Derm Connection
A groomer's guide to common cat health concerns

by Dr. Cliff Faver

as a separate species, it’s crucial to recognize that cats can experience different health issues than dogs. However, there is a still a good bit of crossover in the diseases and health concerns we see in the two. But, when it comes to cats, we must differentiate between those who live exclusively indoors and those who venture outdoors or interact with dogs. The latter group—outdoor cats—confront a distinct set of health risks that are not as prevalent among their indoor counterparts, underscoring the need for specialized care.
Outdoor Cat Concerns
Some everyday things we see in outdoor cats are fleas, ticks, mosquitos, mites, pollens/allergens and solar (sun) exposure. These can manifest as hypersensitivity (overreaction or allergy), irritation, itching, sores or infection, in more severe cases. Solar exposure can be especially bad in light-colored cats, which can lead to cancers of the nose, eyelids and ear tips.

When outdoor cats socialize with their peers, the risk of parasites and other issues escalates. One pervasive issue is cat bite abscesses. Due to the sharp, pinpoint nature of a cat’s teeth and the presence of a harmful bacteria called Pasteurella in their mouths, bites often lead to infection/abscess, whether it’s to a cat or a human. As a groomer, it’s vital never to underestimate a cat bite (or even a scratch), as they can result in severe infections, loss of fingers or limbs and, in extreme cases, even death, highlighting the critical nature of this health concern.

Thyroid Disease
All cats, whether indoor or outdoor, are prone to hormonal diseases like thyroid disease and Cushing’s disease (adrenal gland over-secreting). Thyroid disease in cats is different from dogs in most cases because, in dogs, most of the time the thyroid production is low or there is a lack of thyroid hormone being produced at all (hypothyroidism); whereas, in cats, it usually is an over-secretion of thyroid hormone (hyperthyroidism). Even the symptoms are almost the opposite. With hypothyroid, dogs get lethargic, fat and lose hair. Cats with hyperthyroidism eat constantly, lose weight, are commonly frantic (with the food bowl, if nothing else) and they also lose hair.

Hyperthyroidism in cats is a condition that can easily be controlled with medicine, but is life-threatening if left untreated. Treating the hyperthyroid controls the progression of the disease, but hair-growth protocols are often needed to return the hair to normal.

Hyperthyroidism in cats is a condition that can easily be controlled with medicine, but is life-threatening if left untreated.

Stud Tail

“Stud Tail” (tail gland hyperplasia) is a condition that is considered by some to be hormonal, but even though it is called stud tail, it can be seen in females and neutered males. The area affected is a group of concentrated sebaceous glands at the base of the tail, which become overactive, leading to oily debris, scales, matting and sometimes infection.

The best way to address this problem is using a condition-shampoo-condition (close-open-close) process to break down the old sebum (first conditioning step), followed by a shampoo stage to remove the top layer of old sebum, and then a very hydrating/soothing conditioner in the second conditioning stage. Degreasing the area is not recommended because it is irritating and will tend to get a rebound-sebum-production effect as a response. Bathing may need to be done twice weekly to weekly to settle down and quiet the irritated glands.

Psychogenic Dermatitis/Alopecia
A syndrome we see in cats that is confusing and frustrating to deal with is psychogenic dermatitis/alopecia. This condition is where cats randomly start chewing or pulling out hair (mainly on their stomach area) for no apparent reason. Many different treatments have been trialed but there doesn’t seem to be a consistent response to any of them.

With the aggressive way the cats chew and pull out hair, the most obvious conclusion is that it may be allergic in nature. They tend to be only moderately responsive to steroids and anti-inflammatories (varying from cat to cat), leading us to believe another underlying issue exists. Conditioning with a good hydrating conditioner may not be curative but will help soothe the issue.

Lack of Self-Grooming
Allergies of all types are among the skin issues cats face and, occasionally, we will even see diseases like SA (sebaceous adenitis). However, one of the more common grooming issues in cats is when they cease grooming themselves, leading to secondary matting. Unlike their dog counterparts, cats groom themselves with their barbed tongue, which, when everything is in a normal state, leaves the coat beautiful and well “combed.” When things get out of balance, cats often stop grooming because it hurts to try running their tongue through the mats, just like combing/brushing a matted dog.
Many factors can contribute to this issue, but the primary reason is that the coat has lost its sebum layer over the hair, the plaques have opened up and the hair will mat, almost like Velcro, underscoring the necessity of regular grooming to maintain a sebum layer. Metabolic diseases (liver, kidney or hormonal disease), dry environmental conditions, arthritis, harsh/degreasing shampoos and lack of correct conditioning can also create this condition.

The good news is that if the coatis restored, most cats will return to grooming, if capable. With many of these disease processes occurring later in life, some cats lose the ability to groom themselves because of obesity or arthritis and will need to be groomed regularly to avoid this condition.

Although cats tend to have fewer hair and skin issues than dogs, they do still benefit from proper, routine grooming to keep their hair and skin healthy.

Dr. Cliff Faver graduated with a BS in Biology/BA in Chemistry before getting a Veterinary degree in 1987. He is the past owner of Animal Health Services in Cave Creek, Arizona and now the US distributor for Iv San Bernard products, teaches the ISB Pet Aesthetician Certification program, and speaks internationally on hair and skin. His passion is to merge groomers and veterinarians to aid in helping and healing pets. He is also a member of AVMA, AAHA, AZVMA, Board member with Burbank Kennel Club, and has served on Novartis Lead Committee, Hill’s International Global Veterinary Board, and a Veterinary Management Group.

Back to Issue