Cats are meticulous groomers. They love to keep themselves clean. But if your feline is covered in tiny white flakes, it might leave you wondering what’s wrong. It’s probably cat dandruff!
Unfortunately, your cat cannot fix her dandruff by herself but can easily get rid of it with your intervention. In this blog, we’ll discuss a few easy ways to get rid of cat dandruff.
But before that, let’s check out what causes dandruff in cats and how to identify it.
What is Cat Dandruff?
Dandruff is a common term for the flakes of skin. While it is majorly caused by dry or oily skin, there are various other reasons behind it. Although, cat dandruff doesn’t raise any major alarms, it shouldn’t be neglected either.
Is Cat Dander The Same as Dandruff?
Although they sound similar, cat dander and dandruff are different. Danders are dead skin cells that are shed regularly and replaced by new cells.
On the other hand, dandruff is a skin condition that arises due to itchy and flaky skin. While dander is completely healthy and normal, dandruff can irritate your beloved cat’s skin and may lead to hair loss.
What Causes Dandruff in Cats?
The causes of dandruff in cats can range from simple to serious. Finding the underlying cause of dandruff can help you eliminate its root cause. Here are some of the most common causes of dandruff in cats:
- Allergies
- Dehydration
- Poor nutrition
- Dry skin
- Fleas and ticks
- Skin infections
- Pollutants
- Obesity
- Sunburn
- Hormonal conditions
- Over bathing & shampooing
How to Treat & Prevent Dandruff in Cats?
If you have identified the cause of dandruff in your cat, getting rid of it is not going to be as easy as simply bathing them.
To treat and prevent cat dandruff, you must be aware of its cause. For example, if your cat’s dandruff is due to being overweight, you may consider putting them on a weight management program.
If it is due to allergies, dry skin, oily skin, or skin infections, you should pay more attention to their skin and coat health. Consider adding omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids to their diet as they help restore a healthy skin barrier.
Ensuring proper hydration is also a great way to prevent dandruff. Apart from keeping a watch on your furry ball’s water intake, you can try out cat skin nourishment products like Natural Animal Solutions Dermal Cream, Vet’s All Natural Skin & Coat Formula, and Nano Sanitas Fur & Skin Care Spray.
Generally, feeding your cat a nutritionally rich diet is one of the surefire ways to treat and prevent dandruff. You can also opt for cat food that is specifically tailored for their skin and coat health.
Such popular cat foods include Hills Science Diet Sensitive Stomach & Skin, Hills Prescription Diet Feline Original Skin Dry Cat Food, and Advance Sensitive Skin & Digestion Cat Food. Dandruff in cats is typically easy to treat. You can take care of the things mentioned above to cure dandruff.
However, feel free to reach out to your veterinarian for advice, and they’ll be pleased to share tips on how to maintain your cat’s healthy skin and hair.
