Cat skin

Ear discharge in cats describes build up of grit and debris in the ear canal, as well as drainage of bodily fluids including blood, pus, or lymphatic fluid.

Feline skin can break open and ooze blood, clear fluid, or pus due to an injury, infection, or illness.

Coat condition can be a useful indicator of overall health in cats.

When a cat develops patches of dark skin, referred to as hyperpigmentation. Cats may develop dark or black areas on their skin due to chronic irritation, hormonal changes, prolonged UV exposure, certain cancers, or as a result of a genetic condition.

Any area of skin that is abnormally different from the tissue around it can be described as a skin lesion. Skin lesions vary widely in appearance and include sores, blisters, ulcers, wounds, rashes, warts, tumors, color changes, and any other abnormalities.

Dandruff is the presence of excessive amounts of dry, flaky skin near the hair roots. Cats of any age may develop dandruff.

*Candida* is a yeast-like fungus that exists as part of the normal flora of cats. Candidiasis is a condition where there is an overgrowth of this fungus within the body in cats.

Recluse spider bite in cats occurs when an animal is bitten by a spider belonging to the recluse spider family which are found worldwide but primarily in the southwestern and southern central US.

A rash is a very common symptom of many skin conditions in cats. Rashes include many different skin abnormalities including red spots, hair loss, scabs, raw patches, and thick crusting with wrinkled skin (lichenification).

Fatty tissue tumors are masses of cells which develop under the skin in cats and are primarily composed of fat. They are soft to the touch, round, and not anchored, so they tend to move freely when pressed.

An abscess in cats is a localized collection of pus inside a cavity; abscesses can occur anywhere in the body, but this article focuses on subcutaneous abscesses. Punctures in the skin seal over quickly, trapping bacteria, which then multiplies.

Seborrhea is a skin disorder in cats caused by abnormal keratinization (the process where skin cells grow and shed). It occurs as both oily (seborrhea oleosa) and dry (seborrhea sicca) and results in flaking skin.

Cutaneous hemangiosarcoma (HSA) is a rare malignant skin cancer in cats that arises from abnormal cells within blood vessels. Cutaneous HSA usually arises on the head and ears in lightly haired areas.

Fibrosarcomas are a group of malignant tumors (cancer) that originate in fibrous connective tissue. This type of tumor develops slowly and does not often spread, but can cause extensive tissue damage.

A hot spot (pyotraumatic dermatitis) is an infection that develops on the surface of the skin as a result of a cat licking, scratching, or biting the skin. Hot spots are uncommon in cats.

Feline pyoderma is a bacterial skin infection in cats. Pyoderma translates to “pus in the skin,” and is uncommon in cats, although it may be underdiagnosed. Pyoderma occurs when the normal, resident bacterial population of the skin (microflora), moves through the skin barrier resulting in an infection.

Foxtails and other grasses produce seeds that have evolved to stick to hair and penetrate skin as a dispersal mechanism. Grass awns penetrate the body through the skin or tissue around the eyes, but are also often found in the mouth, nose, or ears.

Feline acne occurs when the follicles on the chin become clogged with oils from the skin and dirt from the environment. The causes are not fully understood but have been linked to poor grooming, infection, stress, allergies, or abnormal sebum production.

Melanomas are tumors of pigment-producing cells, known as melanocytes. Formation of melanoma involves a complex combination of genetic and environmental factors and may be malignant or benign. Feline melanoma usually develops in the mouth, eyes, or skin.

Dermatophytosis, also known as ringworm, is a fungal infection of the skin, hair, or nails. Infection occurs through contact between broken skin and infected animals or contaminated surfaces.

Botflies are large, bee-like insects, whose larvae cause cuterebriasis in cats. Cuterebriasis occurs when botfly larvae grow to maturity in a cat’s skin, resulting in large, soft swellings

Frostbite is a rare condition in cats that results from loss of blood flow to parts of the body as a result of extreme cold. The body restricts blood flow to the extremities when exposed to severely cold temperature.

Papillomatosis is the development of oral or cutaneous papillomas (also called warts) due to infection by a papillomavirus. Papillomatosis is very rare in cats.

Eosinophilic granuloma complex is a condition characterized by the appearance of lesions on the skin in response to an allergen. Eosinophils (a type of white blood cell) target the allergen in the blood, leading to a grouping of inflammatory cells (granuloma) that creates a large mass or lesion on the skin.

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is a cancer of the flat cells that line many tissues in cats, such as the skin, mouth, and esophagus. SCC occurs most commonly where hair is sparse or light-colored as there is less protection from UV rays.

Scooting is a behavior where the pet sits, lifts its rear legs into the air and uses its front legs to drag the anal area across the floor. This is a normal behavior in response to itchiness, but becomes a medical concern if it is excessive or accompanied by other symptoms, especially around the perineal area.

Feline alopecia or hair loss is the partial or complete absence of hair in areas of the body where hair is expected to be.

Demodicosis is a form of mange caused by parasitic Demodex spp. mites. It differs from sarcoptic mange and notoedric mange, or “feline scabies”, which are caused by Sarcoptes spp. mites.

Cheyletiellosis in cats is a form of mange commonly known as ‘walking dandruff’. Caused by parasitic Cheyletiella species of mites living on the skin of many animals including cats, dogs, and rabbits

Feline scabies, or mange, is a rare, but highly contagious condition caused by the parasitic mite Notoedres cati.