Ravishing kitty’s nightmare – Cruddy chin and stud tail

Kitty-cats are natural charmers and they can’t afford to look bad. Feline acne better known as cruddy chin and stud tail are common skin disorders in cats that spoil their eternal beauty and grace. Here’s some more about these disorders to make our readers aware about the same…so that, your kitty remains ravishing…forever!
Cruddy chin
Cruddy chin, as the name suggests is yellow, greasy discolouration on the kitty’s chin, which develops due to excess oil, dirt and dust deposition, under the skin. The hyperactivity of the sebaceous glands (a cutaneous gland that secretes sebum for lubricating skin and hair – usually into hair follicle) cause excess oily secretions called sebum. This excessive secretion is the root cause of this disorder.  The oily secretion of these larger sebaceous glands have a role in territorial marking also and the overproduction of sebum may irritate cats and they may repeatedly rub their chin, lips, temporal area and base of tail over certain objects especially during feeding time, thus causing black patches.
Stud tail
Here also, sebaceous gland is the root cause. A large number of sebaceous glands are located on the top of the tail of cats and it’s over activity produces greasy or waxy secretion. This secretion causes thinning of the hair, loss of fur on the affected area and black pigmentation. Stud tail is common in non-neutered males, but is also seen in neutered male and females.
Warning bells!
Once the sebaceous glands start producing sebum excessively, hair follicles get blocked because the sebaceous glands perform the function of keeping hair waterproof and skin elastic. When sebum blocks the hair follicles, dirt and other foreign bodies also get blocked, causing small pimples on cat’s skin.
In cruddy chin, their face blackens due to continuous rubbing against external objects. Severe inflammations result in formation of papules and pustules with beads of pus. Whereas, in stud tail there may be irritation and inflammation of the overlying skin causing black pigmentation and rarely results in bacterial infection. However, if the disease is mild, it may go unnoticed
Curing care
The first step in treating cruddy chin and stud tail is the removal of the excess sebaceous secretions. The excess hair over the affected area can be clipped on time. Most mild cases can be corrected by periodic washes of the affected area (chin and tail) with an antibacterial surgical scrub and gradually gentle removal of excess greasy secretions. In severe condition opt for oral antibiotic or a steroid shot.
Shampoos containing chlorhexidine or betadine and local sprays containing antiseptics can be used till the affected area appears less greasy and dry.
As bacterial and other infection spread fast through plastic containers, try a stainless steel feeding and watering dish instead of a plastic one for the chin infection; exposure of the affected part to sunlight may be beneficial for both the cases.