My cat has a bald spot with black dots on its neck. What should I do?

Hi, thank you for using PetCoach. Those black dots are blackheads (clogged pores). It is not typically a serious problem. It is not related to a flea problem. Feline blackheads often result when cats don't groom themselves properly but it could also be from overactive oil glands or certain yeast or bacterial infections. Stress and food allergies can also contribute to this issue. You can try these medicated wipes on the affected area once a day. If after about 7-10 days there is not much improvement then you should have Dino examined by your vet. ( https://www.amazon.sg/Douxo-30-Count-Chlorhexidine-Pads/dp/B00G3D8JL0 ) Hope this helps. Best wishes!

Booker could have feline acne. You could clean it with an antiseborrheic shampoos for cats containing benzoyl peroxide and see if that helps. If not, he needs to be seen by a vet for treatment. He may need an oral or topical antibiotic and a short course of a corticosteroid, such as prednisolone. Make sure you don't see any fleas and continue his monthly flea medication. Using stainless steel food and water bowls instead of plastic may help too.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is possibly due to allergies. It really comes down to figuring out what is causing her allergies so that they can be treated or the specific allergen avoided. A secondary infection is likely and also needs to be addressed. This is not an emergency though it would be best to see a veterinarian. There are many things that can cause allergies though in most cases they can be broken down into 3 big categories: flea, food and environmental allergies. Allergies are usually worked up in a stepwise fashion starting with flea allergies as this is the easiest and cheapest to take care of. If not on a flea preventative, then it would be a good idea to get started on one. If already on one then it would be a good idea to change to something else (there are many new products out in the market). If not improved in 1-3 months then it is time to move on and check for food allergies by switching to a novel diet (new protein and new carbohydrate). If that does not seem to be the issue then you are left out having to check for environmental allergies which require blood and/or skin tests. Allergies can be very frustrating to deal with at first but so rewarding at the end when we are able to treat them effectively!

From what I can see, it looks like a small scar. If it's not swollen, has discharge, or feels warmer than the rest of him, I would keep an eye on it. The next time your cat is in for his annual visit, show it to your vet, but it doesn't look like anything to be concerned with from these photos.

It sounds like your cat may have a flea allergy. Flea dirt (small black specks) are often found in the skin and this is accompanied by constant scratching/licking and hair loss. The skin is also susceptible to getting secondary bacterial infections. Your cat needs to first be examined to confirm a flea allergy is likely present, then he/she needs to get a steroid shot to stop the itch quickly. The more your pet scratches the worse it will get. If your pet doesn't have fleas then another possible cause of hair loss and black specks is a mite infestation on the skin with lots of loose scans; although this is not nearly as common as fleas. Both require a vet visit to get any type of resolution. I hope your kitty gets well soon!

I am sorry to hear about Newton! You don't mention if he is an indoor only cat or if there are other cats in the house. If there are other cats he interacts with, I wonder if they could be rough housing as this area could be an area that another cat is biting at playfully. Also, if you happen to use a topical flea preventative then we could be having an adverse skin reaction to the product if it is applied in this area. I would also look closely around your house at areas your kitty frequents to be sure there isn't some sharp object/corner that he could be injuring himself on. If none of these seem like possibly causes then a vet exam is warranted to check for signs of skin infection (bacterial or fungal such as ringworm) or allergies as a cause.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding your kittens. They will need to see a veterinarian for skin testing. They will likely need a fungal culture to check for ringworm and skin scrapes to look for mites under the microscope. There is a common mite in kittens that lives within the hair follicles. An overgrowth can result in bald spots that do not typically itch. These mites are microscopic and cannot be seen by looking at the cats. I hope this information helps and you are able to get their skin cleared up!