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Feline Acne in Cats

Written by Mara | Dierenarts | March 5, 2026

Do you see small black grains on your cat’s chin? Then it could be cat acne (feline acne). This skin condition occurs fairly often in cats. Fortunately, most cats have little to no discomfort, but in some cases it can develop into an inflammation that does require treatment. In this blog, you will learn what feline acne is exactly, how it develops and when you should take action.

What is feline acne?

Feline acne is a skin condition that mainly occurs on a cat’s chin. The chin contains many sebaceous glands. With acne, there is a disturbance in the keratinisation of the skin (keratinisation process) and in sebum production. This is referred to as a local keratinisation disorder: something goes wrong in the formation and shedding of skin cells. At the same time, sebum production becomes disrupted.

As a result:

sebum accumulates
hair follicles become blocked
blackheads (small black spots) develop

The exact cause is not well known. There has been relatively little scientific research into feline acne, which means the exact mechanism has not yet been fully clarified.

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Which factors may play a role in feline acne?

Although the exact cause is unknown, several factors seem to contribute to the development of feline acne:

Abnormalities in hair growth
Disturbed sebum production
Allergies
Stress
Reduced immunity
Insufficient grooming of the chin
Viral infections (such as calicivirus)

It is likely that feline acne develops due to a combination of factors.

What do you see with feline acne?

Feline acne can occur in different stages, ranging from uncomplicated acne to a complicated form with skin infection and inflammation.

Uncomplicated feline acne

In most cats you will only see small black grains on the chin (blackheads). There is no redness, swelling or pain. This is called uncomplicated feline acne. The cat usually does not experience any discomfort.

At this stage, the advice is: leave it alone. Cleaning or treating the area too frequently can actually disturb the sebum production even further.

Complicated feline acne (inflamed acne)

If the cat starts rubbing, scratching or excessively grooming, the skin may become damaged. Bacteria or yeasts can then cause a secondary infection. The appearance of the acne may then change and include:

Redness
Swelling
Pimples
Scabs
Discolouration of the fur
Bald patches
Pain

In severe cases, the chin may become clearly swollen and sensitive.

How is feline acne treated?

As mentioned earlier, the advice for uncomplicated acne is to do nothing. You may gently clean the skin if needed, but avoid scrubbing or squeezing the blackheads. This can actually cause an infection. Daily cleaning is also not necessary.

If you would like to clean the area carefully, use mild wipes such as Maxani Regular Wipes and clean the skin no more than 2–3 times per week. Always wipe in the direction of the fur and do not scrub.

If the skin becomes inflamed, always visit your veterinarian. The vet can perform a cytological examination to check for bacteria, yeasts and inflammatory cells. Depending on the findings, treatment for mild inflammation may consist of cleaning and disinfecting the skin, for example with Dermoscent PYOclean Mousse or CLX Wipes.

In the case of active infections, additional treatment is often required, such as antibiotic ointments and/or corticosteroids.

How can you help prevent feline acne?

Is your cat prone to inflamed acne? Then there are a few steps you can take to try to prevent it.

Gentle cleaning: You can gently clean the skin 2–3 times per week using mild wipes such as Maxani Regular Wipes.
Supporting the skin barrier: You can help restore and maintain your cat’s skin barrier with special pipettes, such as Virbac Allerderm Spot-On or Dermoscent Essential 6 (blue variant).
Pay attention to food and water bowls: Sometimes feline acne is thought to be caused by a contact allergy to food or water bowls. This has not been scientifically proven, but varying the material can still be helpful.

Food bowls are available in different materials such as ceramic, plastic, stainless steel, bamboo and other materials. Preferably choose a bowl with low edges and a wide surface (this helps prevent whisker fatigue). Place water in a different location than the food.

Good options include the District 70 Bamboo Cat Food Bowl or the Nobby Oval Ceramic Bowl.

Feline acne is common and usually harmless. Black grains on the chin without inflammation are not a reason to panic and certainly not a reason to clean intensively. Only when the skin becomes red, painful or inflamed is treatment necessary. If you are unsure, have your cat examined by your veterinarian.

Do you still have questions about feline acne? Please contact us via veterinarian@vetsend.co.uk
.

Frequently asked questions about cat acne

Is feline acne contagious?

No, feline acne is not contagious. It is a local skin condition and cannot be transmitted to other cats or humans.

How can I clean acne on my cat?

Only in mild cases can you gently clean the chin 2–3 times per week using a mild wipe. Always wipe in the direction of the fur and do not scrub or squeeze the spots. If there is redness, swelling or pain, visit your veterinarian.

What is cat acne?

Cat acne (feline acne) is a skin condition on the chin in which sebum accumulates due to a disturbance in the keratinisation of the skin. This causes black spots (blackheads) and sometimes inflammation.

Read our other blogs as well

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Food allergies in cats and dogs

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Nutrition and coat care for dogs and cats with an allergy

Allergic diseases in dogs and cats often manifest themselves in skin problems, such as itching, red skin or ear infections. When your pet has an allergy, the body produces antibodies to certain substances that are not harmful. These may be substances in the environment, such as pollen from grass or trees, weeds or mites. An allergy to substances in the environment is called ‘atopy’. In addition, animals can also develop an immune response against substances in food. This is usually a reaction against certain proteins in the food, but in some cases, other components in the food might be the issue. In this article, you will read more about the importance of skincare and nutrition for animals that have skin problems due to an allergy.

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About the author

Mara van Brussel-Broere, Veterinarian at Vetsend

Graduated as a companion animal veterinarian from Utrecht University, she uses her practical experience to advise customers and share knowledge at Vetsend. She finds it important to provide pet owners with clear information about health and wellbeing.