Dig this… a portion of this post is sponsored, but opinions are my own and 110% “pawthentic”!
If you thought that skin issues were only a human problem, think again! Our feline family members can also be affected by a variety of skin conditions.
Of course, there’s the occasional cut or scrape. But in addition to issues caused by injuries, many of our cats also suffer from allergic itches and other irritations, including acne.
Does it surprise you to hear that cats can get acne? Here’s the dirt on how to recognize and treat feline acne, how to know when at-home treatment isn’t enough, and how routine feline facial care can help you treat many other common issues and keep your cat’s skin healthy.
What Causes Feline Acne
Feline acne has several causes. It may stem from issues with a cat’s hair follicles. Excessive oil production can lead to lesions and bumps, usually on your cat’s chin or lips.
Allergies, flea bites, or other irritations can also bring on an attack of acne. A cat who is suffering from itchy skin due to allergies may look for relief by rubbing her face and chin. This can damage the skin and hair and lead to acne.
Plastic food and water dishes are another potential cause of skin issues. If they are scratched, the rough surface could irritate sensitive skin. Plastic can also be home to lots of nasty acne-causing bacteria.
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What Not to Do if Your Cat Has Allergies
If you discover blackheads, whiteheads, or little red bumps on your kitty’s face, don’t panic. Chances are, your cat doesn’t even notice them. Although it’s worth mentioning to your veterinarian the next time you visit, many cases of feline acne are mild and have absolutely no impact on a cat’s quality of life.
If you decide to treat your cat’s acne at home, remember that you can’t use the same approach as you would with a human breakout.
As tempting as it might be to get in there and start squeezing kitty’s pimples, you need to resist the urge to pop them. Rather than helping your cat’s skin heal, this could actually cause pain and irritation and could also spread the acne to new areas.
It’s also important not to use any cleanser that contains alcohol or peroxide, since these can be irritating to sensitive kitty skin. And even if you have an acne treatment that works wonders on your teenager’s skin, never use it on your cat. Human acne medications can be harmful to animals.
Treating Your Cat’s Acne
Treatment for feline acne is usually pretty simple. To start with, if you are using plastic dishes, try switching to metal or ceramic ones.
In addition, if your cat will tolerate it, warm compresses can reduce swelling and irritation.
Keeping acne-prone areas clean is key to both treating and preventing breakouts. My favorite product line for at-home pet coat and skin care, Vetericyn, offers the purr-fect solution for many common feline facial issues, including acne.
I’ve been using Vetericyn products for a while for my pets, and everything I’ve used has had amazing results! If you’re a cat parent, Vetericyn’s Feline Antimicrobial Facial Therapy would make a great addition to your pet medicine cabinet.
Since cat acne may require lifelong treatment to keep it under control, it’s important to use something that will make the process as easy and pain-free as possible, both for your cat and for you. I love Vetericyn products because, while they’re great for cleaning, soothing, and preventing infection, they won’t sting or burn, so your cat won’t run behind the nearest piece of furniture when he sees you coming with the cotton balls.
Another thing that makes Feline Antimicrobial Facial Therapy such a great product is that it doesn’t contain any alcohol, steroids or antibiotics. It’s also non-toxic, which is super important when you’re treating anywhere that your kitty could potentially lick when you’re done. And, since it’s safe for kitties in any stage of life, you can feel confident whether you’re treating a youngster or a senior cat.
Of course, if your cat’s skin doesn’t clear up with at-home treatment or if you notice swelling, tenderness, or hair loss, make sure to schedule a visit with your veterinarian to spare him from unnecessary pain and rule out any other medical issues.
Complete Skincare for Healthy Cats
Acne isn’t the only skin problem that can affect our cats. Feline Antimicrobial Facial Therapy can be used to treat many common issues around a cat’s face, eyes, ears, nose, mouth, and chin. Here are some tips to complete feline facial health.
- Clean their eyes and ears. Daily cleaning can prevent tear staining, It can also flush irritants, discharge, and debris that could lead to discomfort down the road.
- Keep on top of allergies. Allergies can be seasonal, and they can also be caused by other factors, such as bites from fleas or mites. Either way, they can cause some serious itching! Use Feline Antimicrobial Facial Therapy to soothe allergy symptoms in your cat’s eyes, ears, and chin.
- Take care of wounds. Most cats get an occasional cut or scrape, especially if they have a friend that they like to tussle with. Treating wounds with Feline Antimicrobial Facial Therapy can help them to heal more quickly and can also prevent infection.
- Don’t forget oral hygiene. Feline Antimicrobial Facial Therapy would make a great addition to your cat’s dental routine. Use it to rinse kitty’s teeth and gums and to treat minor mouth sores.
A simple skincare routine with the right product can keep your cat looking and feeling great in her skin.
This is a sponsored post. However, all opinions and anecdotes are my own, and I never promote any products or brands I don’t believe in. ~Petfully yours, Kristen
How to Bond With Your Pet on National Fetch Day
I noticed that my cat Bella had a sore. I always give her a Kitty Bath. I wipe her down with a wash cloth, not soaked or soapy, she loves it and knows what a Kitty Bath is. WELL, I TOOK HER THE VET AND HE SHAVED HER AND SQUEEZED HER PIMPLES AND TOLD ME TO DO IT….NOW IT SEEM SHE MAY HAVE AN ABSCESS, ON THE ONE HE DID. I AM QUITE DISTURBED. SHE HAS TRIED 2 ANTIOBIO’S AND COULD NOT TOLERATE THEM, SHE IS ONE THE 3RD. (ONLY TOOK THE FIRST 2 ONE DAY!!) BLOOD WORK IS FINE, SHE IS , AND HER CHIN LOOKS WORSE. SHE HAS BACK HEADS, AND TWO VERY BAD SORES…I AM VERY UPSET AND FEEL LIKE A BAD MOMMY…I DON’T KNOW WHAT TO DO? SHE LIKES THE WARM, NOT HOT COMPRESS…CLEANING IT WITH CER VEL FOR BABIES, NO DYES, PERFUMES, ETC. ???
Very interesting article.
Great article and information. My 12 year old has had issues with acne for years and this gave me more helpful info then I’ve gotten in the past and will hopefully help me treat it.
Good to know
My vet said to NEVER pop the pimples, for the exact reason of what happened to your kitty.
I know it sounds crazy but switching to a stainless steel bowl really does help I use one for both food and water now and I clean my kitty’s chin with chlorhexidine wipes and the ventrycin facial wash. It takes a while but it will clear up.
I am so glad you have found that the Vetericyn Facial Wash works for you!
Kristen
Interesting and informative article.
I thought so too!
Aww I’m so sorry to hear about your baby I hope she’s doing better I will be sending prayers I would definitely be calling the vet and telling them about what he did cause that just sounds awful and to put her thru that for no reason and now poor baby has to go thru this not fair some ppl have regard for our fur babies feelings 😢 sorry again
I think my cat has acne on his chin. Do u recommend what everyone is saying to try to clear it up?
Hi Janet,
The Vetericyn Feline Antimicrobial Hydrogel is the best solution for feline acne! Check it out here: https://vetericyn.com/product/vetericyn-plus-feline-antimicrobial-hydrogel/?attribute_size=3oz
Also, be sure to switch to a stainless steel food and water bowl if you haven’t already. That will help!
Keep me posted 🙂
Kristen
I think that vet was an idiot! Your poor cat. Have you taken her any where else for a second opinion?
My vet did the exact same thing! I feel so sorry for you and your furbaby! My guy has gone through 2 courses of oral antiobiotics and steriods and I was given an antibacterial shampoo but after a few days of ceasing medication his acne has come back! He already has scarring and alopecia from where the vet squeezed his inflammed pimples making them bleed profusely and didn’t even bother to clean them up or stop the bleeding! I definitely want to try this product but I can’t seem to find it in Australia T__T
I have found that a combo of L-Lysine in the food, warm compresses daily on the face and cleaning with a colloidal silver have improved my cat’s acne. He has herpes and I think his acne is due to herpes flair-ups.
( His bowls are glass and cleaned often, so that wasn’t the problem) It is an ongoing battle, and I have tried all the recommended wipes and chlorhexidine, but this combo seems to help on treating from the inside out. Good luck!
My cats chin acne was really bad. We tried steroids and antiobiotics and it helped for a little while but it eventually came back. Then my vet told me to clean their water dish with bleach once a week. Let the diluted bleach solution sit for 10 minutes. I did and his chin got much better but not 100%. So I started cleaning it twice a week. I have a fountain dish for him so I clean the surfaces with little brushes and run the water through it with several tablespoons of bleach every Sunday and Wednesday. I also stopped using the filters because I imagine they hold onto bacteria but i have tiny pipe cleaners where I can get into the motor and clean out the hair. That’s probably not necessary but it saves a ton on filters. Guess what? It cleared up 100%! After several months he has no acne, his fur has grown back and it’s white again. It was the bacteria in the water! I’m so happy he doesn’t suffer with steroid shots any more. SUCH AN EASY SOLUTION! I set alarms in my calendar so I’m diligent. If i forget, his acne starts to return. I hope this solves your problem!
Wow! What a journey you have been on. I am glad you have found a solution, Susan! Thanks for sharing!
Kristen
This exactly what I am going through with my one cat. He has it really bad. On generic zyrtec 10mg a day now and it doesn’t seem to be helping. I am foing to take my fountain and do the same.
Thanks cor the i fo.
Thanks for the info.
I am glad that this helped, Ruth! Keep me posted!
Kristen
Hi Elaine,
I’m sorry about your kitty’s facial acne! Don’t feel bad — it will clear up. You are doing the right thing with the warm compresses. This will reduce swelling and irritation. But try the Feline Facial Therapy by Vetericyn that I mentioned above in this article. It speeds healing and it won’t sting or burn because it’s non toxic and has no alcohol in it.
Try that and let me know how kitty does!
Kristen
Hi. I read your sponsored article and I am very interested in the Vetericyn feline therapy. I took my cat to my vet and he gave her a huge bottle of benzoyl peroxide shampoo which is hard to wash on and harder to wash off is the Vetericyn the same application?
Thank you for all of the great information to take care of my cat. I check this blog often.
I did not know a cat could have allergies. I don’t know why it never occurred to me.
Love the article
Hi Tiffany,
Oh gosh, that sounds like a lot of work!
No, the Vetericyn Feline Facial Therapy is in a convenient bottle with an adjustable nozzle to apply it. You can actually just put some of the antimicrobial gel on a cotton pad and apply it to your cat’s face that way. You don’t need to wipe it off and it won’t sting or burn!
Here’s a link to it if you want to purchase it and I have a 20% off code for you! Use code PETLIVING anytime between now and 12/31/20,
https://vetericyn.com/product/feline-antimicrobial-facial-therapy/
Good luck! Let me know if you try it!
Kristen
Is the solution in the spray bottle different from the bottle with the nozzle?
Hi. The solution in the spray bottle is the same as the bottle with the nozzle. But cat owners have said they prefer the nozzle bottle so they don’t have to spray the solution in their cat’s face.
Hope that helps!
Kristen
Do they ship to Canada because I am in dyer need for a remedy for her chin acne!
Hi Danika,
For international orders, call this number for assistance! 866.318.3116
Good luck!
Kristen
Very informative! Thank you. I never knew cats got acne.
Hi Donna,
Yes they do! This is actually a common problem among cats that cat parents are unaware of. Thanks for reading and I hope this helped!
Kristen
This is very informative. I will definitely keep this in mind in case my cats ever have symptoms like this. I think my mother’s cat might be suffering from this. I’ll definitely show her this!
Hi Rachel,
I am glad this helped! Hopefully your mom’s cat can find some relief 🙂 Keep me posted!
Kristen
Didn’t even know what my cat’s problem was, but I can’t believe I found it. I entered the vet giveaway, and just happened to have a cat with the same issues. Great post!
Thanks for sharing, Pat! I am glad this helped. I highly recommend the Vetericyn Feline Facial Therapy. https://vetericyn.com/product/feline-antimicrobial-facial-therapy/
Good luck in the giveaway 🙂
Kristen
I have to say I am truly impressed with the vetericyn antimicrobial facial therapy after one use of it I noticed a major difference in my cat’s chin acne. overnight some of the bigger stores were already healed and I’ve been using it for about 5 days now twice a day and it has cleared up quite a bit when I treat her now the little white pustules come off her chin very easily now and I am so glad I read this article and this recommendation thank you so much it truly truly helps.
wow i never knew cats can get acne
Yes, they can! Thanks for reading, Michael. I am glad you found this informative.
Kristen
Good to know this will help with allergies. Micah has scratched so much he has scabs by his ears, neck and tail. He had a yeast infection in his ears and urinary crystals as well. He is taking 1/2 of a Claritin and I was told to use Neosporin. I have the spray so I was using that on a cotton ball. The nozzle would be much easier.
I’ve never even heard of feline acne before. Poor kitties. What mine struggles with is dandruff!
Thanks for the opportunity!
My Cooper cat gets this occassionally – I use metal dishes too
Hi Dana,
You should give this a try! I think you might find it helpful 🙂 https://vetericyn.com/product/feline-antimicrobial-facial-therapy/
Kristen
who would have known?
Very Informative! Thank you!
Thanks for the info I did not know about cat acme ,
wow i didnt know cats could get acne
What if you use stainless steel already?! My poor baby is 7 years young and this is her first issue with acne. There so bad, her entire chin is bloody and covered in sores. I’ve been cleaning once a day as long as she lets me, it hurts. I also put a little cortisone for soothing but to no avail. I’m about to call the vet tomorrow but I’m troubled trying to figure out why this started, and how it got so bad so quickly. My other cat has no issues.
Hi Courtney,
Gosh that is so heartbreaking! Have you tried the Vetericyn Feline Facial spray? It really works and can help her condition. You can get some here: https://vetericyn.com/product/feline-antimicrobial-facial-therapy/
I would highly recommend taking her to the vet if her case is severe! The vet can help determine a cause and hopefully get her some relief!
Good luck and keep me posted!
Kristen
My cat Philly had feline acne. We were using a plastic bowl and our vet said to use only stainless steel. Her acne went away after a few weeks. 🙂 Thanks for this post!
Dina,
That’s great that you were able to find some relief! Thanks for reading 🙂
Kristen
My Pumpkin gets acne on his chin I have been using peroxide on a cotton ball on it. But he hats it of course.
Sonya,
You should give this a try! The applicator makes it really easy to apply to the skin. Your kitty may like it a little better 🙂
https://vetericyn.com/product/feline-antimicrobial-facial-therapy/
Kristen
I never heard the term “feline acne” before. I had a poor Lynx Point Siamese who suffered terribly from allergies to the point of nipping off areas of fur. He passed away a couple of years ago due to other complications.
Carolyn,
I am so sorry for your loss! Skin allergies can be hard to maintain. Thanks for taking the time to share!
Kristen
This is very interesting. I never even knew that feline acne was a thing.
We just added a kitten to our home. And the dog actually loves it. This is great information. Thanks
Awww, cute! Congrats on your newest addition!
This is good information to have
agree
My cat is always munching on one specific leg does that mean anything ?
Hi Leslye,
Your cat could have a hot spot on that leg, or a cut or wound causing him some irritation. Have you inspected the area? It may be good to take a look. Always check with your vet if you notice something on your cat’s skin that isn’t normal!
Hope this helps!
Kristen
Very informative
Really good info!
Have never heard of cat acne.
Hi Dianne,
I know! A lot of people have never heard of it. Cat acne is most common on the chin or around the mouth, but it can be present anywhere on the body. It usually shows up as small bumps and can look like the blackheads or whiteheads that humans get. Some cats have a single breakout, while others have recurring symptoms.
The Vetericyn Feline Facial Therapy is purrfect to speed the healing and sooth the skin.
Kristen
Thank you for the information! Never thought about cats having allergies or acne!
What an interesting article thank you for blogging about it
Oral hygiene is extremely important. I’ve had friends think I’m crazy when I tell them I brush my cat’s teeth.
Hi Pam,
Yes, oral hygiene is very important! I have an article on the benefits here: https://kristenlevine.com/clean-cats-teeth/
🙂
Kristen
Wow I didn’t know that cats can have acne. That is crazy.
I know, right? Thanks for reading:)
I had never heard of kitty acne, but a few weeks ago I noticed a slightly raised, red, bumpy patch on my kitty’s bottom lip. It cleared up quickly on it’s own, but now I’m wondering if it wasn’t acne. Now I know what to look for and how to prevent it, hopefully she won’t get it again.
Yes, hopefully she won’t get it again. If she does, Vetericyn gave me a special savings code for my readers. Use PETLIVING at checkout and save 20%! https://vetericyn.com/?s=feline+facial+therapy
It never dawned on me that plastic food and water bowls with abrasions on them could cause a problem. An innocent mistake for sure.
Thanks for this information it was very helpful
I’ve been lucky that I have never had a cat with this problem but it sounds like a great product. Will remember it just in case.
Hi JoAnn,
This Vetericyn feline facial spray is the best! Definitely keep it in mind if you notice your kitty may have acne.
Kristen
Wow I never knew cat could get acne. I have never seen it with any of mine that I’ve had through the years.
Great article
I’ve never seen a product quite so flexible as the feline facial therapy. My oldest gets discharge from his eyes when he’s outside, I’m assuming allergies. Sounds mild enough, and he’s a baby so sounds like something I’ll look into!
Yes Lynda, you should try it. Vetericyn gave me a special savings code for my readers. Use PETLIVING at checkout and save 20%! https://vetericyn.com/?s=feline+facial+therapy
I would love to try the product mentioned in this article. My oldest has problems with blackheads under chin.
Sandra, give it a try. I think you and your cat will be pleased:) Vetericyn gave me a special savings code for my readers. Use PETLIVING at checkout and save 20%! https://vetericyn.com/?s=feline+facial+therapy
I love all animals no matter what they are. As a matter of fact I would rather be around my fur babies than humans. Animals LOVE ya no matter what and they won’t break your heart or lie to ya SO I LOVE MY FUR BABIES AND YES THEY ARE SPOILED ROTTEN WITH LORS OF HUGS KISSES AND LOVE.
Pamela,
Pets are such a special part of our family! Thanks for taking such good care of your animals 🙂
Kristen
I had no clue that they get acne.
good info, thanks
very informative, thank you very much!
Great to know! Thankfully of the 4 cats (2 at a time) we have had over the years none of them had acne, though they have had a few scratches from fighting or getting into things they shouldn’t have.
Kris,
Yes, cats have a tendency to get into places they don’t belong LOL!
Vetericyn also has an antimicrobial hydrogel for cat wounds that promotes healthy tissue healing. You can find it here: https://vetericyn.com/product/vetericyn-plus-feline-antimicrobial-hydrogel/?attribute_size=3oz
i did not know cats could get acne. can dogs get acne as well?
Hi Sandy,
Yes, dogs can get acne as well! This article from Purina is a great resource on causes and symptoms to look out for: https://www.purina.co.uk/dogs/health-and-nutrition/symptoms-to-watch-out-for/dog-acne-information
Vetericyn also has a antimicrobial hydrogel that can be used on dogs, too! Check it out here: https://vetericyn.com/product/vetericyn-plus-antimicrobial-hydrogel/?attribute_size=8oz
I had no idea felines could have acne, this was informative to read. Thank you
I had no idea how to treat this! Good to know and now I will look out for any issues with my kitties!
Hi Lissa,
The Vetericyn Feline Facial Therapy is the best! You should check it out if you ever run into feline acne on your sweet kitties.
Kristen
We had a cat years ago with acne. This was a good article. So many do not know it happens.
Hi Ellen,
Right?! Feline acne is a problem that many cat parent’s don’t know about. Glad that you found this article helpful!
Kristen
Thank you for the info. Great article!
Thank you for reading, Kerry!
Kristen
I didn’t know that cats can develop acne.
I did not know about cat acne before reading this. Thanks for the info!
So many pet owners do not know about this and the thing is, it doesn’t look like acne so it goes untreated. Thank you for your article.
Hi Liz,
Yes! Thank you for reading.
Kristen
I care for 8 feral cats plus one cat inside. I’m always buying something cat related. I’ll come here next time I need a cat product and see what’s offered.
Great article. My kitty gets scab type sores on his ears and on the sides of his nose. Told it is an allergy but not sure to what.
Venus,
That sounds painful! You should check with your vet if you haven’t already to see if there are solutions that can help those sores. Let me know how it goes!
Kristen
Thank you for this! I did not even know about this and I have 5 furbabies! Thanks to you I learn something new ALL THE TIME!!
Hi Tiffany,
Thanks for sharing 🙂 I am so glad you have found this helpful!
Kristen
Now I know what the bump under my cat’s chin is!
Elizabeth,
I am glad you found this helpful! Give the Vetericyn Feline Facial Therapy a try! https://vetericyn.com/?s=feline+facial+therapy
Kristen
One of my cats has cat acne so this is good information.
Hi Susan,
You should give the Vetericyn Feline Facial Therapy a try! I think you might like it 🙂
https://vetericyn.com/?s=feline+facial+therapy
Kristen
I just learned some things that I never knew !!
Hi Colleen,
I am glad you were able to learn something new! I love hearing when people find my blog helpful. Thanks for sharing!
Kristen 🙂
My 2 kittens don’t have acne but they do have allergies.
Great Tips!
Glad to learn about the bad things that go with plastic bowls!
This is so interesting. I have had cats all of my life and never knew about feline acne.
One of our fur babies, Alfie, a predominantly white American shorthair, has developed a bad case of solar dermatitis, mostly on his right ear. We are attempting to limit his outdoor time during daylight hours, but the kid loves his outdoor sunshine time and we care about his quality of life. We’ve taken him to the vet and are keeping an eye out for squamous cell carcinoma. He also has some allergies, which purulent drainage from his eyes, and facial acne under his chin. I’m wondering if Vetericyn will help with any of this.
Great report! I have an older male cat that gets this occasionally.
Glad this helped! You should check out the Vetericyn Feline Facial Therapy when he has flare ups.
Kristen
Wow I have not even heard of feline acne! Thanks for the info!
My female cat Zoelle had a bit of acne under her chin. A Qtip with a very small amount of rubbing alcohol took care of it.
Hi Carol,
I am glad you have found some relief!
Kristen
Very interesting. I haven’t heard of feline acne before now.
Thanks for the great blog. I have learned a lot about cat acne.
Hi, thanks for this article. My cat suffers from feline acne and it just seems to be a lifelong thing we have to manage. I’m currently wiping around his face and chin everyday with just warm water, which he loves, and it seems to dislodge the black dots and prevent it getting too crusty. However, it’s still not great. if I try anything else that has a scent, he doesn’t like it. Does this product have a smell to it?
My cat Mancha had a break out of cat acne last year and I was able to get rid of it by changing her food and her bowls and doing some cleaning which she hated! But its back now and further back on her chin. She hates for me to do any “treatments” and I was happy to find your article and this product that I don’t have to wipe on and off. I am excited to give it a try. Thank you!
hi can anyone tell me if spots can be on lower back near tail i thought my cat was over grooming a couple of small bald spots has had them on lower back for a while they now over his neck scratching them a lot they seem to be multiplying Rhonda