How To Tell If Your Cat Has A Skin Condition

Hair loss. Because cats have barbed tongues, like a mini hairbrush, overgrooming can cause extensive hair loss. This may be through pulling fur out, but more often it’s the constant trauma that makes hairs break off near the base. You’ll see bald patches, but if you look closely there may still be hair spikes left. This will be different if your cat has a true hair loss issue – for example, the hair has stopped growing or is being lost at the root for some reason – because then the skin will be bald.

Redness or inflammation. Because our pets have fur, you may not notice inflamed, red skin unless it affects hairless areas like the insides of the ears or tummy, or if there is hair loss. If you’re concerned, you can part the fur and see if there are places on the skin that are redder than others.

Signs of parasites. Fleas are a common cause of skin issues, especially in allergic cats. Look for parasites themselves, flea dirt (this is flea poo full of blood that looks like specks of dirt but will turn red if moistened on tissue paper), and scabs, especially round the tail base and ears/neck.

Abscesses. Cats are solitary animals by nature and usually view other cats as a threat. Abscesses are a common result of fighting. They are often on the face and head or near the rear end. They are pockets of infection and pus that gradually build up like a pimple and then burst. Abscesses appear as soft swellings at first, but can leak pus and cause hair loss when they come to a head.

Scabs. Again, these may be well hidden, but if your cat likes to be petted, you may feel crusts or scabs in the fur.

All of these signs mean your cat may have a skin condition or an underlying medical issue. With any concern you have, no matter how small, don’t hesitate to talk to your vet. You will never be time-wasting. We would always prefer to be safe than sorry and the earlier you tackle a medical issue, the better.

Reviewed by Dr. Hein Meyer, DVM, PhD, Dipl-ECVIM-CA