subject: Dandruff In Cats- Useful Information [print this page] Dandruff in cats is usually nothing more than dry, flaky skin. It is totally different from cat Dander. While dander is the natural shedding of dead skin of your cat, Dandruff is excessive dry and possibly itchy skin.
What are the common causes of dandruff in cats?
The most common causes of dandruff in cats are improper diet, obesity, sunburn, parasites, dry air, and sensitivity to something in the cat's living area, and medication that causes dry and itchy skin. Other causes include systemic disorders and certain diseases such as thyroid problems and diabetes. You should go to a vet if you notice persistent cat dandruff associated with additional symptoms such as scabs or increased lethargy.
How can dandruff in cats be treated?
The most common cause of dandruff is improper diet. Therefore, the best way to treat is to provide better food to your cat. Dry cat food should be replaced with moist canned food, or raw food.
Cats might develop dandruff because of lack of enough moisture in their diet.
A diet low in omega 3 fat acids can also be the cause of cat dandruff. In order to combat this deficiency, you can add canned tuna fish (a few forks full should be quite enough) to your cats diet.
Another reason for dandruff in cats can be obesity. It can cause dandruff because an overweight cat is simply not able to groom itself properly. In such cases the dandruff is most likely to appear first in places that are harder to reach such as the base of the tail, but it can spread in time all over the cat's body. The only solution in this case is to put your cat on a weight-loss program. For this you should consult your doctor and get proper guidance as to what changes to make in the diet etc.
