Disclaimer: the information provided below is not intended to replace or override the advice of your veterinarian. Both the author and the site owner assume that this information will be used to work with your vet in planning the best treatment plan for your cat

Our kitties can sometimes have a case of flaky dry skin, or dandruff. The causes of the dryness are many, but some things that only add to the problem are poor diet, low humidity, (especially common in the winter), and not enough grooming to distribute oils. The skin is the largest organ and is used to rid the body of toxins. The only way to keep those toxins from coming out through the skin – exhibited by dry flaky skin and oily patches – is to prevent the toxins from getting inside the animal in the first place.

Dandruff can also be a symptom of an allergy that needs to be recognized and eliminated from the cat’s environment or diet.  Rarely, dandruff can be a symptom of a more serious disease such as kidney, liver or thyroid disease. Have your friend checked out by a veterinarian to rule out any serious problems and then try some of these suggestions to get her coat gleaming again.

There are several things you can do to help, and the most important is to remember that fixing this problem from the inside out is the only and best way to go. Repeatedly working on the outside of the cat may clear up the dandruff temporarily but probably won’t last too long.  By giving your kitty the proper nutrients to build healthy skin, you can help him maintain clear skin and shiny, soft fur.

Feeding a high quality natural diet – cooked or raw -- without preservatives, colorings, flavor enhancers and other chemicals is the first step. Usually this is all you need do to have your friend’s coat become soft and lustrous again. If you can’t feed a homemade diet, be sure to feed a quality commercial food. Cheap, grocery store brands just don’t have enough (or too many!) vitamins, minerals and the right fats to create a nice coat. Lots of information on how to create a natural diet for your cat can be found on the Holisticat website. Also, you may want to pick up a reference book or two showing you all the details. These books are briefly reviewed and can be purchased through Holisticat on our book page.

There are special supplements you can add to the diet, whether you feed commercial food or homemade. Probably the most important is to make sure you are adding enough oils to the diet. Fish body oils (not cod liver oil) and flax seed oils add lots of essential fatty acids which will quickly show up as sleek fur. Safflower oil also can help a bit too. Adding about a ½ teaspoon at each meal is usually sufficient. B vitamins, acidophilus and kelp also may assist in getting the skin in better condition. One of the most useful items to add to your kitty’s food are digestive enzymes. They come in a powder form and can be sprinkled on top of each meal’s food. Use the amounts recommended on the jar. Herbs that can help include burdock root, dandelion, and sage. Jojoba oil and lecithin are also beneficial.

While you’re waiting for those great dietary changes to kick in and show themselves in soft, shiny fur and healthy skin, you can assist in the process by gently cleaning the outside of your cat. If tolerated, shampooing out dirt and dead skin (the dandruff) will help. Just don’t use human shampoos or ones with flea insecticides in them. They can be very drying all by themselves. Try to choose a shampoo formulated for your cat that contains oatmeal.  And don’t use dog shampoos on cats; they can have ingredients in them that may not harm your dogs but will be toxic to your cats. A very dilute liquid castile soap can be used if you can’t find one specially designed for cats.

Brushing your friend frequently also helps a lot. At first you’ll probably notice more dandruff as you brush because you’ll be pulling it off the skin to the surface. But after a few days, the dandruff will be lessened and may even disappear as the oils are distributed better over the whole coat.

Remember: the best way to a nice, soft, shiny coat is to feed a good, healthy food to your animals.  Then they will take care of the rest, including having healthy skin.
 

Return to Articles

Return to Main Page