Cat acne

Cat acne is very common in cats. Acne in cats is not a big problem and does not interfere with normal functioning. It only causes unsightly pimples around the mouth, which doesn’t look very aesthetically pleasing. In today’s article you will find information on why cats develop acne and how to deal with cat acne.

Causes of cat acne

It is generally assumed that feline acne has an unknown cause. Only we can determine the probable cause of its formation. It is assumed that it arises, as in humans, as a result of hormonal disorders, but this is not proven. Below you will find all the possible causes of acne in cats.

Hormonal disorders

Hormonal imbalances may be the first cause of feline acne. Most often, this is due to the rapid development of the young organism. It can be assumed that with the rapid growth of the organism, various processes take place, e.g. hormonal, which in the first phase are unregulated – as in most young, developing mammals.

Abnormal development of hair follicles

Another cause may be problems related to the disorder of the formation of hair follicles. In this case, inflammation occurs, which becomes visible in the form of acne. That is, pustules with pus or water discharge. As a result of this phenomenon, an infection occurs within the skin.

Bacterial or fungal inflammations

Another reason for the formation of cat acne is inflammation with a bacterial or fungal basis. It should be emphasized that acne with the aforementioned bacterial or fungal background is rare. However, it can be found.

Immune disorders

The causes of cat acne can include inflammation caused by allergies. Usually, reactions are caused by an incorrectly selected diet. In this case, the places where acne occurs are additionally itchy.

Weak immunity

Cat acne can be triggered by a weakened immune system. Then it often occurs at the turn of moulting and changing seasons. During the change of coat, the cat’s body is heavily loaded, and thus susceptible to various types of skin infections.

Disorders around the sebaceous glands

Another reason for the formation of inflammation around the mouth may be disorders caused by the improper functioning of the sebaceous glands. This problem correlates with folliculitis.

Vitamin deficiency

Another reason for the formation of acne in cats may be a deficiency of vitamins that affect the proper functioning of the hair follicles, sebaceous glands and skin within the mouth. Acne can be caused by a deficiency of vitamin D, zinc, copper, imbalance of Omega 3 to Omega 6. So, to sum up, we should try to provide the cat with a well-balanced diet in order to prevent or cure acne.

How to fight cat acne?

First, you need to determine the cause of acne in your cat, and then select the appropriate treatment or supplementation. If we have a young, growing cat, we should provide him with a proper diet that will affect the proper development of the body. In the case of young, growing cats, the problem usually goes away after reaching maturity, and in female cats after the first estrus.

In other cases, if the cat suffers from acne for a long time, let’s go to the doctor to diagnose the problem and determine the appropriate treatment.

Personally, as a caregiver, it is worth taking blood tests. In addition, a great solution is to perform a coat test to exclude zinc and copper deficiency. Unfortunately, blood testing of these elements can be unreliable.

In addition, we can take care of increasing the immunity of our cat. For this purpose, wild rose and brewer’s yeast work well. Rosehip is a source of vitamin C. Brewer’s yeast is a source of B vitamins. They contain beta-glucan, which has a positive effect on the immune system. In addition, brewer’s yeast contains zinc, copper and selenium, which affect the structure and development of hair and hair follicles.