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A Practical Guide to Feline Dermatology	■
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Table 2:1: Breed predispositions to common dermatoses and a few rare dermatoses in the cat.

Persian	Dermatophytosis Cheyletiellosis Histoplasmosis Lupus erythematosus Idiopathic facial dermatitis^5Facial intertrigo Hereditary greasy seborrhoea^6Congenital hypotrichosis Chediak-Higashi syndrome^7Dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa^s
Exotic Short Hair	Hereditary greasy seborrhoea^6
Siamese	Demodicosis Self-induced alopecia of behavioural origin Food intolerance? Sporotrichosis Cryptococcosis Lupus erythematosus Vitiligo^9 Junctional epidermolysis bullosa Periocular leucotrichia Histiocytic mastocytoma
Abysinnian	Self-induced alopecia of behavioural origin Blastomycosis Cryptococcosis Follicular dysplasia
Havana	Blastomycosis
Sphinx	Urticaria pigmentosa ^10Alopecia universalis
Birman	Congenital hypotrichosis^11
Burmese	Demodicosis Self-induced alopecia of behavioural origin Congenital hypotrichosis
Devon Rex	Urticaria pigmentosa ^12
Himalayan	Lupus erythematosus Ehlers-Danlos syndrome Hereditary greasy seborrhoea^6

The environment

Meticulous details of internal and external surroundings must be documented: being confined to inside the house, and the presence of rugs and carpets, expose the cat to a high level of house dust mite allergens. Old houses and freąuent visits to the cellar and attic favour the multiplication of fleas and consequently flea allergy dermatitis. An outdoor country life predisposes to certain parasitic dermatoses (e.g. Otodectes otitis and trombiculiasis), allergies (e.g. mosąuito bite hypersensitivity), fungal infections (dermatophytosis) and viral infections (e.g. poxvirus infection reported in cats that hunt smali rodents). If dermatological signs are worse when the cat is in certain locations, this may suggest atopic dermatitis.

Any trips abroad or to different regions should be documented. Notoedric mange is prevalent in the French overseas territories, and parts of Italy, Switzerland, Spain, Slovenia and Croatia. Some systemie mycoses occur in particular geographical regions.

The presence of other animals in the house and evidence of transmission to other animals or people: the presence of in-contact animals favours the development of certain dermatoses such as flea allergy dermatitis or contagious dermatoses like dermatophytosis, Otodectes otitis and cheyletiellosis. Evidence of transmission to man suggests dermatophytosis or a parasitic dermatosis like notoedric mange or cheyletiellosis.

Changes in the environment: changes in the family situation (moving house, new fumiture, new arrival or death of an animal or person) may cause behavioural disorders that can have dermatological manifestations.

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