How can I tell which my cat has? Is it flea dirt or feline acne?

Question

My cat is a 3 year old spayed female. She only has it on her chin.

Answer 1

If it is under the chin it is most likely the acne. Fleas will concentrate near the top of the head and neck and all over the body. I think if your cat had fleas you would know it - much more scatching and unless she is a black cat they are pretty visible.

Get a flea comb and run it over her body to rule out fleas. If you are using plastic bowls for feeding or water switch to glass or stainless steel. I personally prefer the glass.

Answer 2

NATURAL ACNE PROTOCOL
1/ Never, ever touch your face.
2/ Use 3 facecloths to wash your face, one to soap on, one to soap off with very hot water, one to rinse off with ice cold water, in that order, once a day.
3/ If you are under 18 take 5,000 IU of vitamin A once a day with a full meal
4/ If you are over 18 take 5,000 IU of vitamin A twice a day with a full meal.
Do not get pregnant while taking vitamin A. Do not take any more, like Accutane, it will stop you growing.
5/ Never, ever. pick, squeeze or pop your spot. Read number 1 again.
6/ Do this for 90 days.
7/ Invest in a brand new pillow and 2 new or more pillow cases to �double bag' your pillow. HOT wash every couple of days.
Source:
A bit of advice given to me as a teenager, a bit of science as I am studying allergic reactions and vitamin A is a part of that. A bit of research: I sat in a lecture at the back and watched the acne prone pick at their faces, those with the worse acne touched their faces 32 times in an hour, the clearest complexions didn't touch their faces even once. I have circumstantial evidence that acne is the result of dermatophyte transfer from hands to face...where it does not get washed off and is well fed by hormones, sweat a
nd oil...just a hypothesis... But it would explain why vitamin A is so effective as vitamin causes skin to remove dermatophytes.

The secret is never to touch the spots

Tips on how to treat acne and achieve perfect clear skin in as little as 7 days?

Answer 3

Acne

Answer 4

My cat had the exact same thing and it is acne. It's because her food and water bowls are not kept clean. Use glass or porcelain bowls (NO plastic!) and wash them with hot, soapy water (or run through the dishwasher) at least a couple times a week. I did this and my cat's acne was gone within 2 weeks.

Answer 5

Most likely acne. Fleas move around the body of their host a lot, so if it were fleas she would have "dirt" all over her body.

Answer 6

I agree, since it is confined to the chin area only, it sounds like acne. I have attached a couple of links that provide good information. The second has a picture of feline acne.

One of my cats had acne when she was younger, probably about the age of yours (she is 16 yo now). Hers was on her chin and the edges of her lips. They actually look like blackheads. Her vet told me to just wash with warm water, but you should follow the instructions of your cat's vet.

I quit feeding mine in plastic then, too. I went to my local pottery shop and found 10 inch in diameter and about 1 1/2 inch deep glazed dishes like you would use under a plant. Since they are glazed, they can be washed with hot, soapy water to sterilize. I use these for their dry food. They I shop second hand stores or yard sales for odd saucer and dessert plates to use for wet food. These can be washed easily by hand or in the dishwasher, and saves the dishes that match your place settings!

Purrs to you and kitty! Hope she feels better soon!

Answer 7

if its black like dirt its flea dirt. you can bathe this cat and put front line plus on him every 30 days and it will get rid of it i dont' think it has acne.

Answer 8

You may not be able to see them, but they are most likely there. Use a very, very fine comb and comb the kitty while he is on something white. The flea eggs will drop off the comb. They look like v.v. tiny black dots. You will need to get some form of flea treatment. There is a lot of stuff available, but I suggest you discuss the options with a vet. Some mousses and powders are toxic. I use a monthly treatment that works pretty well. It is a liquid contained in a capsule that we rub on his back between the shoulders Fleas can transmit tape worm and fleas are not fussy about their food source, so you could end up with some as well if the cat is heavily infested. Good luck.

Answer 9

take a flea comb and the little bits drop them onto a damp kitchen roll or toilet paper white is better if it stars going red aroun or reddish brown that is blood from flea droppings hope that answers your question.