How to Treat Cat Acne Once and Fur All
This post may include affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.
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, including cat acne and blackheads.
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.
Signs and Symptoms of Feline Chin Acne
There are several tell-tale signs of cat acne. They include:
- Dirty appearance of the chin
- Swelling and/or inflammation of the chin and lips
- Blackheads on the chin
- Hard, crusty lesions
- Hair loss around the infected area
Both males and females can get feline chin acne. It can be painful, so treating it effectively is important to your cat’s health, comfort, and well-being.
What Causes Feline Acne?
Cat acne has several causes. Your kitty may have clogged hair follicles. Excessive oil production can also lead to lesions and bumps, usually on your cat’s chin or lips.
Allergies, flea bites, or other irritations can also bring on chin acne breakouts. A cat who is suffering from itchy skin due to product or food allergies may look for relief by rubbing her face and chin. This can damage the skin and hair and lead to acne. Poor grooming habits can also contribute to chin acne, especially for senior cats.
Plastic food dishes as well as water dishes are another potential cause of chin acne in cats. If they are scratched, the rough surface could irritate sensitive skin. Plastic can also be home to lots of nasty acne-causing bacteria.
Pin Me!
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 chin acne in cats are mild and have absolutely no impact on a cat’s quality of life.
If you decide to treat your cat’s chin 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.
How to Treat Your Cat’s Acne
Cat acne treatment is 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 mild feline acne cases.
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 will make a great addition to your pet medicine cabinet.
Since cat chin 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 they’re great for cleaning, soothing, and preventing infection and 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 nontoxic, 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 acne doesn’t clear up with at-home treatment or if you notice swelling, tenderness, or hair loss, schedule a visit with your veterinarian to spare him from unnecessary pain and rule out any other medical issues.
Complete Skincare for Healthy Cats
Chin 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 they like to tussle with. Treating wounds with Feline Antimicrobial Facial Therapy can help them 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.
Use my code PETLIVING to get 20% off your purchase at Vetericyn.com.
How Long Does Feline Acne Last?
Feline acne can last from a few weeks to a lifetime. This will vary from cat to cat and depends on a bunch of factors like how severe the acne is and whether it’s being treated. You might see improvements within a couple of weeks if your cat has mild acne, especially if you’re keeping the area clean and following your veterinarian’s advice. But if the acne is more serious or keeps coming back, it might stick around for a longer stretch.
In that case, check in with your veterinarian to figure out what’s causing the acne and how best to treat it. Your veterinarian may prescribe creams, wipes, or even oral medication to help clear your cat’s skin condition. Following their treatment plan can help speed up recovery and maybe even prevent future chin acne flare-ups.
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!
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,
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. (Use my code PETLIVING for 20% off)
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!