Extensive redness on a cat's skin may be caused by fungal infection or parasitic infection. Cats suffering from fungal infections will have red skin, along with symptoms such as skin itching, hair loss, skin scabs, and increased dandruff. Cats will also have red skin when they are infected with external parasites, such as Demodex, scabies, or fleas. To confirm the diagnosis, you need to take the cat to the pet hospital for a skin scraping examination, and take symptomatic treatment based on the examination results.

How to deal with fungal infections in cats?

When cats have fungal infections, owners can use drugs containing ketoconazole or terbinafol to kill the fungi. At the same time, it is also necessary to expose the cat nests and blankets where cats often sleep to the sun and sterilize them through ultraviolet rays in the sun. In addition, owners can induce cats to bask in the sun more, and feed cats some pet-specific vitamins to enhance the skin’s resistance.

In addition to clinical symptoms, cat skin fungal infection also requires skin microscopy to confirm the diagnosis. Moreover, cat fungal infections are contagious, so sick cats need to be isolated from feeding, and owners need to wash their hands and disinfect frequently after applying medicine to cats.

What should I do if my cat has external parasites?

Cats infected with external parasites can be treated with external anthelmintics containing ingredients such as fepreronil, abamectin, selamectin, ivermectin, and methoprene. Parasites on cats mainly include fleas, lice, mites, ticks, etc. If the cat is infected with external parasites, it is recommended to use deworming drugs continuously for 2-3 weeks. The specific application method needs to be strictly followed by the doctor's advice.

After using external anthelmintic drugs on cats, be sure to wear an Elizabethan ring to prevent the cat from licking the drug and causing poisoning. It is not recommended to bathe the cat three days before and after external deworming to avoid affecting the efficacy of the drug.

Notes:

First, when a cat’s skin becomes red, treatment measures need to be taken promptly to prevent the diseased parts from spreading to the whole body, thus making the treatment more difficult.

Second, the affected area should be kept clean and ventilated during the treatment process. At the same time, an Elizabethan ring needs to be worn at all times during the treatment to prevent the cat from scratching the affected area or licking the ointment.

Third, it is generally recommended to perform external deworming for cats regularly. It is recommended to perform external deworming for cats once a month. At the same time, the cat’s living environment also needs to be disinfected and cleaned regularly to keep the living environment dry.