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Practical relevance: Ciclosporin (CsA) is a systemic immuno-modulatory drug widely used to treat immune-mediated diseases in humans and veterinary species. CsA was registered for use in cats in the USA and Europe in 2011, and is indicated for the treatment of chronic allergic dermatitis at a recommended daily dose of 7 mg/kg PO. Audience: This review will be of interest to all veterinarians working with cats, given the wide range of potential applications of CsA and its safety profile. Although the drug is currently only licensed to treat chronic allergic dermatitis in cats, a small number of reports describe its use in non-dermatological conditions. Evidence base: This article reviews the mechanism of action, pharmacokinetics, drug interactions, adverse effects and clinical use of CsA, both for the licensed indication and for off-label use in the feline patient. Information presented has been summarised from the existing literature on CsA, with specific interest in studies carried out in cats. For its licensed indication, chronic allergic dermatitis, evidence provided includes randomised, placebo or prednisolone-controlled studies (EBM grade I) and prospective or retrospective open trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Proliferative and necrotising otitis externa is a rare and recently described disease affecting the ear canals and concave pinnae of kittens. This article describes a case of proliferative and necrotising otits externa in a young adult cat. In this case, the lesions did not affected the pinnae, but both ear canals were severely involved. Video-otoscopy revealed a digitally proliferative lesion, growing at 360° all around the ear canals for their entire length, without involvement of the middle ear. Histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis, and the cat responded completely to a once-daily application of 0.1% tacrolimus ointment diluted in mineral oil in the ear canals. Video-otoscopy findings, not described previously, were very peculiar and may help clinicians to diagnose this rare disease. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Presenting signs: Three Devon Rex cats were presented with multiple erythematous papules, occasionally associated with crusting and hyperpigmentation, with a linear distribution on the head, neck, chest and abdomen. One cat also had multifocal alopecia with hyperpigmentation on the dorsum. Diagnosis and treatment: Clinical and histopathological features were suggestive of papular eosinophilic/mastocytic dermatitis (urticaria pigmentosa-like dermatitis). In all cases, dermatophytosis was diagnosed: in cases 1 and 2 there was histopathological evidence of dermatophytosis, while fungal culture was positive for Microsporum canis in cases 2 and 3. In all cats, lesions disappeared following antifungal treatment. Clinical significance: Papular eosinophilic/mastocytic dermatitis in Devon Rex cats may represent either an atypical presentation of dermatophytosis or a clinical and histological reaction pattern to various diseases, including dermatophytosis and allergic diseases. Clinical differentiation is crucial as there are important implications regarding treatment and, in particular, the use of glucocorticoids, which are contraindicated in cases of dermatophytosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]