Skin problem. Rescued Canadian Sphynx.

Please help! A friend of mine from Russia rescued a female Canadian sphynx named Klepa. Klepa about 3 years old and has been checked by local vet (who saw a Sphynx cat for the second time in her life). Blood tests done. Klepa appears to be healthy, but she has a skin condition on her back (large, more than an inch in diameter reddened spot) and back legs (small multiple spots). Klepa was treated with hydrocortisone cream like medicine and some oral medicine for allergy, but it did not help. As a matter of fact, the spot on cat’s back increased in size slightly. I have pictures (not very good, but good enough to get an idea). I will appreciate all help!!!

I'm not familiar with sphynx cats in particular, but there are many cats that get irritated skin from allergies - such as a food allergy, a flea allergy, and/or a contact allergy from litter or bedding. What does Klepa eat? What kind of litter is used? Do the red spots itch? Are they raised or oozing? Please tell us as much as you can. If you are only treating the symptoms, it will not fix the problem.

Thank you for your response! As far as I know: Klepa was ruled out for ringworm, fleas, and mites. When my friend found the cat in the basement of the apartment building, she fed her  some “human food” and poor cat got diarrhea and vomited. Then, my friend went through many different kind of cat’s food (Friskies, Whiskas and etc )and presently Klepa eats Royal Canin for  sphynx cats. Those spots are dry, slightly raised, and does not itch (the cat just cleans it by liking), but if hydrocortisone cream applied, then in a couple of days a spot becomes “wet”. When they found Klepa there was no skin condition, she was just very dirty and hungry and in a couple of weeks my friend noticed “a little bumps” on the skin and then skin lesions (as I mentioned before vet has no idea except change in a diet. I will ask about a litter type. I also will try post photos.




 

Hmm....this looks worse than I imagined.  

It is mind-boggling that the lesions weren't there when Klepa was found, or else I would have said she may have skin cancer. Sphynx cats are more prone to skin cancer from sun exposure. It's still something worth looking into and perhaps having a biopsy done.

I would advise to eliminate anything that could be irritating to her skin - chemicals, wool, latex, plastic, etc.

It's still possible that she's allergic to something in the food, or even water. Use 100% spring or purified water if you can.

I don't know much about sphynx cats, but I just read that they need a weekly bathing routine using mild soap and warm water.  If this is not being done, then it's possible that this is why she has these lesions. 

Here are a few links:

http://catsphynx.com/sphynx-cat-care-and-ownership/sphynx-cat-bathing/

http://www.joyofsphynx.com/2011/08/grooming-your-sphynx/

http://www.petmd.com/cat/breeds/c_ct_sphynx#.Unm-QFOFcYs

There are many, many other resources online. Apparently these kinds of cats require special care. If you give Klepa a bath, do not scrub the lesions. Maybe dab them gently.

Thank you for your reply. I will definitely check out all those websites. I thought about cancer too (especially after my friend told me that “big spot” is irregular in shape and slightly depressed; small lesions are raised above skin level slightly). I wonder why vet didn’t check that “spot” for cancer! Anyway, I will continue my search. Hope for the best!

I'm thinking that a culture and sensitivity as well as a biopsy would be helpful. This might be something autoimmune like pemphigus.