![]() Pets can have allergies to protein in their foods and/or environmental allergies such as dust mites, trees, or pollen. In many cases the skin is itchy and your cat may have bald patches throughout her fur from licking and scratching. In dogs and cats, allergies cause a breakdown of the skin barriers causing moisture to leave the skin and bacteria and yeast to travel deeper. Ringworm can pass from a cat to a human very easily so this is another condition that is important to treat properly. ![]() Ringworm is diagnosed either through a fungal culture or a PCR test that can be done through a veterinary laboratory. These cats are often not itchy but will have flaky skin and dandruff. In most animals, ringworm causes round hairless patches that are red and itchy, but some cats will be carriers of ringworm, meaning the dermatophyte can be found throughout the skin and hair but does not cause solitary lesions. Ringworm is a dermatophyte fungal infection that can infect any mammal, including humans. In some cats, it only takes one or two fleas to cause a severe reaction, so even if you do not see a flea or flea dirt on your cat, your veterinarian will likely recommend treating your cat for fleas, especially if you have an outdoor cat. Some cats have an allergic reaction to flea bites, leading to extreme itchiness and hair loss. It is small and black in color, looking like little black dots, but will turn into a rusty brown or red when wet because it is composed of digested blood. You may never see a flea on your cat as they tend to hide in the fur and your cat may swallow the fleas when grooming, but “flea dirt” is often visible throughout the skin.įlea dirt is the excrement of the flea that the larvae feed on. FleasĪs the fleas bite the cat, the females are laying eggs throughout the skin. People should consult their physician if they develop a red, itchy rash. Some animals infected with Cheyletiella may be very itchy but others are not bothered by it at all.Īlthough Cheyletiella mites prefer to live on cats and dogs, people can pick up the mites from their pets so it is important to treat this condition properly and under the guidance of your veterinarian. The scales can sometimes be seen moving from the mites giving this condition a nickname of “walking dandruff”. These mites may spread from pet to pet in your house.Ĭheyletiella mites live under the first layer of the skin and cause heavy scaling and flaking of the skin. MitesĮxternal parasites, such as cheyletiella mites shown in this image, can contribute to dandruff in catsĬheyletiella mites can be a cause of dandruff in cats, dogs, and rabbits. Talk with your groomer to determine if shaving is necessary. Long-haired cats that are shaved may develop dandruff because the guard hair coat has been removed and the skin is more exposed to a dry environment. ![]() This is especially common in overweight cats that are not able to reach their back or in older cats that may have arthritis and are too painful to reach around to groom themselves. Some cats are not able to groom themselves causing dander and oil to build up. When cats groom, they are distributing the skin’s natural oils throughout the body, giving them healthy skin. Poor GroomingĬat owners are often surprised at how much time cats spend grooming. Cats absorb fatty acids differently than people and your DVM will be able to pick the right one for your cat. Before you add a supplement to your cat’s diet, be sure to speak with your veterinarian. Omega-3 fatty acids are also available in many over-the-counter supplements. Wet foods tend to have a higher concentration of fatty acids than dry kibble. A poor-quality diet may not have high enough oil content or the wrong type of fatty acids making the skin dry and unhealthy.įish oils are an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids and feeding a fish-based cat food can help prevent dry skin that may lead to dandruff. Omega-3 fatty acids found in certain oils help keep your cat’s skin healthy and the coat shiny. The most common causes of dandruff are environmental factors that lead to unhealthy, flaky skin. Causes of Cat Dandruffĭandruff is caused by a number of different conditions. In this article, you’ll learn the details on cat dandruff and how to treat it. However, if the skin cells are larger and they mix with the oil on the skin, they become flakes of dandruff. Most of the time, dander is so small that you do not notice it. Dead skin cells are known as dander, differant than dandruff. The skin is composed of many cells that are constantly being turned over, meaning as old cells die, new ones develop. So why is it that some cats have big white flakes of dandruff along their backs? It seems cats are always grooming themselves, giving themselves a shiny and slick hair coat.
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