Dandruff is an inconvenience that not only affects man, cats can also suffer from it. Dandruff in cats can be more frequent than we think and arises due to certain medical conditions, an inappropriate diet or the weather. So to find out more about those little white dots on their fur, we should continue reading this article.
Dandruff in Cats
The cat's skin is the largest organ in its body and one of the most important when it comes to its protection against infections, parasites or irritating elements. It can also be affected by dandruff, which is generated when the cat's skin glands, which are responsible for producing oil, begin to produce it excessively.
These oils regularly nourish and protect the skin, however, in a very large proportion, they can cause irritation of the feline's skin, causing flaking and more shedding than usual.
Dandruff is a disorder that frequently affects many cats, and its presence can be caused by reasons of a different nature, in addition to what has already been indicated. Here you can learn about the other important reasons why your cat has dandruff, what causes it and what care is recommended. In order to recognize any inconvenience of a certain magnitude that is related to the presence of feline dandruff and, based on it, act accordingly, it is important to understand the reason why our cat has developed dandruff.
What is Feline Dandruff?
Dandruff is a dermatological condition of the scalp that, as in humans, afflicts a large number of felines at certain stages of their lives. It is whitish withered skin that falls off in the form of flakes, scales or specks that fall or stick to the cat's fur. Dandruff is considered more of a symptom than a disease. As the skin renews itself more quickly, the amount of dead skin increases and dandruff turns into seborrhea.
The renewal of the skin is a natural and cyclical process, in such a way that the presence of dandruff does not have to alarm us. In the event that the amount of dandruff is exaggerated and comes along with other symptoms, you should go to the vet to diagnose the reason and indicate how to proceed. To get an initial idea of what may be happening, below we will present the main reasons why your cat may suffer from dandruff.
Why does my cat have dandruff?
As previously indicated, the reasons why a cat can suffer from dandruff are numerous, whether due to internal factors (such as seborrhea) or external factors (such as diabetes). The most important causes associated with excess dandruff are:
- Food
- Overweight
- Hydration
- Allergy
- Parasites
- Mushrooms
- Stress
- Other diseases and causes.
Food
A meager diet whose content lacks the essential nutrients for the cat can cause several problems, including dandruff. An obvious example of this is when the feline's diet lacks sufficient Omega 3 fatty oils, a circumstance that manifests itself in skin problems followed by excess dandruff.
Overweight
Although it may seem strange to you, one of the reasons why our feline has dandruff is excessive weight. If your pet is overweight, you need to look closely at the area at the base of the tail and the lower part of the back. Surely you will question why you have to contemplate these parts, and it is very simple, since being very obese you cannot manage to clean these areas well.
Excess weight in felines is accompanied by a multiplicity of negative effects for the pussycat, one of which is as simple as not having the mobility required to be able to groom and clean certain areas of the body. If it continues like this, it is convenient to put the cat on a diet, but what needs to be done immediately is to help him clean the areas that he cannot reach. You can do it with a damp cloth or a towel.
Hydration
This issue is of great importance both internally and externally. The cat must have a proper internal hydration, and numerous domestic felines do not drink enough water and the food they consume does not provide the necessary liquid. Regarding external hydration, the dry air of the winter season or places with low humidity can cause the cat's skin to dry out.
For these cases, it is suggested to incorporate humidifiers in the home. On the other hand, prolonged exposure to the sun should be avoided. It is not convenient for the feline to stay for a long time under intense sun, since this can cause a heat stroke and because it can also suffer skin burns (and the consequent redness, itching and dandruff).
Allergies
Cats can also withstand all kinds of allergies, and most of them translate into skin disorders and dandruff. Contact dermatitis is an allergic skin response caused by the cat's contact with an allergen or irritant, such as cleaning supplies, soaps, chemicals, certain types of plants, etc.
Another kind of allergy is food, when the cat has an allergy to a certain type of protein or grain in its diet. Itching, flaking and dandruff can be caused by these types of responses and, if not recognized and treated early, could result in something worse. Therefore, we must insist that a prompt visit to the veterinarian is essential.
Parasites
The most frequent contagion by parasites is Cheyletiellosis, which is popularly known as "walking dandruff" or "walking dandruff". The mite that causes it, called Cheyletiella, has the appearance of dandruff. But in truth they are tiny parasites that have the feline's skin as food. It is a very infectious pathology, so, in addition to ruling it out, care must be taken with the other cats that have cohabited with the affected person, as well as with the places where they have perched (bed, sofa, etc.).
Another condition known as demodicosis, which is caused by the Demodex mite, can also cause cat dandruff. In an investigation carried out by the Veterinary University of Zaragoza in conjunction with two veterinary clinics, a study was presented on this unusual dermatological pathology in cats.
Knowing it is of great importance since it affects more immunocompromised or malnourished felines and, despite the fact that in the case of cats, it is considered a rare condition, it is on the rise, but it continues to have more presence in dogs. Whatever the case, if we sense that our cat is affected by any of these parasites, we must take him to the vet immediately, since, as always, proper prevention can avoid future problems.
Mushrooms
Fungal infections are other reasons that can cause feline dandruff. A well-known fungal infection in cats is ringworm (dermatophytosis), caused by a fungus that develops in wilted superficial layers of the cat's skin, hair or nails. This pathology causes dandruff to arise, and appears in the company of other manifestations such as alopecia, dehydrated skin, peeling and redness of the skin. Cats with ringworm also tend to exhibit sizable welts.
Stress
Stress is a common reason for much of the ills cats can endure. We have already pointed out that they are extremely sensitive animals to variations and unforeseen situations, which can cause stress. When a kitten suffers from stress, it can manifest a multiplicity of symptoms. Something is not working well in the cat's body, and this is reflected in the presence of dandruff (among many other things).
Stress peeling can also occur. A cat under stress can manifest behaviors such as scratching a lot, excessively rubbing against objects, furniture, etc. And that continuous rubbing leads to skin problems, rashes, hair loss and dandruff.
Other Diseases and Causes
There are conditions such as diabetes, which involve damage to the cat's fur, in addition to dandruff itself. This metabolic disease in which the feline's body does not respond appropriately to insulin is very common in kittens older than 7 years. Another disease that causes the cat to produce dandruff, added to other symptoms, is hyperthyroidism. A metabolic condition caused by a tumor that secretes hormones in the thyroid gland, and which particularly affects adult and older felines.
And it is not only age that has an influence on the presence of pathologies that cause dandruff. As the cat gets older, its skin is more likely to be less hydrated and prone to flaking. When reaching old age, the sebaceous glands lose activity, so they generate less sebum (responsible for preserving oily skin). Another reason related to the years of the feline is that, the older the cat is, the less ability to move it has and, perhaps, it is not able to clean and groom certain parts of its body.
Environmental conditions, such as dry and arid climates, can favor the drying of the skin and the consequent appearance of dandruff. This is more likely to occur with fair-haired and sparse-haired felines. Certain pathologies can cause chronic pain in your cat that does not allow it to perform its grooming ritual on a regular basis, such as osteoarthritis, particularly in older cats.
Dandruff can be caused by certain dental conditions, such as gingivitis and bacterial plaque. Certain breeds, such as Persian cats, are prone to a particular seborrhea that causes the skin to show a greasy appearance and yellowish scales to appear.
How to detect dandruff in cats?
If you notice that your cat has been scratching more than usual, it's a good idea to detail if it exhibits white crumbs on its fur. Although it is easier to see them in cats with black hair, you have to pay particular attention to cats with lighter fur. The presence of these whitish skin residues is an obvious sign that the cat suffers from dandruff.
Unless dandruff is very obvious to the naked eye, it is most common to recognize that our cat has dandruff at the time of brushing. We can also observe it while we caress the pussycat, particularly when we do it against the hair.
How to eliminate Feline Dandruff?
The most important thing is to understand the reason for dandruff, to eliminate this problem. The veterinarian is the one who can determine the reason for the dandruff and from which he will be able to establish the treatment that should be followed. Tests to pinpoint the nature of a disease that you may need to perform include:
- Exploration: Through examination, palpation and general analysis of the cat's physique.
- Complete blood count, urine study, biochemical profile: For the evaluation of the comprehensive health of the cat, which includes levels of hydration, inflammation, contagion, function of the organs and electrolytes.
- Skin scraping: To study a sample and recognize pathologies such as infection of mites, ringworm, etc.
- Stool analysis: or other tests to recognize parasites.
- Allergy testing to certain foods and other allergens.
Treatment to eliminate dandruff
Depending on what the vet determines is the reason your cat is suffering from dandruff, they will likely make the following suggestions:
- Specific shampoos and baths. Find information on how to bathe a cat.
- Modification of the feeding regimen.
- Specific medications, for example, the use of insulin for diabetic conditions or antihistamines for allergic conditions.
- Antiparasitic.
Home remedies to eliminate dandruff
The most important thing is prevention, and for this reason it is significant that we usually maintain:
- Proper cat nutrition
- Proper brushing and hair care.
- Adequate internal and external hydration of the feline
Having already made a presence of dandruff, and provided that we have gone with the cat to the veterinarian and from which a proposal has been agreed, we can help you with:
- Omega 3 fatty oils. Either through the application of Omega 3 on the skin, as a dietary supplement or by increasing a diet that abounds in foods rich in these fatty acids.
- Oatmeal bath to nourish and cleanse the skin. A modest amount can be added to the food, but it is most effective to bathe the cat with warm water and a small amount of oatmeal, or cat oatmeal shampoo.
- Aloe vera. Apply or administer a small amount of its internal juice (you have to be careful since the bark can be harmful).
It is better to prevent dandruff in cats
As the saying goes “prevention is better than cure”. That is why we are going to provide you with several suggestions so that the worrying dandruff does not arise in your cat's hair. You have to keep in mind that the health of your pet is in your hands, so you have to invest some time every day to take care of your cat. To do this you have to start brushing your pet daily. In this way, you will remove your cat's loose hair and dead skin cells, since over time they could be the promoters of the appearance of dandruff in their hair.
Try to ensure that your cat has a healthy life, with an appropriate diet abundant in omega 3 essential fatty oils that contribute to the normalization of cell function. Make sure you exercise every day. We suggest you play with your cat; in such a way that, in addition to exercising, their bonds will be strengthened and you will have a happy cat.
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