So that cats feel comfortable in their skin

The skin is the organ with the largest extent - 0.3 square meters in a cat with an average of five kilograms. Their tasks are varied and important for survival. For the skin and its appendages (sebaceous glands, hair, etc.) form the first strong defense against pathogens that can be dangerous to the organism. Constant body temperature is ensured by the coat and the fatty tissue under the skin, as well as the rich supply of blood to the skin. By moistening the coat with saliva, cats can cause the body to cool down. The skin is also an important storage organ: water and electrolytes are stored in the skin and subcutaneous tissue. Fats and vitamins accumulate in the even deeper fat tissue. Skin appendages such as hair and claws are produced by the skin as well as the gland secretions sebum and sweat. Sensations such as pain, itching, heat, cold, pressure and touch are perceived through the hair and skin. But the skin also has social tasks. Thus, the body appears larger per l of hair struggling and deterring opponents. Through the secretions of the anal and circumuman glands (they are located around the anus), the territory is marked. In cats, even glands that are around the mouth, take over this task and allow for recognition of individuals.

The cat as a skin patient

People who live closely with their velvet paws rarely overlook changes in their cat's coat. When the coat becomes brittle, the hair becomes brittle and dull, when bald patches are formed, or when hair loss is very severe, these are serious signs and a veterinary examination is recommended. However, ignoring these first signs of disease, the skin changes rapidly, showing redness, dandruff, thickening, nodules, sometimes open spots or even bleeding and purulent inflammation. Tormenting itching, increased scratching and licking of the corresponding body parts are the result. For the veterinarian to make a diagnosis, it is important that he learns everything you have noticed at home-optimally, you have noted down the details. For example, when the problem arose, which change first became visible and what had changed in the cat environment at that time.

Stress puts stress on the skin

Cats hate changes! All deviations from the usual everyday life, such as relocation, conversion, change of partner, food change, family growth, animal growth, sudden freewheel or no more free passage, stress your animal. The immune system reacts with and is weakened. From stress, the animals start to lick, preferably on the lower abdomen, in the worst case, they pluck themselves out of their hair and lick themselves bald and bloody. Cats who feel stressed out are also more likely to get a fungal or mite disease.

Parasites endanger free-range animals

Cats with clearance often bring home parasites that can transmit dangerous diseases. They can carry out the examination for ticks and fleas themselves: Ticks found on the animal pull out with tweezers jerkily. Do not use oils or alcohol, as ticks bite deeper into the skin when they are used because they may suffocate. Fleas often cause a strong flea saliva allergy, which is accompanied by severe itching. The resulting scratching can lead to massive skin damage. And just because you do not see any fleas does not mean that the cat has no fleas! Hopping fleas can only be seen when there is a massive flea infestation, but flea feces can be found even with a single flea. To find the flea feces, brush the cat especially on the back and tail approach vigorously over a white paper. When small black dots fall out of the coat, they are moistened with water. Forms a gray ring around the point, it is soot or dust, a reddish ring proves the presence of flea feces.

Irritation of the skin by diseased internal organs

A cat that suddenly declines or increases, drinks more, urinates more, consumes idly, or craves cravings, struggles with diarrhea or constipation, could develop a disease of the internal organs. Diseases of the digestive tract, liver and kidneys can cause dermatological problems. Hormonal disorders due to over- or under-function of various glands (eg thyroid gland), but also sex hormones (ovarian cysts in the female cat) trigger corresponding symptoms.

Nutrition and skin

For a beautiful, healthy, shiny coat is a balanced diet with enough protein, all vitamins, oils and taurine condition. Unfortunately, more and more cats develop food allergy or feed intolerance during their lifetime. Affected animals react to specific components of the diet and then show symptoms of disease, severe itching or diarrhea. Only a very small percentage of all cats can actually detect allergic reactions, ie involvement of the immune system. Only in this case one speaks of a food allergy. As a rule, certain sources of protein in food trigger allergy. Much more common, however, are food intolerances. Typical of this is that symptoms such as itching or diarrhea fade away as soon as the corresponding feed ingredients are avoided. Since such a hypersensitivity but lifelong remains, the causative feed ingredient must be avoided throughout life.

Which investigations lead to the diagnosis

The more observations you can tell your veterinarian, the faster and cheaper the diagnostics will be. Blood tests, investigations on fungal infestation, bacteriological examinations, hormone status determination and cytological examination of a skin scab be the beginning of the diagnosis. If, despite these examinations, no diagnosis is possible, the cats must be sedated so that several tissue samples can be surgically removed, which are pathohistologically examined. If allergy suspects Intracutan tests indicate a reaction to allergens. For this purpose, various allergens are injected into the skin. Small bubbles (wheals) form, and the size and color of these wheals indicate the severity of the allergy.

Lengthy therapy

Treating a skin condition in your cat requires patience and consistency. Trust your veterinarian, even if he advises you to very lengthy therapies. Antibiotic treatments can last for several weeks while you have to care for your cat's skin with baths, tinctures, lotions, and sprays. Parasite protection must be constantly checked for its effectiveness, fungicides require consistent use. Allergies are kept at bay with desensitization and medication, and mental health problems can be treated through analysis and advice from "cat psychiatrists", endorphin vaporizers (which distribute "feel-good hormones" in the indoor air), and compensatory dry food or supplements available from the vet but often only after weeks.Allergies and feed intolerances are treated with medical diets. For this hypoallergenic, hydrolyzed diets are suitable in which the protein was split into small molecules so that it can no longer be recognized by the body as an allergenic substance. Hypoallergenic diets need to be given for life.