The cat skin, unlike human, is very tough. Made up of numerous layers of cell tissues and skin structures like the hair follicles, sensory cells, and sebaceous glands, it has very good blood supply and has three main functions – to act as a sensory layer around the entire body, to regulate body temperature and to act as a protective layer covering for the internal structures and organs.
It is important to take note and check up on your cat’s skin regularly because most of the cat breeds’ skin is covered in fur. It is not uncommon for a cat owner to discover that their cat has develop some skin diseases until there is hair loss or the development of sores.
In order to prevent your cat from developing any serious skin conditions, you can take a little more effort during grooming to check up on your cat’s skin. Run your hand gently over his body and explore the skin for any unusual patches, if you find any, part the fur by brushing it slightly, so that you can see beneath the fur and have a better look at the skin. If you do this often enough and understand your cat’s body, you would be able to spot any irregularities easily.
It is common for cats to develop skin related conditions and illnesses. Listed below are the main ones that affect most cat breeds.
Cheyletiellosis in cats is caused by skin mites and is particularly contagious between cats as well as humans. In cats, the symptoms are itching and it usually results in heavy scaling and flaking of the skin, which is why Cheyletiellosis in cats is popular known as “walking dandruff”. This skin condition is usually not deadly and can be easily treated with the right medication once the condition has been diagnosed and confirmed.
Alopecia in cats will cause hair loss due to endocrine disturbances, localized infections, or generalized illnesses. The condition can also be a result of stress. The symptoms included bald patches on the skin and can be accompanied by reddened or inflamed skin. Not a deadly skin disease, and with proper treatment, the fur will most likely grow back.
Acne in cats is a common condition and can be easily treated. Nevertheless, there are other skin conditions such as ringworm and mange whose symptoms are closely related to cat acne. Therefore it is still important to seek veterinary advice whenever you spot any cat skin problems and you are unsure.
While most skin conditions are caused by allergies to food and pest bites can be easily managed and treated, early detection is still vital to ensure that your cat skin is always healthy, beautiful and protected from suffering any serious skin conditions.
