mr.whiskers

Question
I've noticed ear mite like symptoms (dirty ear - wax). I treated them. About the same time, Whiskers developed dirt under his chin and it bleeds.  He has several of these sores on his chin and when I noticed, his mouth is COVERED with black patches.  I've never noticed them like this before.  He is a nine year old DSH (orange tabby).  I've read about this being "normal" but I want to know if all of these symptoms combined could be something else.  Thank You for your time.

Answer
Hello Heidi.  These absolutely could be related.

It sounds like Mr. Whiskers has feline acne on his chin for sure.  It's not completely understood, but it's strongly believed to be caused by an overactive immune response.  It may be related to an allergy or a hypersensitivity to a variety of items.  Plastic food bowls are found to be especially guilty in a lot of cases.  This may be for two reasons - the cats could have a sensitivity to the plastic itself, and plastic tends to scratch easily over time, leaving grooves for bacteria to grow in.  These bacteria are deposited on the chin when the cat goes to eat.  The immune system can overreact to these bacteria and worsen the condition.  If you use plastic food and water bowls, consider changing to stainless steel ones.  This is hypoallergenic and doesn't scratch, so bacteria are less likely to flourish.  But regardless of which type of bowls you use, be sure to wash them every day with hot water and antibacterial soap.  

When feline acne gets so bad that the chin is bleeding, a vet should take a look at it.  The chin can become infected, and an oral medication is sometimes indicated.  Otherwise, a topical antibiotic with a steroid to reduce inflammation is generally recommended.  Most vets will also give you a flush to clean the area with until the skin has improved.

As far his ears, definitely some condition such as tenacious mites that aren't responding to over-the-counter treatments, or a yeast or bacterial infection could be to blame.  However, cats with feline acne can also be prone to have similar allergic reactions in their ears.  A non-infectious wax is produced, and the ears are itchy and uncomfortable.  Again, the cause isn't really understood.  Affected cats are generally middle-aged to older.  Sometimes food or environmental allergies could play a role, but there is most often no detectable cause.  A steroidal ear cream is often prescribed to reduce itching and inflammation during flare ups.  So, best to get your kitty to the vet as soon as you can to find out the cause for sure.

Best wishes!

Jessica