What Ointment Works for Cat Folliculitis

1 Cat Folliculitis Ointments

I. Symptoms of Cat Folliculitis:

The chin and tail skin is black, red, and swollen, with thin hair. Many fine black dots at hair roots. Rubbing with a finger easily wipes off the hair and dots, but the dotted skin is clearly red and the cat shows pain when rubbed.

II. Treatment of Cat Folliculitis:

Feline folliculitis isn’t a big problem and is simple to treat—mild cases just need the hair clipped or carefully shaved and washed with an alkaline cleanser.

Steps: find all the spots (sometimes only the chin, sometimes chin, tail, armpits together). Scrub the clustered black parts; after a few rubs they loosen, then wipe the black off with more pressure, and apply anti-inflammatory ointment (e.g., erythromycin) to the red skin.

Moderate folliculitis may not improve much with diet and washing; use a skin spray, zinc oxide ointment, and a chlorhexidine solution to ease symptoms. If it turns bacterial, add oral cefadroxil tablets for systemic anti-infection.

Before topical meds, always clear the hair around the lesion to aid absorption and make application easier. Once it heals, the hair grows back.

If the cat has widespread severe folliculitis or the lesion is badly infected, purulent, or bleeding, see a vet for antibiotics and tests to find the cause.

III. Preventing Cat Folliculitis:

Folliculitis is common in obese cats; from hormones, males are more affected than females, so neuter intact cats, especially males, promptly.

Avoid overnutrition that causes folliculitis and obesity. Feed adult cats at set times and amounts, drop unlimited feeding and the old ‘fat is cutest’ idea; choose indoor or healthy-weight cat food, and exercise and play more to avoid excess.

The above covers what ointment works for cat folliculitis. For other questions, consult an online veterinarian.