When to see a vet urgently
Seek urgent assessment if your cat has any of the following:
- a rapidly spreading, swollen and extremely painful skin lesion;
- a pus-producing wound with marked loss of appetite or severe tiredness;
- fever or rapidly deteriorating general health alongside an infection;
- difficulty breathing, collapse or difficulty being roused.
Do not manage declining general health at home with skin cleaning alone. You can find a vet near you.
Overview
The staphylococci most often isolated from cats include Staphylococcus felis, S. pseudintermedius and S. aureus. They can damage the skin, ears, mucous membranes and internal organs. A staph infection may be local, such as pyoderma or an ear infection, or generalised, causing sepsis in debilitated cats.
The distribution of species varies with the sampling site and testing method. Finding a staphylococcus alone does not mean disease. A bacterium can be present on the skin without symptoms; diagnosing infection requires compatible tissue changes and test findings. The bacterial name alone cannot establish how serious the infection is. The sampling site and other microbes found there also affect interpretation.
Pyoderma usually means a pus-forming bacterial skin infection. A superficial infection involves the outer skin or hair follicle, whereas deep infection extends further into the tissues. Depth affects both sampling and treatment choice. A similar-looking scab may also have a non-bacterial cause.
Causes
- skin injuries, including scratches, bites and scratching due to itching;
- allergic skin inflammation, including atopy, food allergy and flea allergy;
- parasites, including fleas, ticks and biting lice;
- hormonal diseases, such as diabetes;
- weakened immune defences due to FeLV, FIV or chronic infections;
- inadequate hygiene.
Damage to the skin barrier can allow normal microbes to multiply harmfully. Itching, scratching and inflammation can form a self-perpetuating cycle. Treatment therefore investigates the cause as well as the bacteria: flea allergy, for example, is not resolved by an antibiotic.
A bite wound may contain several bacteria from a cat's mouth and skin. Not every abscess is therefore caused solely by staphylococci. In an abscess, pus accumulates in a confined cavity within tissue, and drainage can be central to treatment. A small skin opening does not reveal how extensive the damage beneath it is.
Risk factors
- cats with chronic skin problems;
- cats with weakened immune defences;
- cats living in crowded conditions, such as rescue centres and breeding establishments;
- kittens and older cats;
- cats with allergies or parasitic infections.
Age or living with many cats does not alone establish infection. Evidence is not equally strong for all the listed factors as independent risks for staph infection in cats. A well-cared-for cat can also develop a secondary infection. Skin disease therefore does not automatically mean inadequate hygiene.
Typical symptoms
- pus-containing crusts, pustules and bumps on the skin;
- itching, scratch marks and hair loss;
- an unpleasant skin odour;
- inflammation of the outer ear, with itching, redness and pus-containing discharge;
- pain and restlessness;
- fever, lethargy and sepsis in severe cases.
Intact pustules may not be seen at all in cats. Small crusted bumps, scaling or hair loss can be more common findings. Deep infection may involve ulcers and draining tracts producing blood or pus. However, itching, odour and discharge do not identify the bacterial species.
Yeasts or other disease-causing organisms may also be present in the skin or ears. Similar changes occur in allergies, parasitic infections and some immune-mediated diseases. If the problem recurs, do not automatically restart the same previous medicine without reassessment.
Complications and consequences
- recurrent chronic skin inflammation;
- deep pyoderma;
- generalised infection, or sepsis;
- surgical wound infections;
- antibiotic-resistant bacteria, such as MRSA and MRSP.
MRSA means meticillin-resistant S. aureus, while MRSP refers to the corresponding resistant S. pseudintermedius. Resistance describes a bacterial property in relation to medicines, rather than the strength of your cat's immune defences. A resistant strain can complicate treatment selection, but its name alone does not establish a generalised infection or rule out every treatment option.
Diagnosis at the vet
- examination of the skin and ears;
- cytology of smear samples to look for coccal bacteria and neutrophils;
- bacterial culture and antibiotic susceptibility testing;
- a complete blood count in generalised infection;
- identifying and treating underlying causes, such as allergies, hormonal disorders and parasites.
Your vet asks whether itching started before the skin changes, where lesions first appeared and how previous treatments worked. Mention shampoos, ear products and antibiotics used too. This information helps select investigations and interpret culture results. Photographs may help if the changes fluctuate.
Cytology looks for inflammatory cells and bacteria in material from beneath a scab or from discharge, for example. Bacteria seen alongside inflammatory cells, particularly inside them, support infection. However, a round, coccal shape alone does not identify the exact staphylococcal species or reveal antibiotic resistance. Yeasts and other findings affecting interpretation can also be detected.
Culture identifies bacteria that can be grown, and susceptibility testing helps select medication. A deep lesion sometimes requires a tissue sample, as surface bacteria do not always represent the deeper infection. Previous antibiotic treatment can affect the result. However, do not stop medicines for sampling without your vet's decision.
If findings do not fit an ordinary bacterial infection, parasite tests, fungal testing or a skin biopsy may be needed. The need for blood tests and viral investigations depends on general health and history. A single staph finding does not itself mean that your cat has an immune deficiency.
Treatment based on findings
A superficial, limited infection may need only topical treatment selected by your vet. A wash, foam or other product is chosen according to lesion extent, your cat's coat and tolerance of handling. Do not automatically use a product intended for a dog's skin on a cat. Use only a product prescribed for the particular situation in the ears.
Deep infection or deteriorating general health may require an oral or injectable antibiotic. Where possible, selection is based on culture. Opening an abscess, removing a foreign body or treating damaged tissue may be necessary. An antibiotic alone does not remove a pus-filled cavity or foreign material maintaining the infection.
Care also includes managing pain, itching and the underlying disease. Treatment of allergies or parasites is planned separately. Do not decide medication amounts, duration or changes at home according to how a scab looks. If treatment does not help or causes adverse effects, the practice reassesses the diagnosis and how treatment is being carried out.
Home care and monitoring
Follow cleaning instructions and prevent licking or scratching as agreed. Your cat may need a protective collar or another barrier selected by your vet. Swallowing a topical medicine can be harmful. If handling is clearly painful or unsuccessful, ask for advice instead of continuing by force.
Do not squeeze an abscess, remove firmly attached scabs or apply human creams to a wound. Alcohol, strong disinfectants and other unsuitable substances can impair healing. Protecting the wound and removing discharge, if required, must follow instructions for that specific lesion, as the same approach does not suit every wound.
Monitor lesion extent, pain, discharge, odour, appetite and activity. Follow-up assesses healing and may repeat cytology. Surface drying alone does not reliably establish that a deep infection has healed. Control of the underlying disease is also reviewed if the skin becomes infected again.
Preventing transmission at home
Good hand and environmental hygiene reduces bacterial transfer between animals and people. Clean care equipment as instructed and avoid touching discharge with bare hands. Cover any wounds on your own skin during care. If using gloves for topical treatment, also follow the product instructions.
Tell the practice about a resistant bacterial finding at subsequent visits too. Any additional precautions are agreed individually according to the bacterium, symptoms and household situation. Finding bacteria in an animal without symptoms is not the same as an infection requiring treatment.
Prevention
- Ensure control of fleas and other parasites.
- Treat allergies and hormonal diseases promptly.
- Maintain skin and ear hygiene and coat care.
- Isolate sick animals with generalised infections.
- Attend regular veterinary visits if your cat has chronic skin inflammation.
The need for isolation is assessed case by case. Sepsis describes severe bodily dysfunction caused by infection and does not alone define how infection spreads. Precautions may differ between an ordinary local skin infection and a confirmed resistant bacterial strain.
Important for cat owners
Staph infections are common in cats and usually secondary. Remember that pus-containing crusts, itching, an unpleasant skin odour or inflamed ears are reasons to take your cat to the vet. Identifying and treating the underlying cause promptly allows the infection to heal and can prevent recurrence.
Bacterial folliculitis and deep pyoderma are less common in cats than in dogs. Recurrence cannot always be prevented completely, but treating the cause, appropriate medication and follow-up improve the chances of control. A poorly healing lesion needs renewed investigation rather than simply repeating the same treatment.
This article provides general information and does not replace veterinary care. Contact your vet if you notice signs of illness in your cat.
Frequently asked questions
Does a staphylococcus in culture always mean infection?
No. The bacterium may belong to the normal microbiota or enter the sample from the skin surface. The result is interpreted alongside symptoms, the lesion and cytology.
Does every staph infection need antibiotic tablets?
Not necessarily. Superficial infection may be treated topically, while deep or generalised infection may need systemic medication. Your vet chooses treatment according to the findings.
What does MRSP mean in a cat?
It means a drug-resistant strain of a particular staphylococcal species. The finding affects medicine selection and hygiene instructions, but alone does not show whether your cat is an asymptomatic carrier or ill.
This article is for general information only and is not a guide to treatment. If you notice the first signs of illness, contact your vet.
Paw4care editorial team
Sources
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- Pyoderma in Cats, Merck Veterinary Manual, accessed 2026-11-05.
- 1.2 Feline Pyodermas, University of Minnesota Libraries, accessed 2026-11-05.
- Bacterial culture and antimicrobial susceptibility testing — basic information that every veterinary practitioner should know, Canadian Veterinary Journal, accessed 2026-11-05.
- Antimicrobial Drug Factors for Animals, Merck Veterinary Manual, accessed 2026-11-05.
- Feline Skin Diseases, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, accessed 2026-11-05.
- Care of Open Wounds in Cats, VCA Animal Hospitals, accessed 2026-11-05.
- Applying Ointments, Creams, and Lotions on Cats, VCA Animal Hospitals, accessed 2026-11-05.
- Initial Triage and Resuscitation of Small Animal Emergency Patients, Merck Veterinary Manual, accessed 2026-11-05.
- Sepsis in Dogs and Cats—Consensus Definition and Clinical Criteria, Journal of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care, accessed 2026-11-05.