What is feline acne?
Feline acne is actually quite common in cats. Feline acne can occur as blackheads on a cat’s face, chin, and even lower lip. The reason for feline acne is not unlike that of the acne that humans experience: overactive sebaceous glands. However, there is no relationship between feline acne and acne that you or your teenager might experience. Feline acne is not contagious. If your cat has acne, you are not able to get acne from him.
Sebaceous glands are found in the skin and are connected to a hair follicle. These glands secrete a substance called sebum. Sebum lubricates the skin and coat and prevents the skin and hair coat from drying out. When the sebaceous glands become blocked with sebaceous material it forms comedones or blackheads; this is what is commonly called feline acne. Feline acne can present in a very mild form or be quite severe. The severe cases will often have a secondary bacterial infection and the chin will become swollen with open sores and puss. What are the signs or symptoms of feline acne? There are multiple blackheads on the chin of cats with feline acne. These blackheads make them look like they have a dirty chin. In more moderate cases the blackheads can abscess and the chin will feel crusty. Severe cases of feline acne involve hair loss, swelling, bleeding, and itchy skin. The itchiness may prompt the cat to scratch the already inflamed skin causing trauma and opening the area to a secon
