Introduction

Dermatitis in cats is an inflammatory, irritating, often pruritic (itchy) and painful condition that can be somewhat simple to diagnose but difficult to treat. Cats in particular seem prone to inflammatory skin reactions caused by parasites, bacteria, fungi and food or drug allergens. The general terms “feline miliary dermatitis” or “scabby cat disease” are sometimes used to describe this crusting and itchy skin condition in cats, which presumably is caused by some adverse reaction to an irritant. A number of tests are available to help veterinarians diagnose dermatitis generally, and hopefully to determine the cause of the condition specifically.

Diagnosing Feline Dermatitis

When a cat presents with signs of skin inflammation, the veterinarian will begin a search for the underlying cause of the condition. This diagnostic journey normally begins with a thorough history and physical examination, focusing on whether any outside factors (fleas or other external parasites, exposure to any potential environmental allergens, etc.) are easily identifiable as possible causes. Flea bites can cause horrible dermatitis in cats, and demodectic mange can also cause similar symptoms. Your veterinarian will examine your cat’s hair coat to look for signs of external parasites and probably will perform a fecal analysis to check for internal parasites which might be causing or contributing to a weakened immune system. She may also do a skin scraping to help identify any parasites that have burroughed deep into the cat’s hair follicles. Other initial tests usually include taking swabs of ear residue and examining them microscopically (to check for ear mites or other organisms), and in some cases a quick Wood’s lamp test to see if the cat’s skin has been infected with ringworm.

If no obvious cause of dermatitis is found, the search must go on. Blood tests can help to rule out systemic causes of dermatitis, such as immune disorders. If blood tests are normal, the veterinarian probably will focus on possible causes of hypersensitivity (allergic) reactions that could contribute to skin inflammation. Dietary changes may be recommended to rule in or out possible food allergies, and shampoos or other topical products may be considered as well.

If an external parasitic, bacterial or fungal infection is isolated, the cat will be treated appropriately with topical, oral or injectible medications to eliminate the causative irritants and calm and soothe the inflammatory skin reaction.

Sometimes, the underlying cause of feline dermatitis is never discovered, but certain prescription medications and shampoos still may help to reduce the severity of the symptoms. If left untreated, dermatitis can progress to secondary bacterial skin and possibly systemic infections. If your cat shows signs of dermatitis, make an appointment with your veterinarian as soon as possible.