Cat parents searching for my cat has dandruff often wonder if that cat dandruff means a trip to the vet.
Cat has bad dandruff.
But unlike people dandruff the flakes that cats shed contain a protein that can be really irritating if you re sensitive or allergic.
Dandruff in cats usually is from one of four causes.
The key to treating cat dandruff is to moisturize your cat s skin so it doesn t flake.
If your cat s fur is dotted with little white flakes he may have dandruff.
I have a 4 year old indoor himalayan tabby mix who has cat dandruff on the back half of the top of her back.
Other symptoms of cat dandruff are greasy skin scaly patches and a really bad looking coat of fur.
Dandruff and exactly how much of it is present is much easier to spot on dark coloured cats than light ones and so if you have a light coloured cat try brushing them and then holding the resulting cluster of hair up to the light to identify the quantity of flakes within it.
Causes of cat dandruff.
A lot of people have asked what can be used to remedy cat dandruff but be prepared.
Dandruff is not just an aesthetic issue with cats cat dandruff can be symptomatic of a bigger health concern and your cat s scratching can lead to skin damage a healthy cat will have smooth soft skin without dandruff flakes or visible sores or irritation.
If your cat has dark fur the flaky skin will be even more apparent.
If your cat has parasites chances are he may have dandruff too.
If your cat has thick fur you may have to part their fur in order to see the flaking skin.
One particularly nasty type cheyletiella mites have been called walking dandruff since they re large enough to see with the naked eye but too small to distinguish detail.
Nutrition hydration parasites health problems or.
Be careful not to over shampoo which can dry the skin out further.
And like people dandruff cat dandruff is made up of dead skin cells.
An otherwise healthy cat with a few flakes of dandruff probably doesn t require a.
So aside from stopping the spread of white stuff on your furniture there are good reasons for getting your cat s dandruff under control.
As you will see the signs of cat dandruff are very similar to the clinical signs of dandruff in people.
Cat dandruff is a condition characterised by small white flakes of skin and usually has an underlying cause including allergies parasites and dehydration.
Your vet will ask you to do more than just apply creams or buy cat dandruff shampoo and lather it onto your pet.
While dandruff may seem like a harmless condition it can actually be a symptom of a medical problem or skin allergy.