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Conference misery::feline

Title:Meower Power - Where Differing Opinions are Respected
Notice:purrrrr...
Moderator:JULIET::CORDES_JA
Created:Wed Nov 13 1991
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:1079
Total number of notes:28858

263.0. "Cat scratching chin - please help" by WEORG::LADEROUTE () Thu Apr 23 1992 11:09

    I've noticed my himmie's been scratching his chin a lot lately. I
    looked at it this morning after I washed off a lot of scabbing. It's not
    infected, just a bit pink (probably from him scratching so much, I hope). 
    
    Does anyone have any idea as to why he's scratching his chin so much?
    Should I put something (medicine, ointment, etc.) on it? I'd really 
    appreciate any suggestions.
    
    Thanks!
    Deb          
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263.1JUPITR::KAGNOKitties with an AttitudeThu Apr 23 1992 11:2423
    Deb,
    
    I have a Himmy too, and I always seem to be washing his face!  He gets
    the goopy eyes and crusty chin, and a wet sponge or cloth helps lots to
    clean it up.
    
    Cats cannot clean their chins, which leaves them ripe for bouts of
    feline acne, caused when dirt gets into the pores.  Although Herbie is
    not an outdoor cat, after he eats canned food there is always food
    stuck on his whiskers and chin afterwards, so I keep up with the face
    washings.
    
    Nikki, one of my indoor/outdoor cats, had a nasty bout of feline acne a
    few months back.  We did not catch it until it had gotten to the
    infection stage unfortunately, but a 10 day dose of antibiotics and
    frequent cleanings with hydrogen peroxide took care of it.  TK, my
    other in/out cat, also gets dirt on his chin so I try to keep up with
    bathing his as well.
    
    It sounds as though your Himmy might have a slight case of feline acne,
    so it might be wise to have the vet examine it.  F.A. can become
    infected, and he might need some antibiotics just to be safe.
    
263.2CSSE64::RAWDENCheryl Graeme RawdenThu Apr 23 1992 14:173
    Not sure if this is relevant or not but does the cat wear a flea
    collar?  Perhaps there's some kind of reaction.  Have you changed cat
    foods recently?
263.3OXNARD::KOLLINGKaren/Sweetie/Holly/Little Bit Ca.Thu Apr 23 1992 14:343
    Does he have a plastic food or water dish?  Try changing to metal or
    china.
    
263.4I'll try wiping his face.WEORG::LADEROUTEThu Apr 23 1992 15:5412
    Is the acne caused from food left on the chin after eating? He does eat
    wet food, and he licks his face a lot after meals.
    
    He doesn't wear a flea collar nor have I changed his food, so I don't
    think that's it.
    
    I think I'll try wiping his face after each meal, and see if that
    helps. If not, I guess we'll be off the the vet.
    
    Thanks for the info.
    
    Deb
263.5metal bowlsWEORG::LADEROUTEThu Apr 23 1992 15:586
    Just read .3. He has metal bowls, but I sometimes use paper bowls when
    we're away for the weekend. Could this cause a reaction? I use the
    paper so I don't have to ask my neighbors to clean the bowls everyday,
    and that way I'm sure old wet food isn't left in the bowl.
    
    Deb
263.6JUPITR::KAGNOKitties with an AttitudeThu Apr 23 1992 16:283
    From what I understand, it is metal and plastic bowls that cause the
    problem.  Ceramic and glass (pyrex) should be fine.
    
263.7I'll try ceramic bowlsWEORG::LADEROUTEThu Apr 23 1992 16:413
    Thanks. I'll try switching to ceramic bowls.
    
    Deb
263.8AYRPLN::TAYLORTake some time to eat the flowers ...Tue Apr 28 1992 16:2718
FOLLOWING is a way to get rid of the feline acne.

Take a cotton swab (like you use to remove make-up) and soak it in
alcohol.  Take the cat and apply "soak" the area where the acne
is with alcohol.  Just take the swab and hold it there for about a 
minute.  Then take a fine flea comb and comb the chin.  Usually
the little "blackheads" that they get will come out with the
flea comb.

Then wash the area with warm water to get the alcohol off.  Repeat
this daily until you see that it is gone.

As stated before, use the china or glass dishes instead of metal or plastic.
Somehow the metal or plastic (especially plastic) causes the acne.

Hope it works!

Holly
263.9He looks better already!WEORG::LADEROUTEWed Apr 29 1992 16:536
    I've changed his bowls to ceramic. It seems to have helped already. His
    chin looks much better. I'll continue to wash his chin too.
    
    Thanks so much for your help!
    
    Deb