Cats and Dandruff: Possible Causes
Dandruff can be caused by many different things. Some of the causes are harmless and some can be serious. Whatever the cause, you should take dandruff in your cat seriously.
Why your cat may have dandruff
There are many reasons why your cat may develop dandruff. Sometimes they disappear all by themselves. However, your cat may just as well have more and more dandruff over time, and may also have other symptoms.
If your cat has dandruff, it is usually due to one of the following reasons:
- сhange of coat
- dry heating air
- diseases
- an infestation parasites
- an infection with skin fungus
- dietary errors
- dandruff in cats during coat change
In order to adapt to the different temperatures in summer and winter, your cat changes its coat twice a year. This so-called coat change is completely normal and lasts several weeks.
Apart from a severe loss of hair, your cat may also get dandruff. This is mainly due to the fact that your cat's body needs a lot of nutrients during the change of coat to form new hair.
As soon as the change of coat is complete, the dandruff in affected castes usually disappears by itself.
Dandruff in cats due to dry heating air
Cats love it warm. In winter many four-legged friends make themselves comfortable on the windowsill above the heating. Although this is not a problem at first, it often means that the animals are exposed to the dry heating air for hours.
In the long run it can happen that the skin of the cat dries out and scales form, which then gradually become visible in the fur of the quadruped. A humidifier can help in this case and help your cat to have less dandruff.
Disease as a cause of dandruff in cats
It’s possible that the skin problems such as dandruff indicate a serious disease. Among the diseases that can cause dandruff in cats are metabolic diseases such as diabetes, allergies and various chronic skin diseases. If a disease is a possible trigger for dandruff, you and your cat cannot avoid a visit to the vet.
Dandruff can indicate parasites in cats
Besides diseases, dandruff in cats can also be caused by an infestation with various parasites. These include in particular fleas and mites, which in affected cats are not only noticeable by dandruff but also by severe itching and reddening of the skin.
Since animals infested by parasites usually lick and scratch themselves excessively due to itching, without treatment there are often open spots which can even become inflamed. The fact that the cat has dandruff is therefore usually the least of the problems with parasite infestation.
In order to avoid serious consequences for the health of your four-legged friend, you should take care of a treatment of the parasites as soon as possible.
Dandruff in cats due to skin fungus
Skin fungus is another cause that can cause a cat to have dandruff. Besides the formation of dandruff, the fungal infestation can cause itching, inflammation of the hair follicles and dull coat.
Another feature is the occasional formation of circular bald patches. Since your cat can also transmit the skin fungus to you, caution is advised when handling your four-legged friend.
A prompt and thorough treatment of the skin fungus itself as well as comprehensive hygienic measures in the environment of the four-legged friend are inevitable and help your cat to get rid of her complaints including dandruff.
Dietary dandruff in cats
If the above-mentioned reasons for dandruff in your cat can be excluded, it is very likely that the cause of the skin problems is to be found in the diet of your four-legged friend.
It is possible that your cat suffers from a food allergy and does not tolerate certain ingredients. Or perhaps you are simply too frugal when buying cat food and choose a product that does not provide your four-legged friend with the necessary nutrients.
Both intolerances and nutrient deficiencies can cause your cat to develop dandruff and other coat and skin problems.
Feeding mistakes in cats are not only noticeable through supposed cosmetic problems such as dandruff or a dull coat, but sooner or later lead to serious health consequences. You should therefore urgently deal with a species-appropriate nutrition of your four-legged friend and make the necessary adjustments in feeding.
Dandruff-free skin thanks to I Love My Cat
A species-appropriate diet is of vital importance for the wellbeing of your cat. With the high-quality products from I Love My Cat you can ensure that your four-legged friend receives exactly the nutrients he needs for a shiny coat and healthy skin without dandruff.
For cats suffering from dandruff, we recommend the following products:
- Dry food with insect protein as a digestible alternative to classic meat, which is also well tolerated by cats with nutritional problems or allergies
- Shiimun Skin with shiitake as a natural food supplement, which provides your cat with valuable nutrients for a flake-free skin and a dense coat
The unique nutritional concept of I love my cat is the right choice for quality-conscious owners who do not want to leave the health of their four-legged friend to chance and who know that a balanced diet is the best protection against dandruff in cats.
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