How to Deal with Stress‐Related Skin Problems in Cats

If your cat is experiencing skin problems that range from hair loss to excessive licking, ulcers, or cat acne, it may be a reaction to stress and anxiety. Cats are creatures of routine. Any disturbance to their territory or schedule may cause a spike in stress. If you have noticed a change in your cat's skin and behavior, talk to your veterinarian about its symptoms and if any traumatic events have recently occurred. If you work with your veterinarian, try to ease stress at home, and provide your cat with a safe environment, you can handle your cat's stress-related skin disorder.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Treating Your Cat's Symptoms

1
Talk to your veterinarian. It is important to talk to your veterinarian to discuss the skin condition, discover the underlying cause, and to come up with an effective treatment plan.^{[1]XResearch source} Provide your veterinarian with your cat's health history and let them know what symptoms you have noticed. If there have been any big changes lately, such as moving, boarding your cat, or getting a new pet, let them know.^{[2]XResearch source}
- Your veterinarian will probably do blood work. They may do a complete blood count to check for healthy cells, a biochemistry profile to identify organ function, or a test for feline leukemia and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV).
- A skin biopsy may be performed on any skin lesions. Let your vet know if you notice any patches of scabby, scaly, crusty, or oozing skin.^{[3]XResearch source}
- Parasites can cause rashes or encrusted lesions. If your vet thinks your cat has parasites, they will scrape a skin sample from the site, and examine it for mites.
2
Give your cat medicine for skin lesions. If your cat has any rashes, swollen patches, scabs, oozing pustules, or scaly skin, your vet will prescribe a medication to treat it. There are many infections and viruses that cause lesions, so what your cat takes will depend on their diagnosis.^{[4]XResearch source}
- Bacterial infections, such as folliculitis, may be treated with an antibiotic cream or pill.
- Viruses, such as feline herpesvirus and feline pox, may be treated with an antiviral pill.
- Fungal infections, such as Aspergillosis, may be treated with an antifungal cream.
- Bee or wasp stings will be treated with an antihistamine.
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3
Treat acne with anti-seborrheic shampoo or benzoyl peroxide gel. Feline acne may develop due to stress, poor nutrition, or poor grooming habits. If your cat has feline acne, you may notice some bumps on its chin or lips that look dirty.^{[5]XResearch source} Your veterinarian may recommend that you use an anti-seborrheic shampoo or benzoyl peroxide gel on the area to treat the acne.
- Your veterinarian may prescribe an antibiotic or a corticosteroid if there is a bacterial infection or inflammation on the cat acne.^{[6]XResearch source}
- Consult your veterinarian. Feline benzoyl peroxide gel differs from the kind designed for humans.
4
Use anti-anxiety medicine for over-grooming or hair loss. Obsessive licking, chewing, and hair loss can be caused by stress or boredom. You veterinarian may prescribe behavior modification medicine to help reduce your cat's anxiety. In addition, you may need to alleviate stress and anxiety at home by engaging in more frequent play with your cat, or you may need to provide several safe spaces for your cat to safely watch its surroundings.^{[7]XResearch source}
- If your cat is experiencing widespread hair loss, ask your veterinarian to check for any underlying causes, such as pregnancy.^{[8]XResearch source}
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Creating a Safe Environment for Your Cat

1
Find the source of your cat's stress. While it may take time, it is important to locate the source of your cat's stress to help alleviate and treat its skin condition. Cats do not like to have their routine disturbed, so notice if anything in your household has changed. Perhaps you moved, rearranged the furniture, or adjusted their feeding schedule. Think about what environmental changes may have occurred that may have caused your cat to become stressed and anxious.^{[9]XResearch source}
- If you just moved to a new apartment or house, bring their items, toys, and blankets into the new space to make them feel more comfortable.^{[10]XResearch source}
2
Buy a cat tree or tower. Providing a timid or anxious cat with a safe, cat-friendly place to climb can help alleviate its stress. Vertical perches will allow your cat to survey its area from a safe and secure environment. Also, if you have more than one cat, a cat tree or tower can help provide different territory levels in a small space.^{[11]XResearch source}
- Buy a cat tree or tower online or at your local pet store. They come in various sizes and heights and cost between $50 and $150.^{[12]XResearch source}
Give your cat a few safe spaces in your home where it can retreat. Leave its cat carrier in the corner of a room, or leave a closet door cracked so it can safely hide. You can even drape a towel over the back of a chair or provide it with a cardboard box to jump in.^{[13]XTrustworthy SourceThe Humane Society of the United StatesNational organization devoted to the promotion of animal welfareGo to source}
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Alleviating Stress at Home

1
Play with your cat every day. Physical activity can help exercise your cat and provide stress relief. Plan to play with your cat for 15 minutes twice a day to help stimulate its mind, prevent boredom, and reduce anxiety. Set aside certain toys for your playtime and only use them when the two of you are interacting, and rotate them every few days to keep your cat interested.^{[14]XTrustworthy SourceThe Humane Society of the United StatesNational organization devoted to the promotion of animal welfareGo to source}
- Use a fishing-rod toy that has a ball or plush toy tied to the end of a string. Encourage your cat to chase and pounce on the toy.
- Rub some catnip on one of the toys used during playtime.
- Always reduce the intensity of play during the last few minutes. This will help calm your cat down.
- Provide your cat with a treat afterward.^{[15]XTrustworthy SourceThe Humane Society of the United StatesNational organization devoted to the promotion of animal welfareGo to source}
A cat can be thrown off it there are sudden changes and adjustments to its daily routine. Try to stick to a consistent feeding, sleeping, and playing routine as much as possible.^{[16]XTrustworthy SourceThe Humane Society of the United StatesNational organization devoted to the promotion of animal welfareGo to source} If you feed your cat every morning before you leave for work, plan to do that every day around the same time. Set an alarm on your phone each day so you can remember to play with your cat in the evening after dinner.
If you do need to change your cat's routine, do so incrementally to help it adjust to the new schedule.^{[17]XTrustworthy SourceThe Humane Society of the United StatesNational organization devoted to the promotion of animal welfareGo to source} If your working schedule changes, for example, try to push back its morning feeding time by a few minutes each day. If you need to buy new cat carrier, leave the new crate out in the open alongside the old one to give it time to notice the new carrier and adjust to its presence.
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