First, it is important to try and figure out the cause of it. There are several well-known causes of feline acne:
- Plastic bowls
- Stress
- Poor grooming/cleaning habits
- Overactive sebaceous glands
- Food allergies
The most common is the usage of plastic food and water bowls. It's also the factor that is the easiest to change. If your kitty is suffering from acne, using glass bowls should be the first change to try.
Many articles online suggest changing to stainless steel bowls, but in our experience, nothing beats glass when it comes to acne. Of course, stainless steel is still a lot better than plastic which harbors bacteria and can even cause allergic reactions.
Also remember to wash the bowls daily. The oils from the previous meal(s) could be a contributing factor to developing acne. I always wash Tofu's bowls after every meal, so he only gets clean dishware every time. I wouldn't eat from a dirty used bowl, so I wouldn't think His Highness would appreciate it either :)
Food allergies were the culprit for Tofu's chin acne. It was so bad at one point, his chin swelled up.
Once we eliminated the allergens and got his immune system back on track, the acne naturally went away. I would also wipe his chin after every meal to keep it really clean.
If the acne is caused by stress, then of course it would make the most sense to try and reduce or even eliminate the stressor altogether. Easier said than done, I know.
With poor grooming habits, it's important to clean the mouth and chin after every meal. Don't let the food residue and oils cling on because that will irritate the skin and possibly lead to acne.
Cleanliness is of utmost importance when trying to battle feline acne. I do suggest seeing a vet first to get the right diagnosis. There are too many skin disorders and taking a wait-and-see approach could lead to longer recovery times. More aggressive measures might be required if the acne condition is severe.
