Cat Dandruff- causes and cures

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!