Cat-O-Rama

Can I pull the huge blackheads out with tweezers and then put a little salicylic acid on them?
Thank you for the suggestions, guys. Her dishes are metal and when we feed her wet food it goes in a ceramic dish which we clean in the dishwasher. I heard somewhere that dry food can cause acne, due to the grease getting on their chin. Is this true?

Hi there,

Do not pull out any blackheads. That can start a major infection and inflammation, which will result in your cat’s scratching at the resulting sores, only making it worse. Salicylic acid may be toxic to a feline as well.

Take a warm washcloth and carefully wash the area. Get some neosporin ointment and dab a bit on the chin and rub it in.

Change your dishes to ceramic, glass or Porcelain, as plastic dishes have been implicated in causing feline acne.

If this condition doesn’t improve with gentle washing and the antibiotic ointment, do have your kitty treated by a veterinarian.

Hope this helps,

Good luck with your kitty.

Troublesniffer
Owned by cats for over 40 years
Member: Cat Writer’s Association

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He is an indoor cat, and he has these black things on his chin, ive been googling and I think he has feline acne. Im so grossed out, he is lazy and doesnt bathe himself very well so his fur is greasy and he has dandruff too..what are some safe and gentle products I can use to clean his fur?

I dont want to tramatize him, but I think he is overdue for a good scrub! Can I use baby shampoo on him, or liquid soap..or does it have to be animal shampoo?

My vet said that there were some environmental changes I could make to help with my cat’s feline acne. He didn’t suggest anything be done medically unless the area became red and thickened, then antibiotics might be needed.

First, make sure you don’t use plastic bowls. Use ceramic or stainless steel, and make sure that you wash the bowls daily. You want to reduce the amount of oily residue that he is exposed to.

As far as his skin and coat you can safely bathe him with a gentle pet shampoo. No human shampoo or soap would work, the pH is not right for a cat’s skin. I like to use an oatmeal based soap like Epi-soothe (from vet) because it’s very gentle. I would definitely advise that you trim his nails before any baths, most cats are not a big fan.

You should also take a look at his diet. Food allergies can cause skin problems, as can lower quality foods. Also, if your cat is overweight that could be contributing to his lack of grooming.

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I think my cat has feline acne on his chin. Has anyone had to deal with this and what was the cost for the testing and treatment? How long did it take to heal? I think my cat may have an infection from it. His appointment is tomorrow, but I would like to know about cost. So I can make changes to my budget. Thank you.
I think it is now infected. his chin is swollen, soft and tender on one side. I was using peroxide to clean, but it has just gotten worse. I think he scratches it and not is infected. How long to heal the infection with treatment.

Also, I thank you all so much for your answers, I really appreciate it. I was thinking his vet bills would be in the hundreds……because all the web sites say that testing needs to be done first to make sure it is not mange or other infections
oops, i mean he scratches it and I think it IS infected.

Yeah, that’s quite common. I’ve never known a vet to test for it - do doctors even run rests to confirm human acne? It can be diagnosed by clinical signs and then treatment is mostly antibiotic/steroidal cream. It isn’t an expensive or complicated thing to sort out. It will probably just be the price of a consult fee with your vet and then the price of the meds, which may only be a tube of cream!

This is really just like human acne; it can clear up after a few weeks of treatment but may return and require repeat treatment.

Chalice

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I am fostering an adult cat that was found abandoned in a campground. He’s a sweetheart but I can tell he’s been though some tough times. He has seen a vet through the rescue I am fostering for and has his vaccinations, they also diagnosed him as blind but well he’s not. I think he just had some sort of brain damage or trauma, he can see but he’s a little off. Anyway I just noticed he has black, crusty dots on his chin. I’ve heard of feline acne and from what I can tell that’s what he’s got. I’m no vet but I know he doesn’t have ringworm or demodex, and the only other thing it can be is acne. If anyone has experience or can offer treatment advice I’d be grateful. Of course as always if it becomes a problem he will see a vet but any way I can prevent it from getting worse would help! Cedar has been through enough I’d like to get him in tip-top shape before he is adopted out. He is a beautiful cat!! The reddest cat I’ve ever seen! and a Classic Tabby too! anyway thanks in advance. Here is a pic of Cedar.. http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n15/jaspertopaz6/goodbyehello114.jpg
Yeah I read about the food bowls they have stainless steel and glass bowls so no problem there.
Thanks everyone! I love my fosterbabies and I just really like to see them go from sick/down and out to beautiful healthy cats. Cedar already looks much better and has put on weight and his coat has really improved! I’m gonna try peroxide and salt washes on his chin and see how it goes. Thanks again for all the great advice!
Yeah he is flaming red! Check out the picture at the link I posted the first time I saw him I was like WHOA!! But it suits me fine I’m a redhead too!!

What causes feline acne?

The exact cause of feline acne isn’t known. There are several possible causes however including

Stress
Plastic food bowls is commonly discouraged, especially in cats with feline acne. This is because they are porous & trap bacteria, which is then transferred to the cat’s chin. It has also been suggested that an allergic reaction to the plastic food bowl is a cause.

Poor grooming habits
Over active sebaceous glands
Food allergies

What are the symptoms of feline acne?
The chin & possibly lips have black spots (comedones) on it, which look like dirt.
Secondary infection may lead to swollen, red, pustules, leading to bleeding due to irritation.

As there are other conditions with similar symptoms to feline acne, it is important to take your cat to the veterinarian for a proper diagnosis & appropriate treatment.

How is feline acne treated?
Treatment of feline acne depends on the severity of the condition. Removing excess sebum is the aim. Some treatments include:
If the condition is mild, with only a few comedones, topical treatment may be all that is required. Gentle cleansing with an antibiotic soap, hydrogen peroxide, iodine (Betadine) or Epsom salts.

Topical Vitamin A
Topical retinoids
In more severe cases, cleansing the skin with an ointment or gel containing benzoyl peroxide (such as OxyDex) or chlorhexidine may be of use.
Topical glucocorticoids to reduce inflammation.

Severe acne:

The fur around the chin may be clipped by your veterinarian to enable deep cleaning of the affected area.

Oral antibiotics to treat infection.

Oral glucocorticoids such as prednisone for severe inflammation.

Always consult your veterinarian if you suspect feline acne & never treat your cat at home with an anti-acne treatment designed for humans.

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Hi all:

We are looking for some advice and treatment ideas for our 6-month-old kitten. Last week, we discovered what appeared to be that his mouth was dirty, his mouth being the area of his chin, around his lower "lip." We then learned it is feline acne. I have had and seen many many cats and never even heard of or seen such, but according to the nurse at my vet’s office, it is common.

Since then, we have been using a treatment regimen of it by washing it 2-3 times per day with an antibacterial/antimicrobial hospital scrub/soap that is safe for animals, alternating with dilute peroxide, alternating with neosporin and hydrocortisone cream. We have changed the bowls to glass, wipe his face after he eats or drinks. It did improve for a couple of days but now it has taken a different turn and is on his upper "lip" but not anywhere as bad as the chin and lower "lip" area. He DOES have a vet appointment, but wondering what other measures I can take until that happens? I feel so badly for him : ( Now, I’m a grown woman, but treating it tonight brought me to tears.

Also, what measures can be taken to prevent this in the future - I understand that fatty acids are effective?

Thanks in advance all.
Also wanted to add that he has been eating the same food for 3 months, and feline acne has a distinct appearance.
Thank you to sleepycatz for the suggestion, the pain relief idea, and the confirmation of our treatment :3

she’s right - feline acne is a very common thing, esp if the cat has been eating out of plastic dishes. (it breaks down & releases chemicals & dyes that many cats develop reactions to in the area that touches it the most…the chin).

it sounds like you’re doing everything right that you can so far. look for an omega-3 (or omega-6 if you can’t find -3) supplement in your pet store or health food store if you want to add some fatty acids to his diet. it’s never a bad idea anyway, even if he didn’t have the acne going on.

be sure to keep the vet appt - he may have a bacterial or yeast infection which would need rx meds to clear up. this isn’t uncommon since his skin is so abraded and inflamed.

in the meantime, try adding tea to the cleaning regime. make a strong cup of it with a couple tea bags, then let it cool. soak a rag in it & put it on his chin for a few minutes at a time. the tannic acid in the tea may help reduce swelling & discomfort…it’s something we commonly suggest to people who’s pets are fighting conditions like this or hot spots. it’s not a cure by any means, but it may help ease things a little while other treatments are being done.

if these things don’t help over time, check his food to see if he’s showing signs of allergies to it. skin problems in cats is one of the more common signs, so he may need to be switched to a high-quality hypoallergenic one. don’t know what he’s eating now, but innova evo, chicken soup for cats, felidae are good one that usually have less of the allergy-causing ingredients (i.e. corn, grains & beef). they cost a bit more initially, but with less "filler" ingredients, the cat eats less and the bag lasts longer…so in the long run, it all evens out pretty well.

EDIT: feline acne is one of the skin reactions to food allergies, so yes, it would look the same…and all it takes to have a reaction is for the pet to have a previous exposure to the stimulus. pets that have been on the same food for years can suddenly develop issues with it. sometimes their body builds up an intolerance to it over time, sometimes it’s a matter of the manufacturer changing their ingredients or methods of processing. if this keeps recurring, it’s something to consider.

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I have an appointment to see the vet in a couple days but I think my cat has feline acne. Does anyone know anything about it and how it might be treated. He seems to be scratching at it quite a bit so I’m wondering if there is anything I can do for him in the mean time?
Thank you for any information or advice you may have!

Feline Acne usually occurs around the chin as it’s caused by bacteria on food dishes. You’ll see blackheads and if you squeeze one of these bumps goop comes out just like a human pimple. It’s easily remedied by tossing any plastic dishes and only using stoneware, metal or glass dishes that you wash frequently in hot water. A Stridex pad wiped on the chin once or twice a day will clear up the acne quickly.

What you’re describing sounds more like some sort of skin infection or flea allergy dermatitis. Does you cat have sores all over his body or are you really talking about Feline Acne - a few little spots on his chin?

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I think my cat’s feline acne is flaring up much worse than usual. I’m taking my cat to the vet tomorrow to verify this. My question is, how can I clean her chin in the future, without using running water, to prevent such a bad flare-up from reoccurring? She’s incredibly hard to handle, so anything involving running water and rinsing will absolutely not work. Can I use acne pads, a cotton ball soaked in witch hazel, etc.? Of course, I’m going to ask the vet this same question, but I was hoping to get a range of options to try with my difficult kitty.

Stop letting her eat chocolate… Just kidding.

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Please please help. I’ve just payed a 500$ car bill, and can’t get my cats to the vet. This SUCKS. All 4 have feline acne. I’ve been doing everything, washing bowls, cleaning sleeping area’s etc. I’ve been recommended to use Stridex to help clear it up, but it’s not doing any good. I’ve been using it for 3 days.. and i hvaen’t noticed a difference except for a cleaner acne chin. I can’t afford to get them to a vet right now, soonest I’ll be able to is in 3 weeks. But thats so far away, and I don’t want it to get worse!! Please help me, my cats look miserable. They have hair loss,scabs from itching..it looks awful. Is there anything online that I can purchase for them????? Any vets that would like to help me out ?? ANYTHING PLEASE!!!

Make sure you are using glass bowls to feed the cats in.

It’s also going to take way more than three days to clear up.

Who told you to use stridex? I’m not sure that’s safe for cats!!!

You might consider switching thier diet to a wet diet as well. One of my cats had very mild acne and it cleared up as soon as I switched him to a raw Diet. Let me know if you would like some more information about diet and how it effects a cats overall health.

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I found out my 7 year old has feline acne. I know the cause, I don’t use plastic, but I do put oil for his very dry skin (and very bad dandruff) on his food everyday. I have to do this or he gets itchy. I noticed the acne a few months ago, and found out what it actually is a few weeks ago. Anyway, took him to the vet after trying an epsom salt soak to no avail. They cleaned him up and gave me oral antibiotic (clavamox) and also medicated pads (malaseb). The BIG problem is that I can’t give either of these to him, he completely freaks out. Not while I’m doing it or even right after, about 5-10 mins later. He starts choking and spitting and jumping around. Its awful!! I think he might die right in front of me, either choke on his tongue or have a heart attack. I’ve never seen anything like it and refuse to put either one of us through it again. I’ve done them separately of each other, same result. I don’t know what else to do! For now I’ve been cleaning area with warm washcloth.
I’m afraid that if I take him back to the vet they will give him something that will have the same effect, I’m hoping to find something really mild but still helpful

If the Clavamox is the liquid, it has a terrible taste and mine, who usually take meds okay, fight when I try to give it.

I am not familiar with the medicated pads, but they must have an odor, too, and that is why he is fighting. What I would do if he was mine would be to try to get the antibiotics in him and just use a warm wash cloth to clean his chin.

The main idea is to get his acne cleared without stressing either of you more than necessary!

Here is a video that gives some ideas how to give oral medications. Hopefully this will help.

If he continues to be overly stressed giving the Clavamox, it does come in pill form and that could be hidden in food.

Purrs to you and kitty.

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My cat has feline acne on her chin. I have spent about $200 at the vet’s trying to get rid of it. I have bought special shampoo for her chin and drops. It only clears it up temporarily. And no, I don’t feed her from plastic bowls. She is only 1 and otherwise very healthy with excellent grooming habits. I feed her purina cat chow indoor formula and 9 lives wet food. Someone said she might be allergic to the yeast in it? Any ideas? Thanks for the help!
The meds only semi-clear it up, and only very temporarily.
Yes, I change her water a couple of times a day. (Her food and water bowls are not plastic.)

hey there, my taz had chin acne.. got pretty bad once too… i started to feed her out of a plate, not a bowl.. that way the food wouldn’t be touching her chin. then i’d take a very warm or almost hot wash cloth to her chin for a few min. a day. i imagine it felt good once she got over the water part. after about a month maybe 2 it went away..
i would definitely consider a higher quality food. our diet can affect our complection so i imagine it can affect cats as well..
good luck!
lj

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