Veterinarian-written / veterinarian-approved articles for your cat.

Skin Infections in Cats

Primary skin infections are rare in cats.

Cats can get skin infections as primary conditions, but more often, they are secondary to some other disease process.

Skin infections in cats are caused by many different types of bacteria and yeast. Typically, these are organisms that are present on the skin in small numbers all the time without causing harm but for some reason, they suddenly drastically increase and a cause problem.

Signs of Skin Infections in Cats

A cat with a skin infection may show one or all of the following signs:

  • Excessive licking or chewing at one or more areas of the skin
  • Hair loss, either generally or excessively in one spot
  • Raised bumps on the skin
  • Reddened skin
  • Increased hairball vomiting
  • Foul odor to the skin

Diagnosis of Feline Skin Infections

If you see any of the above signs in your cat, it's time to visit the veterinarian. Not doing so can lead to a painful, medication-resistant infection or even the development of an OCD-type licking behavior. When you take your cat to the veterinarian, he or she will ask you a lot of questions about what you've noticed and when and will do a thorough physical examination.

To help diagnose which organisms might be involved in the skin infection, the doctor may do a skin cytology test. Discovering which organisms are involved will help the veterinarian decide on an appropriate treatment. He or she may perform other skin related tests, as well, to look for an underlying thing that might have triggered the skin infection. Those tests can include:

Skin Infections in Cats Are Often Secondary

Primary skin infections in cats are rare. They can, however, occur, most often when a cat is bathed and not dried well afterward.

Other conditions which can result in secondary skin infections include:

In these cases, the primary disease process must be diagnosed and treated along with the secondary skin infection.

Treatment of Skin Infections in Cats

Treatment of the skin infection itself may include topical application of creams or ointments, injectable or oral antibacterial or antifungal medications, medicated shampoos, or a combination of those. If the skin infection is secondary to another condition, that primary condition will have its own treatments, which vary.

You May Also Like These Articles:

Flea Allergy Dermatitis in Cats

Ringworm in Cats

Psychogenic Alopecia in Cats

Inhalant Allergies in Cats

Food Allergies in Cats

Common Causes of Ear Problems in Cats

Flea Allergy Dermatitis in Cats

Skin Cytology in Cats

Disclaimer: This website is not intended to replace professional consultation, diagnosis, or treatment by a licensed veterinarian. If you require any veterinary related advice, contact your veterinarian promptly. Information at CatHealth.com is exclusively of a general reference nature. Do not disregard veterinary advice or delay treatment as a result of accessing information at this site. Just Answer is an external service not affiliated with CatHealth.com.

Notice: Ask-a-Vet is an affiliated service for those who wish to speak with a veterinary professional about their pet's specific condition. Initially, a bot will ask questions to determine the general nature of your concern. Then, you will be transferred to a human. There is a charge for the service if you choose to connect to a veterinarian. Ask-a-Vet is not manned by the staff or owners of CatHealth.com, and the advice given should not delay or replace a visit to your veterinarian.