Healing Damaged Cat Skin

by Terry
(Orlando, Florida)

Reader Question: Healing Cat Skin Damaged From Fleas

I picked up a kitten off the street, couldn't resist, not very old, but cute and able to be away from mom. However, when I got the cat, I noticed some loss of hair around one of its front legs, and some scaly, bumpy skin, although there is no inflammation or lesions. It was eaten up with fleas, and I have bathed the cat and put some flea med on it. Now, a week later, less fleas, but not much healing of the skin and there are additional flaky places on his forehead, but no lesions and no hair loss.

What do you think? I really don't have money to take this cat into a vet. I would like to help it and improve his chances of living and keep the cat for ourselves.

Is there something I can do to help it? I do not see it licking the skin a lot, so it must not be a really bad problem, but I would love to see it healed.

Thank You,

Terry

Vet Suggestions for Healing Cat Skin

Hi Terry,

The skin lesions you describe could simply be a result of your kitten’s previous flea infestation and rough start in life. It may take some time, TLC, and good nutrition until he has the resources necessary for his skin to return completely too normal and the hair to re-grow.

However, kittens are extremely susceptible to the fungal disease ringworm, and it can look exactly like what you described. I strongly recommend you bring the kitten in to a veterinarian because ringworm can be contagious to people and to other animals. In the long run, it would be much cheaper to catch this disease now, start appropriate treatment, and avoid more expensive bills in the future.

Also, your cat needs to be tested for intestinal parasites and treated appropriately, tested for feline leukemia and feline immunodeficiency viruses (if it is positive it could spread the disease to other cats and would probably have chronic health problems and die at a relatively young age), and be vaccinated when healthy enough.

Regards,

Jennifer Coates, DVM