THE MERCK MANUAL FOR PET HEALTH
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Cat Disorders and Diseases

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Skin Disorders of Cats

Dermatitis and Dermatologic Problems in Cats
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Dermatitis is a general word for any type of inflammation of the skin. It is usually used until a specific diagnosis is reached. There are many causes of skin inflammation, including external irritants, burns, allergens, trauma, and infection (bacterial, viral, parasitic, or fungal).

The signs of dermatitis can include itching, scaling, abnormal redness, thickening of the skin, and hair loss. The usual progression of a skin disease involves an underlying trigger that causes boils, scabs, scales, or blisters.

Abnormal itching, called pruritus, occurs in many diseases and is often present because of secondary infections. As the inflammation progresses, crusting and scaling develop. If the problem reaches the deeper dermis, fluid discharge, pain, and sloughing of the skin may occur. Secondary bacterial and yeast infections commonly develop as a result of skin inflammation. If the dermatitis does not improve, early signs of inflammation (such as redness) become obscured by signs of chronic inflammation (thickening of the skin, color changes, scaling, fluid discharge). Often the skin becomes drier. If itching is not already a sign, it will often develop at this stage.
Skin Disease History Checklist

When you bring your cat to your veterinarian for a skin problem, you can help your veterinarian diagnose the problem by having information about the following:

  • The primary complaint—what is bothering your cat?
  • The length of time the problem has been present.
  • The age at which the skin disease started. Some diseases are more common to particular ages of animals.
  • The breed. Some breeds are prone to specific diseases.
  • Behavior of the cat such as licking, rubbing, scratching, or chewing of the skin.
  • How the problem started and how it has progressed. For example, problems that began with itching may lead to self-trauma that develops secondary skin wounds or infections.
  • The type of skin problems you saw develop and when.
  • The season when the problem first started. Some skin diseases are related to the season of the year.
  • The area on the body where the problem was first noticed.
  • Any previous treatments and how your cat responded to treatment. For example, if your cat did not improve if given antibiotics, this helps your veterinarian exclude certain diseases.
  • The presence of fleas, ticks, or mites.
  • The health of other animals with which your cat has been in contact.
  • The environment of your cat. Changes in the animal's environment can influence the development of certain skin diseases.

Resolving dermatitis requires that your veterinarian identify the underlying cause and treat secondary infections or other complications. A review of your cat's history and a physical examination can more precisely define the problem.

Last full review/revision July 2011 by Karen A. Moriello, DVM, DACVD; Thomas R. Klei, PhD; David Stiller, MS, PhD; Stephen D. White, DVM, DACVD; Michael W. Dryden, DVM, PhD; Carol S. Foil, DVM, MS, DACVD; Paul Gibbs, BVSc, PhD, FRCVS; John E. Lloyd, BS, PhD; Bernard Mignon, DVM, PhD, DEVPC; Wayne Rosenkrantz, DVM, DACVD; Patricia A. Talcott, MS, DVM, PhD, DABVT; Alice Villalobos, DVM, DPNAP; Patricia D. White, DVM, MS, DACVD
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