Advice for Cat Acne

I checked Singa's gums and teeth yesterday. Though I wrapped her into a towel it was difficult enough! From what I can see her teeth are cleaner than before, but there is plaque around the gums. I could not see signs of gingivitis though.
Will check with the vet on the dental...

Soleils Acne seems to be getting worse although I clean it.

I had a cat with the acne once, and the more I fooled around with it the worse it got. I goes away eventually, it takes time. One dabbing with a cotton ball with 1 part peroxide, and 2 parts water once or twice a day should be sufficient. LEave it alone!

OMG! Got the quote for the dental cleaning today. It's 250-300 GBP. That's around USD 450!!!!

Dang! Will need to get more quotes from others. That is just terribly expensive!

Sorry I'm getting into this conversation so late. Please don't discount the possibility that the acne could be a food allergy.

Every one of my cats have had feline acne. None of them responded to washes, ointments or systemic antibiotics. Every one of them eventually turned out to be related to a food allergy. Spooky's was so bad (open, purulent draining sores) that we did a biopsy. Hers cleared up when I switched from Meow Mix to Anergen (hypoallergenic). Maggie and Lola were both sensitive to Purina One. I think Cleo's was also from Purina One, however, she was never "officially" fed it, I think she stole some from time to time. Once I eliminated it from the house, everyone's chin acne disappeared, and so far, hasn't returned!

I don't know if this helps, at all, but I once had a cat who had acne on her chin. I did use plastic bowls at the time (long ago and didn't know any better). Now I use stainless steel and wash the ones that I use for canned food every day. The dry food ones get washed about once a week.

That same cat over-groomed on her belly. Eventually I figured out she was allergic to turkey. Sadly, it was her favorite food. When I stopped giving her turkey, no more acne and no more over-grooming.

One of the cats I have now would eat dry food (and rarely her wet food meal) too fast and would throw up. Someone told me to put a ball in her bowl (bowl about 5 inches across) to slow her down. It works very well. She rarely throws up now. But I have to do it with all the cat bowls, because they all eat each others food. But, they don't seem to mind. The balls are plastic, so I wash them with bleach once a week. I'd like to find stainless balls to use. They need to be the size of a golf ball.

So, I would suspect the change in food may be Singa's problem, and now your other cat, too. Maybe try another wet food so they will still have the pleasure. And I'd try the golf ball size ball in the bowl of dry food, but not a big bowl, or it won't work. And I'd go with stainless bowls.

I hope you find the solution.

Robin

Just saw this thread and figured I would throw in my regiment of acne fighting. I also have a kitty who gets acne really bad. We have pinned it down to seasonal allergies as it flares up mainly in the early spring and early fall.

After trying tons of stuff that never seemed to work the vet finally told me to try Alcohol Free Stridex Pads (can't have more than 2% salicylic acid). Not sure if they have those over in the UK, but they are wipes that you use to treat human acne. He also gave us an antibacterial ear wash to use on his ears since whenever the acne flares up he seems to get ear infections.

We only use the Stridex Pads once a day (as this was the instructions from the vet) but even with really bad flare ups it keeps the chin acne at a minimum. We also use a flea comb to gently brush out the "crusties" before we clean his face.

Talk to your vet about it and see what they say.

Originally Posted by bastetservant

I don't know if this helps, at all, but I once had a cat who had acne on her chin. I did use plastic bowls at the time (long ago and didn't know any better). Now I use stainless steel and wash the ones that I use for canned food every day. The dry food ones get washed about once a week.

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Your dry food bowls should be washed every day too. Dry food leaves a residue that turns rancid very quickly. Ick.

Well, otto, I don't have any problems the way I do it, and have done it for a very long time. I have 5 cats currently, and 50 years of experience living with cats and caring for them. Also, I volunteer at a first rate shelter that places over 400 cats a year. So, I think I know what to do, and what works, and what is not necessary, and what is. One can go crazy with all this. But, really, one can do what is sensible, and everyone is just fine.

Thanks, though, but I wasn't asking for advice. I was just trying to help someone with a problem, someone who asked. There is a difference between doing that and giving unsolicited advice. One is, hopefully welcome, the other can be presumptuous and offensive. I bet you only meant the best for my cats. Don't worry, they are very, very, very, well cared for. I do know what I'm doing. I make a point of it.

By the way, the cat with the acne problem lived many years after I was able to figure out her problem and eliminate it. She lived to be 19. She was very dear. Her name was Lulu. She was a very small black cat. I never loved anyone more, of any species, in my whole long life, than her.

Robin

Dear all, thanks for all the great advice!

It is getting quite frustrating trying everything but never getting any results. With allergies it's so difficult to spot what exactly they could be allergic too.

If I eliminate the cause, how long would it take before I notice it is getting better? I don't want to eliminate all possible sources at once (Eg. taking the wet food treat away if it's not actually causing harm, changing the bowls again from ceramic to stainless steel etc...)

I have 3 more pouches of the wet food left. I think I'll use them up and then return back to dry food for now. Unfortunately they will not eat any other healthy wet food - they like the junk food Still leaves me with the question what dry food I should get since the one I'm using is coming to an end now... I could go back to Royal Canine which they seemed to be fine with when we lived in Singapore, but I was hoping to get something more healthy.... The brand that does the wetfood has a good dry as well, but I guess I shouldn't risk it




Robin,
I was once told to put a spoon in the bowl to stop them from throwing up - I think that is similar to the ball you suggest. I did this when Singa was a kitten, but forgot all about it. Thanks for reminding me!

btw -

Originally Posted by bastetservant

the cat with the acne problem lived many years after I was able to figure out her problem and eliminate it. She lived to be 19. She was very dear. Her name was Lulu. She was a very small black cat. I never loved anyone more, of any species, in my whole long life, than her.

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brings tears to my eyes. Singa is my baby too and I really want her to feel better soon!

oh... forgot to add...

general question:

Acne can be caused by stress, bacteria and allergies (if I got that right)...

things I am targeting or have targeted:

- change food bowls and clean daily (check) - possibly change to stainless
- change food / discontinue wet food
- get dentals cleaned

what about:
- ceramic cat fountain. It gets cleaned once every 1-2 weeks

Originally Posted by bastetservant

Well, otto, I don't have any problems the way I do it, and have done it for a very long time. I have 5 cats currently, and 50 years of experience living with cats and caring for them. Also, I volunteer at a first rate shelter that places over 400 cats a year. So, I think I know what to do, and what works, and what is not necessary, and what is. One can go crazy with all this. But, really, one can do what is sensible, and everyone is just fine.

Thanks, though, but I wasn't asking for advice. I was just trying to help someone with a problem, someone who asked. There is a difference between doing that and giving unsolicited advice. One is, hopefully welcome, the other can be presumptuous and offensive. I bet you only meant the best for my cats. Don't worry, they are very, very, very, well cared for. I do know what I'm doing. I make a point of it.

By the way, the cat with the acne problem lived many years after I was able to figure out her problem and eliminate it. She lived to be 19. She was very dear. Her name was Lulu. She was a very small black cat. I never loved anyone more, of any species, in my whole long life, than her.

Robin

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My comment is pertinent to the discussion. When dealing with feline acne the first two things to consider are:

1) what type of feeding and water dishes are being used

and

2) how clean are the dishes kept.

Dry food (and the saliva left from frequent nibbling) leaves a residue that becomes rancid and harbors bacteria. Dirty dishes and old bacteria laden food are both very common causes of feline acne.

I will continue to advise people to always throw away uneaten dry food after 12 hours, clean the dishes before putting fresh food in, and never put fresh food over old.

i found that my guy's acne decreased within a week and was gone within about 3 when we switched from plastic bowls to ceramic.