Cat Dandruff- causes and cures
Cat Dandruff
Does your cat have a bad hair day? Tiggy does and he tends to hide away in a corner until he has fully groomed himself. Luckily Tiggy does not tend to suffer from Cat Dandruff, but it is an annoying condition for those cats who do.
Cat Dander
Cats shed their skin and this shedding is called Dander but dandruff differs as it is dry and flaky skin often associated with a very itchy skin. If your cat keeps scratching check whether she has dandruff. At this point Tiggy is telling me off as I always refer to cats as "she" and he is very definitely a "he".
Dandruff in cats can have fairly simple causes such as poor diet over weight or dry air. Sometimes medication can cause dandruff so it is a good idea to check your cat if she has been prescribed medication for any condition. Sometimes dandruff can be a sign of more serious illnesses such as thyroid problems and diabetes. If your cat is putting on weight or is even more sleepy than normal I look at Bagera and wonder if this is possible), then a quick check up with the veterinarian might be a good idea.
Magic Coat Cat & Kitten Tearless shampoo is enriched with protein and lanolin to moisturize your cat?s skin.
It will leave your cat's fur with a high sheen and fresh scent.
Non-irritating to eyes and skin.
When it refers to tearless I am not sure if it means you or the cat
Preventing Cat Dandruff
How do you stop her from getting dandruff? Let's face it, no self respecting kitty is going to want pieces of dandruff visible. This is especially a problem if the cat is black- all those white bits! You need to check her diet, make sure that she is eating correctly. If those little tins say 2/3 per day- feed that, not 5!
Make sure that she doesn't get sunburn and dry her skin out in the summer. If necessary move her into the shade during the noonday sun and make sure that she has a drink during the day. Similarly in the winter an over cooked cat in front of the fire may be heading for a lifetime of dandruff.
Cat Flea's
Ok, let's mention the F word- Flea's. They only go to clean cats ( or so my two say) but they cause them to itch, scratch and if left untreated will cause you to itch and scratch. Make sure that you treat your cat with an appropriate repellent and wash and treat bedding ( that probably means changing all the beds in the house). If you are not sure what to use, ask the veternarian as they usually have a stock of easy treatments that you can use. I have just used a tube which you just squeeze onto her neck and this kills fleas and mites for up to four weeks. Just remember to keep a record so you know when to give them the next dose.
Anti Cat Dandruff Shampoo
You can use anti dandruff shampoo which has been especially developed for cats. Using your "head n shoulders" will cause kitty more problems than it solves.
The shampoo has to be rinsed out, so if you know that your kitty is not going to enjoy her bath then don't do it as it might make matters worse.
You might find a good body brush will help you when you are washing and rinsing your kittym but use the shampoo sparingly as it really is a case of less is more!
Flea Treatments-
Flea, flea egg, lice, and tick control for cats and kittens
6-dose supply provides flea, flea egg, chewing lice, and tick relief for up to 6 months
Let's talk about cat flaps
- Does your cat use a cat flap? - InfoBarrel
Fed up with forever opening the door to cats that don't know if they want to go out or stay in, then think about installing a cat flap
Other Helpful links
Comments
CW, thanks for this important information. We have three cats, and one of them suffers from pretty bad dandruff ... or dander. She is overweight and I am planning on changing all of their diets, so maybe this will help.
Dander is also the leftover from the cats licking themselves, too, from what I understand.
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mabmiles- thank you for your visit and your kind comment
I never new cats also have dandruff. Great to learn things here.
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Meg- thanks for stopping by- I do hope your condition gets better
This was really useful-I read it on the litter tray this morning, Meg Mog
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randomcreative- that is interesting- perhaps the thyroid was the cause of it, at least she does not have to worry about it now
Our cat does has some dandruff. She has had it until we put her on a med for a thyroid problem so maybe there is a relation there.
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Susan Ng- Despite their fur coats cats seem to enjoy sunbathing, especially by windows- Have fun trying to limit her sunbathing! Or move to the UK- we are rather devoid of it at the moment
I was wondering why one of my cats got flaky around the neck and shoulders. Now I now it's because she's always sunbathing by the window monorail cat style. She must have overdone it. I'll be sure to limit her sun time, thanks. :)
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Wesman Todd Shaw- I don't think I could live without a cat- although my husband could quite easily- so he will have to move out if that is what he wants!!!
I certainly know who to ask and where to look for answers next time I get a kitty friend!!!!
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mkrandhawa- thankyou for your kind comment
FloraBreenRobison- it is a problem when they need grooming and you can't do it. I often find my two giving each other a hand in that department!
My cat doesn't have the problems she used to since she got hypoallergenic crunchies. But her lower back can be a problem for grooming because it's sore. As a result, that's one area she won't even let me used a fine tooth comb.
Informative and useful hub
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