the spine and under the chin and neck area. You may also get a flea comb and use it to test for fleas in the same areas, along the backbone and rump and under the chin and neck area. Check to see if the hair in the belly area is thin or bare. Also check all over the cat for any reddened, crusting, or otherwise abnormal areas.

If you find scabs, reddened areas, or baldness on your cat, the very first thing you must do is begin an acceptable flea control program if you are not already practicing one. Vet products such as Frontline Plus And Advantage are extremely impressive at controlling and stopping flea Problems if used monthly as instructed. Use caution if you’re considering using an off-brand flea product like Pet Armor. These products have the same active component as Frontline, but can have a different concentration and may be delivered via a different medium. These differences can make the off-brands much less effective. Always ask your veterinarians office for a product advice before starting a flea control regimen.

If you’re already using a suitable flea product as directed and your moggy still seems to be having skin conditions, or if your pussy-cat has irritated skin or seems uncomfortable, you’ll possibly need to see the vet to get your pussy-cat some relief. In several cases, a steroid or antihistamine might be required for controlling the itching, and an antibiotic may be indicated if proof of infection is there.

Cathy Doggin’s is a frequent writer on all types of cat health and conditions. This includes many common cat skin conditions. When not writing about cats, the writer can be found volunteering at a local shelter or talking on the rights of tiny animals.