Cat Skin Allergy or Neoplasia

by Iris
(Philipppines)

Cat Skin Problem Reader Question:

I have a male castrated cat. He is 2 1/2 years old now and the skin problem started last July 2009. It started as small wound at his side belly.

The vet prescribed antifungal and antibacterial creams. It didn't work. He is negative for mange and using Frontline spot on ever since we adopted him. Then they said that it is an autoimmune disease so they prescribed corticosteroid cream and injected him with steroid. The wound on his belly has no skin now and also around his anus. it is circular. There is a new one at his groin and it is bloody reddish shaped like the north american continent. It appears like a wheal.

The last that they prescribed was cefalexin and corticosteroid cream. Please help me. What is
the problem with my cat? is it treatable? What is the treatment?

Cat Skin Problem Editor Response:

Dear Iris;

Thank you for your question.

According to the appearance of the wheal like lesions, this condition appears to be a cat skin allergy, very similar to urticaria (cat skin hives). Such skin conditions are usually caused by different allergens, including chemicals, drugs, food components, bugs and even through exposure to sun light.

An acute or sudden form of this type of condition is easy to treat and usually resolves itself on its own, but chronic forms like the cat skin problem you describe in this case are not only very difficult to diagnose, they are also very difficult to treat.

As far as treatment is concerned, the specific way to treat a cat skin allergy problem is to eliminate the possible cause of the allergy itself, followed by treatment of the symptoms.

Remember that chronic forms of this condition usually do not resolve itself, unless the underlying cause is removed.

In order to identify the exact cause, ask your veterinarian for a hypersensitivity test (allergy test) and consider all allergens as a possible cause of the condition. If the problem is related to any hypersensitivity of your pet, completely isolate your cat from this allergen during treatment and avoid any exposure in the environment.

An approved treatment for such cat skin allergy conditions are the use of anti-histaminic drugs along with corticosteroids. However, these should only be only be administered after confirmation of the specific cause of the condition.

Other therapeutics and products you are using for your cat including antibiotics and Frontline spot etc, should be reviewed. Most probably, these products can also act as a cat allergen at this stage.

Instead, try a natural remedy for cleansing purposes such as Clenzor, in place of any anti parasitic (frontline) and anti microbial products (antibiotics) in order to reduce the risk of an allergic reaction. In place of your cat's current shampoo, consider a natural product such as Clean-Cat Shampoo.

Just in case the tests for hypersensitivity and an auto immune disease (allergy) come back negative, I suggest that you take your cat for a detailed biopsy, where a small skin sample will be tested. I fear, that this might be some kind of neoplasia (cat skin tumor) related to the immune system and skin.

Best of luck to you and your cat. Please keep us up to date on your cat's condition.