Can human seborrheic dermatitis or flaky skin spread to my cat?

Cats can develop scaling of their skin or dandruff for a number of reasons, which can be the result of a host of reasons. Some of these can include parasitic infections (including lice or mites), fungal infections, allergies, hormonal disorders, or nutritional imbalances, among many others. The only way to definitively diagnose the cause of dry skin is by starting with a trip to the veterinarian. After a physical exam, diagnostic testing may be needed depending on a cat’s concurrent clinical signs. These tests may include skin cytology, skin scrapes, fungal cultures or blood tests. In some cases, a simple diet change to a high quality balanced diet may remedy the problem.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Yes, cats can be carriers of fleas, lice and ring worm. Cats can not have any skin lesions and carry ring worm. People can be allergic to cats as well. If Curly is being treated for ring worm then you can get it. If her hair is growing back that doesn't mean she is cured. I would ask your human Dr to provide a diagnosis. Not all skin conditions human develop can be blamed on animals. I hope this helps and I wish you and Curly the best!

Hi, and thanks for your question. This could be due to an allergy, although it could also be infection or mites. First of all, in order to rule out skin parasites, you will need to treat with a high quality flea treatment, then ask the vet to perform a skin scrape - this might reveal an infection or a mite infestation. If all of those came back negative, the next step is to treat the allergy symptomatically and try to discover the cause of the allergy. Three main type of allergies are usually affecting pets: food allergies, flea and parasite related ones and environmental type (allergens coming from trees, pollens, dust etc etc). Some medications can be given by the vet in order to repair any possible skin lesions (like steroids and antibiotics). Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. If this answer was helpful please let us know, this will be used to improve our service!

Hi and thanks for your question! Flaky skin around the head and ears could be the result of constant itching of those areas due to flea allergy or another cause may be ring worn which typically presents in flaky round patches on the head and neck. If it does not improve soon then it if worth a trip to the vet for a skin scrape and fungal culture. Hope this has helped!

Flaky skin could be a sign of allergies, some hormonal diseases like hyperthyroidism, poor nutrition or even fleas. If there is no hair loss and her skin appears normal otherwise you could ask your veterinarian about using an oral fish oil supplement to see if that helps. If there is any hair loss, red skin or scabs I would recommend having her examined by your veterinarian. Unfortunately cats tend to lick most topical products so I do not typically recommend using them. There are some 'mousses' that absorb quickly that you could try, I like this brand: https://www.amazon.com/Douxo-Seborrhea-Mousse-Dogs-Cats/dp/B009TXE0KU

Hello, sorry to hear about Honey. I would be more concerned with the yellow scabs being indicative of an ear infection, bacterial or yeast. However, unless ruled out with diagnostics, we cannot say that Honey is not carrying anything infectious that could be transmitted to humans. If your mouth was in direct contact with Honey, or if you happened to pet honey and then touched around your mouth, and if she happened to be carrying something infectious, then there's a chance you may have gotten something from her. The best way to rule out that she has anything you should worry about is by having your veterinarian assess her and run some skin diagnostics which may include a fungal culture, a skin scrape, and looking at skin debris and cells under the microscope. Things that you can contract from your cat include ring worm infections and paraste infections. Schedule an appointment to have your veterinarian take a look at your cat and speak to your physician about the rash your developed. Hope this helps and best of luck!

This is probably due to an allergy, although it could also be infection or mites. First of all, in order to rule out skin parasites, you will need to treat with a high quality flea treatment, then ask the vet to perform a skin scrape - this might reveal an infection or a mite infestation. If all of those came back negative, the next step is to treat the allergy symptomatically and try to discover the cause of the allergy. Three main type of allergies are usually affecting pets: food allergies, flea and parasite related ones and environmental type (allergens coming from trees, pollens, dust etc etc). Some medications can be given by the vet in order to repair any possible skin lesions (like steroids and antibiotics). Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.