Atopic dermatitis in cats – signs and treatment

Updated 2026-09-30 · 1 sources

Based on: PDSA

Book a vet visit

Book a vet appointment if you think your cat has this – a vet needs to confirm it and plan the treatment. Atopic dermatitis is a skin condition caused by an allergy to something in the environment.

What to do now

What you can do now

Contact your vet.
Note when it started, how often it happens and what else you see.
Take a photo or short video to show the vet.
Keep fresh water available.

Don't

Do not give any human medicine.
Do not wait if it gets worse.

What it is

Atopic dermatitis is a skin condition caused by an allergy to something in the environment, such as pollen, moulds, grass or dust mites.^[1] Cats with atopy need lifelong management.^[1]

Signs

Itchy skin
Over-grooming, including licking, chewing or biting
Hair loss or thinning, especially on the head, neck, underbelly and inner thighs
A rash or redness
Repeated ear infections
Thickened or darkened skin
Skin or ear infections
Saliva-stained skin from over-grooming
Weepy eyes
Acute moist dermatitis, also called hot spots

At any age

Causes and risk factors

Pollen
Moulds
Grass
Dust mites
Abyssinian cats
Devon Rex cats

How vets treat it

Lifelong management
Avoiding triggers
Medicines to control itchy skin
Immunotherapy or vaccination treatment
Controlling the symptoms

Breeds prone to this

Veterinary charities list these breeds as more likely than others to get this condition. Each breed page lists the inherited conditions documented in the breed.

What the experts say

“If your cat has atopy, they will need lifelong management. There are three main ways to treat it: By avoiding their triggers. Medicines to control itchy skin. Immunotherapy/vaccination treatment. Another way of managing atopy, is to control its symptoms i.e.”
— PDSA [1]

If your pet is struggling to breathe, has collapsed, is having a seizure or can't stand up: go to the nearest vet now.

Not sure how serious it is?

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Common questions

What signs can atopic dermatitis cause in cats?

It can cause itchy skin, over-grooming, hair loss or thinning, a rash, repeated ear infections and thickened skin.^[1]

What causes atopic dermatitis in cats?

It is caused by an allergy to something in the environment, such as pollen, moulds, grass or dust mites.^[1]

How may a vet treat atopic dermatitis?

Treatment may include avoiding triggers, medicines to control itchy skin, or immunotherapy or vaccination treatment, with lifelong management.^[1]

Sources

PDSA

How this page was made: written with the help of AI from the sources below, then checked claim by claim against those sources. Urgency levels follow OkPaw’s fixed safety rules. It is guidance, not a diagnosis. How we write our pages

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