Cat Health

A sad, but true realization is that sometimes our precious pets get sick. They’re no stranger to any of the sicknesses that we sometimes come down with. Especially allergies. Allergies are some of the most frustrating and overall annoying conditions that we experience for a variety of reasons. Unfortunately, our feline friends must endure them also.

One awful skin condition caused by different allergens found throughout the home, food-induced, or from natural causes those sweet little kitties are suffering from is Feline Miliary Dermatitis. This skin condition can be caused by a few different things but know that it is considered to be one of many serious skin allergies.

Most pet owners avoid these conversations in hopes that it may never happen to them, but if you’ve made it to this article, we’re guessing that your cat has started to experience some symptoms of a skin rash or irritation. In this case, he or she may have Miliary Dermatitis. Don’t worry too much yet! The good news is that it’s totally treatable, the other good news is that our experts have experienced this first hand. Meaning it hits home . . . hard. The research provided in this article is thorough and all about making your cat’s experience with Miliary Dermatitis the least triggering as possible. So continue reading and learn everything you need to know.

What is Miliary Dermatitis?

First things first, what even is it?! Well, if you’ve had a dog or know someone who’s had a dog they’ve probably had an experience with hot spots at least once in their lives (seriously, ask around). If you’re familiar with this condition, then understanding Miliary Dermatitis will be a bit easier a concept to grasp. If you’re not, no worries, we’re here to get to the bottom of it for you.

Miliary Dermatitis is a skin condition that is essentially an allergic reaction caused by environmental allergens, food allergies, mites, and other autoimmune diseases. Seasonal allergies and environmental allergies include some or all of the following:

• Pollens
• House dust
• Mites
• Molds
• Even allergies to other pets!

As we can see, it’s possible for our kitties to be allergic to anything just as much as it is for us. Being aware of this will help to make finding a solution that much easier.

Essentially, the skin condition will cause lesions throughout your feline’s skin. These lesions are called eosinophilic plaque and they’re found in a variety of sizes and locations throughout the cat’s body. The more these lesions are irritated, the bigger and more scabby they become. With something like this, it’s important to catch it right away to prevent further irritation. In order to do that watch out for the clinical signs.

What Are the Clinical Signs of Miliary Dermatitis?

Knowing exactly what to look out for with any condition of animals should be at the top of your list. A clinical sign is the indication of a medical fact or characteristic. These signs are normally spotted before or during an examination. It’s important for pet owners to be able to spot clinical signs of Miliary Dermatitis before their next vet appointment. Most of the symptoms, if caught early enough, can be treated from home. See treatment options later in the article.

If you’ve come to this article because you’ve noticed itchy skin throughout your cat’s body you probably already have some basic knowledge of what Miliary Dermatitis is, if you’re here just to learn more, then here’s a list of the most common and known symptoms.

Image Courtesy of Vet Explains Pets

Red, Crusty Bumps Were Found Throughout the Cat’s Body

It’s important to note that the bumps can start very small and be hidden in your cat’s fur. Therefore, it’s sometimes more evident when owners can feel for the bumps rather than search for them. Not to be confused with a normal scab on an adventurous kitty, these bumps are usually localized or widespread and are usually swollen and feel very scabby. Feeling a bit different than a regular scab from an outdoor fight or rubbing against something sharp.

Itchy Skin

If you’re feline has come down with this skin condition, they will have not only itchiness of the skin but normally bits of excessive scratching. The condition can leave the skin feeling hot and itchy causing cats to scratch and bite in order to relieve the pain.

Hair loss

Results from the licking, excessive scratching, and intense itching often show themselves in the form of hair loss. If you’re finding chunks of your cat’s hair throughout the house, odds are she is scratching or licking so much that she’s pulling it out herself. At this point, the condition might have taken another turn and applying treatment more often might help. At some point, you may have to contact the veterinarian to get some medical-grade steroids.

GI symptoms

This isn’t always a symptom, but can sometimes show up. If the allergy was caused by food or something else that your feline ate, GI symptoms can also be common. These symptoms will probably be something as simple as a loose stool but are important to look out for when trying to find the reason for the allergic reaction.

As you can see, the symptoms of Miliary Dermatitis are quite obvious and seem to show themselves in a variety of ways. This is important to recognize when self-diagnosing an animal without a vet’s clarification. This condition usually presents itself in a myriad of obvious ways. If your cat has been showing any of these symptoms it’s important to treat them immediately in order to prevent further damage. If you’re not sure what’s going on it’s always vital to get a Vets opinion before treating.

When Did My Cat Contract This Skin Condition?

Miliary Dermatitis is caused by a variety of different surroundings. The most common and most frequently seen allergic reaction is actually to flea bites. A flea bite can cause very serious reactions in some felines. This is why treating cats for fleas is super important. Understanding and knowing that even indoor cats can still get fleas is vital to protecting and keeping your cat safe.

Along with flea allergies, the plethora of other allergies that can provoke this skin condition are far and few between. Here is a breakdown of the different allergens that could potentially be a harm to your kitty’s skin:

Fleas

First and for most – fleas – flea bites can become very serious. If a cat doesn’t have a specific allergy to fleas, then the reactions are usually mild and come with little scratching. Unfortunately, those sweet feline friends who do actually have an allergy to fleas are in for a whole different ball game. A more severe reaction can come about from even one single flea bite. So imagine a cat with a flea allergy who has a flea infestation. Yikes. 

Food Allergies

As we know, fleas are definitely not the only way that your felines can come down with a case of this skin condition. Therefore, if you notice itching or other symptoms but have been avid about treating your cat for fleas, it’s important to understand all of the different allergies and where they usually happen. With food allergies, the most common spot of Miliary Dermatitis to show itself is on the lower abdomen, face, eye area, and around the neck. If this is the case, it’s not only important to treat the skin condition, but to also get to the cause of the underlying issue; What is your feline friend reacting to? Food allergy testing is a simple procedure that can be done by a veterinarian.

Pollen

Another allergy that cats can come down with is pollen. Just like people, pollen can affect cats. It’s important to know that even if your cat doesn’t go outdoors they can still have a pollen allergy! It’s actually been found that for both humans and animals pollen allergies increase when indoors. Pollen can be tracked through your home from your clothes, shoes, and so on. This can then cause it to be trapped inside with no windows or doors to get out. A pollen allergy will normally affect a cat’s inner thighs and forelegs, lips, neck, and possibly the abdomen. Depending on the severity of the condition, and if at-home treatments aren’t working, it might be time to call the vet and get your kitty on a steroid.

Autoimmune Disease

As previously stated, an autoimmune disease can equally cause Miliary Dermatitis as any of the other allergens mentioned above. Autoimmune reactions show inflammation in different areas compared to the previously discussed allergens. With autoimmune diseases, inflammation can normally be found on or surrounding the feline’s nipples or around the eyes, and edges of the ears. It can also even be spotted on the nail beds.

Parasites

Parasites besides fleas include things like tapeworm and roundworm. These infections are usually quite common, especially in outdoor cats. With that said, indoor cats can also have a case of parasites. In this case, Miliary Dermatitis is often found around the tail and neck.

With an understanding of the different allergens that can possibly cause this skin condition, it’s important to realize that most of the location of the skin dermatitis can help determine what type of allergy it is. Once the allergy has been determined it’s important to take your cat to the vet and get proper allergy testing to prevent future outbreaks.

Does a Vet Have to Diagnose Feline Miliary Dermatitis?

If you notice extra licking and intense itching from your feline friend, it’s important to check with your vet. A vet can give the proper diagnosis and prevent something more serious. When diagnosing, the vet will normally use clinical signs that are visible or have been noticed by you, while also pulling the cat’s medical record. They use this to compare different options that may be causing skin irritation.

It’s often easier for a veterinarian to understand the location of the outbreak. Which in turn can let them quickly decide what the cause of this skin condition was. Therefore, having a vet diagnose the condition is important and could potentially save your cat from something serious. The vet can give pet owners the proper diagnosis and give advice on how to move forward with treatment. The most common practice is to remove what is causing the allergens.

Cat Dermatitis Treatment Options

If your cat was diagnosed by a Veterinarian, the treatment options are often prescribed directly by the doctor. With that in mind, it’s important to stick to the exact advice given by the Vet. They may also recommend different ideas to get rid of the allergen altogether in order to prevent future outbreaks.

The main objective in treating Miliary Dermatitis is to reduce the clinical signs your cats have been showing. There are a variety of different methods of doing this before medication is given to the cat. Although there are a variety of methods that will help soothe the skin while the pet owner is dealing with the underlying condition. If you suspect that the cat has a food allergy it’s important to immediately switch to a hypoallergenic food trial and see if the symptoms persist.

Your Veterinarian may also prescribe anti-inflammatory drugs in order to get your feline’s skin back under control. Considering this is normally painful, it might be the best way to help your cat. Corticosteroids are the most commonly prescribed drug to ease the itching sensation while treatment takes effect. These steroids can be given locally and normally for this type of skin condition which is the best option. Applied directly to the area where the cat is having the most reaction, these steroids will help to decrease inflammation and help to reduce itching and other uncomfortable feelings.

Here are a few treatment options that our experts recommend for helping ease your cat’s pain from Miliary Dermatitis:

1. Hydrocortisone Spray

This non-stinging formula is perfect for cats suffering from mild cases of Miliary Dermatitis. This spray is not only super easy to apply but has also been known to reduce inflammation, swelling, itching, and redness which will stop intense itching, scratching, and biting.

Hydrocortisone works by activating the natural substances in the body which reduce swelling, redness, and itching. Using hydrocortisone in cats works just the same and will hopefully reduce the itching and burning that comes with the skin condition, while pet owners figure out what exactly is causing this allergy.

1. Veterinary Formula Clinical Care Antiseptic Spray

This medicated spray is both fast-acting and veterinarian recommended. If your cat suffers from seasonal allergies and you think there’s about to be a Miliary Dermatitis outbreak, it’s important to keep this handy little bottle in the house. Relieve symptoms in your cat with this easy-to-apply spray before the condition worsens.

1. Curaseb Medicated HotSpot Treatment

This alcohol-free formula relieves itching, redness, and dry skin. Infused with both aloe and vitamin E (natural soothing ingredients), this is the perfect spray for pets. It works for both dogs and cats and will seriously soothe their allergic reactions.

1. Pet MD Chlorhexidine Wipes

Wipes are a great alternative to spray. Sometimes it can be a bit intimidating for the cats when that spray bottle comes out. Therefore, wipes are a great alternative. If your feline friend is lovey-dovey and will absolutely love the wipe-down, then these are perfect for you.

Conclusion

Miliary Dermatitis is a skin condition that can be easily treated. The underlying issue of this skin condition is most often related to an allergy. Figuring out exactly what this allergy is can be a difficult task. It’s often easier to figure out by focusing on where the Miliary Dermatitis prevents itself.

Getting rid of the allergen itself is probably the top form of treatment but treating your cat with different ways to help relieve symptoms is also super important. Miliary Dermatitis can affect any cats at any time in their lives, therefore understanding and knowing the clinical signs and symptoms to look out for could potentially help you in the future. If your feline friend is scratching, itching, or licking their hair off, it’s important to think about the different treatment options laid out in this article while also learning exactly what allergen your cat may have. There are a variety of different symptom relief options on the web, but our experts narrowed the search down for you. With the topical sprays and wipes provided in this article, helping your cat relieve symptoms at home just became that much easier.

If symptoms are still persisting and don’t seem to be getting better it’s important to take your pet to the Veterinarian. The Veterinarian can help by determining what the allergy is and steps to take to prevent future outbreaks. While also possibly prescribing more intense steroids to help relieve symptoms.

Miliary Dermatitis is a totally treatable skin condition that affects cats due to allergies or insect infestations. Preventative measures are one of the best ways to prevent flare-ups with this disease. The biggest takeaway for preventing and treating Miliary Dermatitis is to get to the bottom of the overlying allergy and remove it from the cat’s living area. Also, taking preventative measures to treat fleas with a topical ointment or flea collar is highly encouraged.

Your cat may protest, but it’s crucial to make those regular trips to the veterinarian. A survey on US resident cat owners highlights that 91% of responsible pet parents seek the services of veterinarians for their furry loved ones. While many cat owners seek the help of veterinarians, less than half of these parents bring their cats for preventative health check-ups and routine veterinary care.

While the cost may be a big hindrance to these routine vet visits, it’s crucial for cat owners to be responsible when caring for their pets. So if you want to live a long and happy life with your cat, here’s what you need to know about cat veterinary care:

The Cost of Cat Care

Cats need a lot of TLC, so you need to budget for your furry loved ones once they become a part of your family. The cost of responsible cat ownership is quite high since The Spruce Pets states that annual veterinary examinations can run from $100 to $200. Aside from that, you’d have to budget for spay or neutering procedures, which would cost around $50-$300. Core vaccinations are also recommended for your pets, and this can cost you $80 for the complete first-year series alone.

Love can definitely be expensive, especially if you want to spend many years with your furry friend. While it’s difficult to pay out of pocket for veterinary bills, A guide to what pet insurance covers by Sound Dollar, outlines that it can help you cover medical expenses like treatments, laboratory testing, and surgery. You can even get a lower monthly premium, depending on the breed and the age of your pet. Through proper financial management, you can avail of veterinary procedures that are essential for your furry loved one.

Common Veterinary Procedures and Their Importance

Routine Check-ups

Your cat may glare at you on your way to the veterinarian, but these routine check-ups are crucial since cats can easily conceal their illnesses. Our article on the ‘Illnesses That Cats Often Hide’ states that dental diseases, kidney conditions, thyroid illnesses, and pain often go undetected by cat owners. In fact, these can even go undetected for years, unless a veterinarian runs tests on a regular basis.

Dental Care

You’re not the only one who needs to care for their pearly whites! Dental diseases can cause infections and pain, which is why it’s crucial for your veterinarian to do routine dental cleaning on your cat. Wag N’ Wash Woodmen even offers teeth brushing as a walk-in service to improve the dental health of pets. Your veterinarian can even recommend dental products so that you can keep dental diseases at bay in a cost-effective manner.

Vaccinations

These shots are preventive medicines for your cats, which is why it’s important to get the vaccines that are recommended in your local area. To illustrate, they may give routine vaccinations to protect your cat against rabies, feline leukemia virus, and infectious illnesses.

Parasite Control

Even if your cat stays indoors, they can still be susceptible to internal and external parasites. Your cats will be tested for any potential infections to control these parasites. The veterinarian will also give them treatments to eliminate these dangerous parasites.

Veterinary check-ups require a lot of time (and money). However, your cat will thank you for many years, especially if you give them the care that they deserve.

According to the VCA Animal Hospital, the food you give your cat is the most significant factor you can control to provide them with optimal health. Your cat’s diet should change as they move through each stage of its life cycle. You should feed your cat differently in the different stages of their life; kitten, adult, senior, and geriatric.

However, when you have many cats, each at different life cycle stages, feeding time can become quite a pickle.

If you’re struggling to keep your cats’ food separate, keep reading. This guide has the best tips for feeding multiple cats on multiple diets.

Why Do Some Cats Require Different Diets?

Many factors can influence your cat’s food and what they need to get their daily nutrients and maintain a healthy weight. Some of these factors are as follows:

• Age – If your cat is a kitten or a senior cat, they will require different foods than an adult cat. The food your cat needs to maintain a healthy diet depends entirely upon where they’re at in the cat life cycle.
• Fussy eating – If your cat is a bit of a fussy eater, they may only eat a certain kind of food. If you have other cats, you must ensure they do not eat your fussy cat’s food and that they stick to their meals.
• Allergies – if your cat is allergic to an ingredient in cat food, then it is essential to provide them with food that doesn’t contain it. It is also vital to ensure they don’t eat your other cats’ food, which may include the ingredient they are allergic to. You might consider making your own cat food that all your cats can enjoy, and avoid the costly allergen-free cat food brands.
• Weight issues – If your cat struggles with obesity, they may need a special diet to help them lose weight. Since 60% of cats in the US are overweight, one of your cats could likely struggle with weight at some stage in life.
• Medical Issues – If your cat has a medical issue, they could be required to eat a specific medicinal food, which you don’t want your other cats to eat. Medicinal food can be pretty pricey, so it makes sense that you would feed your other cats a cheaper alternative.

Tips For Feeding Multiple Cats On Multiple Diets

Now we know some of the reasons you should keep your cats’ food separate at mealtimes; let’s look at some of the best tips and solutions for managing mealtimes effectively to keep your cats’ diets separate.

Keeping Mealtimes Calm

We suggest that one of the best ways to ensure your cats eat their food and nobody else’s is to keep feeding times calm. 

Having your cats wait patiently for their food and sit quietly while preparing their meals allows you to assign each cat to their bowl with ease at feeding time and avoid a frenzy. Feeding your cats at regular times can help quell their excitement and impatience when it comes to their next meal.

You can train your cats to wait in a specific spot by using a clicker and treats to reward them for waiting patiently. Or, you could keep your cats busy with treats and a food puzzle to ensure they don’t bother you while you’re preparing their meals.

Using Microchip Feeders And Cat Flaps

Though this is an expensive option, it is very effective. You can use microchip feeders to ensure your cats can only access their food and no one else’s. Or, you could set up each cat’s bowl in a different room and have microchip cat flaps put on the doors in your house to ensure your cats can’t get to each other’s food, only their own.

Feeding Your Cats On Different Levels

If you have senior or overweight cats that require a special diet, you can try putting the regular cat food on a countertop. Your young and healthy cats will be able to jump up and get to their food, while your overweight or senior cat will have to eat their food on the ground. Using vertical levels for feeding is an inexpensive and straightforward solution for keeping your cats’ meals separate.

Supervising Mealtimes

Perhaps the simplest solution, supervising your cats’ mealtimes, is the best way to ensure your cats eat the food that is meant for them. You can place your cats’ bowls in each corner of the room and position your cats manually by picking them up and placing them in front of the suitable bowl. However, if your cat doesn’t like its medicinal food or diet food, they may be persistent in their attempts to reach the other bowls, which could be frustrating.

Summary

Keeping your cats’ food separate can be a nightmare, but it is a necessary evil. To keep your cats in good health, you need to feed them according to age, allergies, and any medical issues they may have. Hopefully, with these tips, you will find that mealtimes become more straightforward, and your cats get into their new eating routine with ease.

About the Author

Pet expert Anna has spent 20 years following her passion for animals as a writer and editor in the pet publishing industry. Prior to starting her career in publishing, Anna spent eight years working in veterinary hospitals where she assisted veterinarians as they treated dogs, cats, rabbits, pocket pets, reptiles, birds and one memorable lion cub. She lives in Southern California with her husband, two sons and miniature poodle Jäger.