Kristen Levine Pet Living Stories, Science & Advice for Living Happier & Healthier with Pets

Eliminate feline acne with these tips!

How to Treat Feline Acne Once and Fur All

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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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Feline acne can be treated with these smart solutions!

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.

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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.

Vetericyn's facial therapy for felines can help your treat your felines acne!

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.

Get 20% off Feline Facial Therapy with code PETLIVING.

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

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Comments

  1. 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. ???

    Reply

    • 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

      Reply

    • 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

      Reply

  2. 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

    Reply

  3. 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

    Reply

  6. 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!

    Reply

  7. 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!

    Reply

      • 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.

        Reply

  9. 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.

    Reply

  16. 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!

    Reply

  17. My Pumpkin gets acne on his chin I have been using peroxide on a cotton ball on it. But he hats it of course.

    Reply

  18. 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.

    Reply

    • 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

      Reply

    • 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

      Reply

  28. Oral hygiene is extremely important. I’ve had friends think I’m crazy when I tell them I brush my cat’s teeth.

    Reply

  30. 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.

    Reply

  31. It never dawned on me that plastic food and water bowls with abrasions on them could cause a problem. An innocent mistake for sure.

    Reply

  33. 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.

    Reply

  34. Wow I never knew cat could get acne. I have never seen it with any of mine that I’ve had through the years.

    Reply

  36. 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!

    Reply

  37. I would love to try the product mentioned in this article. My oldest has problems with blackheads under chin.

    Reply

  38. 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.

    Reply

  42. 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.

    Reply

  50. 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.

    Reply

  51. 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.

    Reply

  52. 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.

    Reply

  53. 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!!

    Reply

  60. 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.

    Reply

  63. 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.

    Reply

  66. 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?

    Reply

  67. 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!

    Reply

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