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Pets Health

Best Cat Skin & Coat Medications

Updated March 2024
Bottom line
Pros
Cons
Best of the Best
Atopica Oral Solution for Cats
Atopica
Oral Solution for Cats
Helps Severe Allergies

One of the pricier allergy medications for cats, it often helps when other medications have failed.

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Helps Severe Allergies
Bottom Line

One of the pricier allergy medications for cats, it often helps when other medications have failed.

Pros

An oral solution, easy to administer. Prescribed for cats who have allergic dermatitis, which causes itchy skin and makes cats scratch and lick. Several cat parents say this medication provided relief when others had not.

Cons

More expensive than many other cat allergy medications.

Best Bang for the Buck
Prednisone Tablets
Prednisone
Tablets
Bargain Pick

A corticosteroid for treating inflammatory conditions.

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Bargain Pick
Bottom Line

A corticosteroid for treating inflammatory conditions.

Pros

It's effective at treating inflammatory and autoimmune conditions and helps relieve itchy skin and swelling caused by allergens. It also treats itchiness and swelling in the eyes.

Cons

It may increase the frequency of urination in some dogs.

Itrafungol Oral Solution for Cats
Itrafungol
Oral Solution for Cats
Liquid Ringworm Medicine

An oral medication that quickly eliminates ringworm and eases symptoms.

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Liquid Ringworm Medicine
Bottom Line

An oral medication that quickly eliminates ringworm and eases symptoms.

Pros

The liquid medication is easy to give to cats and quickly eases symptoms of ringworm on the skin. Also quickly eliminates ringworm altogether, which is important since it is so contagious.

Cons

Can cause vomiting and diarrhea in some cats.

1-800-PetMeds Medicated Shampoo
1-800-PetMeds
Medicated Shampoo
Antibacterial Cleanser

An antibacterial shampoo for improving cat skin and coat.

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Antibacterial Cleanser
Bottom Line

An antibacterial shampoo for improving cat skin and coat.

Pros

This shampoo effectively kills unpleasant odors and removes bacteria and fungi from the skin. It rinses easily for quick washing and is a non-OTC product.

Cons

Some users report that it doesn't lather as much as they would like.

Methylprednisolone Tablets
Methylprednisolone
Tablets
Fast-acting Treatment

A corticosteroid for treating allergies and other conditions.

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Fast-acting Treatment
Bottom Line

A corticosteroid for treating allergies and other conditions.

Pros

These tablets offer anti-inflammatory properties for treating allergies, lupus, colitis, and some forms of kidney disease. It's fast acting and easy to feed to your cat,

Cons

You'll need a prescription from a licensed veterinarian.

Why trust BestReviews?
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own. About BestReviews  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own. About BestReviews  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We buy all products with our own funds, and we never accept free products from manufacturers.About BestReviews 
HOW WE TESTED

We recommend these products based on an intensive research process that's designed to cut through the noise and find the top products in this space. Guided by experts, we spend hours looking into the factors that matter, to bring you these selections.

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First Reviewed
November 09, 2021
35
Models
considered
8
Hours
researched
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Melinda Harris
Written by Melinda Harris

Updated March 2024

Skin and coat medications for cats typically focus on relieving symptoms of allergies or skin conditions that cause itching, redness, and dry skin. Some medications are anti-inflammatories that help relieve symptoms by reducing inflammation. Others work to eliminate the allergic reaction altogether that is causing the skin discomfort. Other medications are meant to treat fungal infections like ringworm that cause skin discomfort. Medications vary between pills and liquids and vary in how easy (or difficult) they are to administer to cats. Costs also vary widely – common medications that are available in generic form are less expensive than name brand medications that are newer.

Our Top Picks
Atopica
Best of the Best
Atopica
Oral Solution for Cats
Bottom Line
One of the pricier allergy medications for cats, it often helps when other medications have failed.
Shop Now
Prednisone
Best Bang for the Buck
Prednisone
Tablets
Bottom Line
A corticosteroid for treating inflammatory conditions.
Shop Now
Itrafungol
Top Pick
Itrafungol
Oral Solution for Cats
Bottom Line
An oral medication that quickly eliminates ringworm and eases symptoms.
Shop Now
1-800-PetMeds
Top Pick
1-800-PetMeds
Medicated Shampoo
Bottom Line
An antibacterial shampoo for improving cat skin and coat.
Shop Now
Methylprednisolone
Top Pick
Methylprednisolone
Tablets
Bottom Line
A corticosteroid for treating allergies and other conditions.
Shop Now
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