Most skin disorders are readily treatable, but some can make your cat feel miserable.

By Tom Ewing

Though not so clearly demarcated as, say, a kidney, liver, spleen or heart, a cat’s skin qualifies biologically as an organ. That is, the thin layer of tissue that encases the entirety of an animal’s body is a differentiated component of its physiologic makeup that performs specific life-sustaining functions.

A fungal disease called feline dermatophytosis (also known as ringworm) is a fairly common skin disorder.

Indeed, the skin is the largest organ of the feline body, its usefulness extending well beyond the obvious role it plays as the matrix for your cat’s lustrous haircoat. In a healthy animal, it functions as a barrier against invasion by harmful microorganisms. It works as a watertight seal, retaining an animal’s body fluids and preventing dehydration. Along with the haircoat, the…

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