Treating acne in cats

 Photo by BK Images

We tend to think of acne as a minor plague of adolescent humans. However, cats (and less often dogs) also can suffer from acne that is typically caused by a localized bacterial infection. Feline acne usually occurs on the cat’s chin, where oil glands are located. “Chindonitis,” as some vets call this condition, is annoying and itchy, so the animal will scratch or rub its chin on the furniture or any other handy surface.  That, of course, aggravates the condition.     

My tom Charlie developed acne when he was around five years old. I was told to replace his plastic food and water dishes with metal or ceramic dishes, and to wash them thoroughly each day. The vet cleaned out Charlie’s acne lesions and prescribed a 10% benzyl peroxide cream to be administered daily. She also checked for the presence of tiny mites, which can cause a similar irritation.  

Fellow cat owners also suggested that stress is an exacerbating factor in the acne. I tried to minimize potentially upsetting situations, such as exposure to other pets and loud music. I kept his favorite pillows clean. Still, the acne persisted and on a grad student’s stipend, I could not afford to keep returning to the vet’s office for cat facials. 

What ultimately worked for this cat’s skin condition were 1) daily chin scrubbings with a gauze pad saturated with hydrogen peroxide, followed by 2) an application of a 10% benzyl peroxide cream some thirty minutes later, after the cat’s fur had dried. When the acne flare-ups decreased, I lowered the dosage of the acne cream to 5% and cut down the peroxide treatment to every other day, so as not to cause additional irritation.

Years later, when I started to explore natural remedies, I learned that pet owners have also had success with naturopathics such as calendula, which comes as a tincture that can be mixed with warm water, or as a cream; either is a soothing agent for the affected area. This can be applied after cleansing with a warm washcloth and antibacterial soap. Tea tree oil soaps are a good alternative to chemical-based cleansing agents. While dogs with acne can be treated orally with Echinacea, there is evidence that cats may not tolerate this substance well.

Holistic medicine teaches us that a healthy body is less likely to generate distressing symptoms. Hindsight is always the most acute.  If Charlie, the pet of my youth, were with me today, I would have his allergies tested and put him on a pure diet without additives. I would not use a commercial flea collar.  I would have him checked for any underlying issues, just as I do for the family dog today. And if I had to use acne cream to treat his pimples, I’d still use it—but with the certain knowledge that his troubles were only skin deep.