Feline Acne

Feline Acne

Cats are affected by acne as humans do. The acne of acts is what many people call as "feline acne". Well, feline acne is relatively a common cat disorder characterized by the formation of comedones or blackheads on the cat's lower lip, face and chin. Its formation is highly triggered by the over activity of the enlarged sebaceous glands around the cat's face. And, these glands are under hormonal control and the chin-marking pheromone producers which cats use to mark their territory by means of bunting.

In particular, the cat's facial sebaceous glands are activated when they do the marking, that is, rubbing their faces against several household objects. It was also this oily secretion that serves to help waterproof a cat's coat and protect the suppleness of their skin.

However, many cats have sebaceous glands that overproduce such oily secretions, which then aggravate a greasy layer on the cat's fur and skin that can result to feline acne. The feline acne is commonly evident on white or pale colored cats, as their fur may appear to have a yellow and greasy discoloration. Numerous findings have shown that in mild cases of feline acne, the hair follicles around the chin and mouth of a cat may become clogged with black sebaceous material, which triggers the formation of blackheads. After this condition, secondary infection may follow, thus resulting in inflammation of the hair follicles as well as the formation of papules and pustules from which pus may be extracted. And, in severe feline acne cases, the area can then become inflamed, swollen, cystic, or scarred. For instance, the affected Persians may produce a symmetrical pattern of waxy black material on the hairs of their face and chin, which signals severe feline acne.

Feline acne can affect and plague the life of a cat at any age. There are some instances that severe feline acne can easily develop and may be too hard top get rid of. For this matter, some treatments for feline acne were developed, but they greatly vary in forms. In most common cases of feline acne, the use of antibiotic soap, benzyl peroxide, or human acne pads can help clear up the infection. Oral antibiotics are sometimes prescribed for severe feline acne. And, some preventive maintenance are suggested such as employing metal or ceramic feeding dishes as opposed to plastic, since plastic is considered to be the breeding ground of bacteria. Feline acne can also be prevented by washing dishes on a frequent and regular basis, as well as wiping off the cat's face after mealtime. But, perhaps the best way to avoid feline acne is to schedule an appointment with your veterinarian at the first sign of black spots in the cat's chin as feline acne is a potentially chronic condition that should not be ignored.