People who have decided to share their home with a cat can disprove through their own experience all the false myths that surround felines, such as that they are unfriendly or that they hardly need care.
The truth is that the cat is an independent and exploratory animal but it is precisely because of these characteristics that it requires all our attention, because in its eagerness to discover the environment that surrounds it it can suffer various damages, fortunately, many of them can receive a natural and effective treatment.
In this AnimalWised article we show you all the benefits and uses of aloe vera for cat skin.
What is aloe vera and what are its medicinal properties?
Aloe vera is a succulent plant probably native to Arabia, it is also known by the name of aloe and although many people believe that it is toxic to cats, the truth is that this is just a fairly widespread myth.
Aloe vera has multiple medicinal properties and many of them act on the skin, they are the following and are scientifically proven based on to the chemical components found in the plant:
- Antibiotic action thanks to the presence of Aloetin
- Antiseptic action provided by the saponin content
- Support in the processes of skin regeneration thanks to the content of amino acids, essential for the formation of new tissues
- Thanks to the presence of barbaloin, emolin and emodin, aloe vera naturally produces salicylic acid, which acts as an analgesic
- Promotes wound healing thanks to mannose phosphate, a growth agent that acts on tissues
- It has mucilage, a vegetable and viscous substance that acts as an emollient on the skin and keeps it protected
- Improves skin hydration thanks to the presence of mucopolysaccharides
- Anti-inflammatory action thanks to the presence of phytosterols
In what cases can we apply aloe vera on the cat's skin?
Aloe vera is widely used to treat various disorders in pets, for example, its use in dermatitis in dogs is widespread, it is also very beneficial for the skin of cats and represents a natural, respectful and very effective treatment against many dermatological conditions.
We can use it in the following cases:
- Healing and wound healing
- Allergy skin symptoms
- Ulcers and canker sores (also mouth ulcers)
- Inflammation of the skin due to flea or insect bites
- Injuries to the pads
- Burn Injuries
How to apply aloe vera on the cat's skin?
It is essential that before applying aloe vera on a wound, you first clean it, gently applying water and a neutral soap suitable for veterinary use.
Later you can apply the aloe vera juice on the affected area, repeating the application at least 3 times a day.
To get good quality aloe vera juice you have two options:
- Extract the pulp from the aloe stems yourself if you have your own plants
- Acquire a pure aloe vera gel (Aloe Vera must appear as the first component in the ingredient list), preferably suitable for the application on human skin (they present a higher quality)
If you decide that there are multiple species of aloe and not all of them have the same medicinal properties.
