My kitten's skin tears easily. Could it be a rare genetic condition?

If Sottey is truly 19 years old, the cause of what you are seeing is likely known as skin fragility syndrome. The most common causes of this condition are endocrine conditions such as Cushing's disease or Diabetes Mellitus. It can also be caused by overuse of certain steroid drugs. Other times, the disease just manifests for reasons unknown. This is referred to as idiopathic skin fragility syndrome. The treatment for this condition is entirely dependent on the cause of the syndrome. If caused by an endocrine condition, treatment of said condition will be necessary. First, Scottey will require some blood testing in order to rule these in or out. Your veterinarian will be able to tell you which tests should be prioritized based on the physical exam he performs.

My best guess based on all the history you provided is that Sausage has Feline Skin Fragility Syndrome - often happens due to an underlying illness like diabetes, Cushing's disease, etc. Here is a link to an article about this problem. I suggest you consult with your vet about this as a possible diagnosis. ( https://www.petmd.com/cat/conditions/skin/c_ct_feline_skin_fragility_syndrome ) Hope this helps. Best wishes.

The first two listed conditions are genetic. Where there is one or two genetic abnormalities, there may be more that have not yet become apparent. It is impossible to predict if she will eventually develop any other conditions. have her examined by your vet to rule out infection in the eyes or obstructed tear ducts.Keep the eyes clean using a warm, moist cloth. Pain medication may be indicated to manage the discomfort associated with the loss of her tail. Daily brushing, using a pet approved toothbrush and tooth paste, may promote periodontal health. Have the vet examine her mouth to diagnose any periodontal issues.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor kittens! Until you get a diagnosis from your Vet I can't answer you on if it is transmittable ti humans. You may also have different diseases in your country than we do in the US. Possible causes of the skin condition are: fleas (people can get bitten), allergies to food or environment (not contagious), demodex (mites not contagious to people) or ring worm which is a fungal skin infection (is contagious to people). Fleas are easy to fix. Allergies are frustrating and can take a while to find the medication and food that works. Demedex is relatively easy to fix. Ring worm can take a long time and oral medications and lyme sulfur dips. I hope this helps and your Vet will be able to get you the diagnosis. I wish you and the kittens the best!

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. Yes, some Selkirk Rex cats can be genetically predisposed to losing hair. If there are no areas of irritation, redness, swelling, and if she is not bothered by the hair loss, it is likely that this is a genetic predisposition for alopecia. If you have concerns, you can always have a veterinarian take a look at her and perform so simple tests to rule out a skin infection or skin parasites. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

Hello. It is very difficult to diagnose a skin problem just by looking at it, & certainly harder by a picture. If this is similar to what your other cat has, then I might be suspicious of a mange mite called Demodex gatoi. I would first talk to your vet about treating both cats ( & any others in the house ) with Bravecto, just to rule this out ( it is also great for fleas). For EG, some cats will respond nicely to occasional steroid injections. You can also do a hypoallergenic diet trial to rule out a food allergy. Antihistamines sometimes will control symptoms, especially Certirizine ( your veterinarian can recommend a dose ), & some cats are being treated with a relatively new medication for allergies in dogs called Apoquel. So, once your veterinarian has confirmed what the skin lesions are, treatment can be started. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hi, I think one of the first conditions to rule out here would be eosinophilic granuloma complex (EGC) which refers to a group of inflammatory skin problems in cats. The skin lesion on the picture may be an eosinophilic plaque. Common sites are the hind legs and the stomach. The lesions can be large and may be itchy, and the cat may frequently tries to licks and even bites at the affected site which can make it worse. Most cases of ECG are due to allergies ( fleas /food/ atopy=environmental). Flea control is very important in the treatment. Most cases respond well to medical treatment with corticosteroids (prednisolone commonly) and antibiotic if infected. She will need to be checked by a vet to confirm and to be treated. Hope this helps