What do you do for a cat that has dandruff?

Answer 1

Could be diet, hormones, etc,,,, so based on what is causing it you would then treat.

Ask your veterinarian!!

Answer 2

What kind of food are you feeding? A high-quality diet can help cut down on dandruff. http://www.catinfo.org has good information about diet.

Is the air dry where you live? Try using a humidifier. Brush the cat regularly to distribute your cat's natural oils and clear out the dead skin flakes.

It may also be a good idea to take the cat to the vet for a checkup. There are some health conditions that can cause dandruff and coat issues.

If your cat is scratching, or if you are itching, have your vet check the cat for cheyletiella, or 'walking dandruff' mites - they can also contribute to dandruff problems.

Answer 3

To be on the safe side, you can check with your vet first.

But my own experience has been that dandruff is caused by dry skin. Dry skin is caused by not taking in enough water.

How to get a cat to drink more water? LOL - you can't. The trick is to feed moist (canned or raw) food that contains sufficient water. Cats are designed to get water IN their food; they have a low thirst drive and most do not drink enough water to remain sufficiently hydrated.

Anyone who feeds dry food knows that their cat tends to drink a good amount of water. And anyone who feeds canned or raw knows that their cat drinks very little water. I switched my two to canned food back in October, and if I didn't give them fresh water everyday, I bet their water bowl would remain full for an entire week!

So that's what I recommend - if you're not already feeding canned food, switch them over now. Do it slowly because sudden changes in diet can cause digestive upsets (from both ends). Start offering a bit of good quality canned food in addition to their regular meals. When you find one that they like, start increasing the amounts and then decreasing their old food.

You won't be sorry! Not only does it help with dandruff, it helps the coat in general, is better for their health overall.

Answer 4

It probably isn't dandruff...it could just be dry skin. If your cat is left outside in damp weather or rain, if it stays in a heated house for long periods or is not fed a proper diet it's skin can dry up pretty fast.

Try feeding it oily fish to get it's PH balance corrected. Plain Sardines are great...and your cat will love you for it!
NEVER wash a cat. They are clean creatures, they don't need to be bathed, it will only dry out the skin more. (even dogs should only receive 1/2 baths per YEAR). If you are still worried, ask your vet for medication to maintain your cats healthy skin.

Answer 5

Call the vet and get a recommendation for a vitamin supplement to squirt on his food. They have this at pet stores also. I used to use a Vitamin E tablet on my cats food, and I've also heard of using Fish Oil - but I'd check with the vet just the same.

Answer 6

My big Siamese has dandruff on her back. I give her a bath and I use dandruff shampoo on her back. I also give her a vitamin E gelcap. It helps a lot.

Answer 7

Awww, poor baby.

It may be worth your while to try one of those allergy reducing serums (like Allerpet-C). They work by moisturizing your cat's skin to reduce the occurence of dead skin (dander). It might work for your cat's dandruff. I use Simple Solution on my kitten...it makes her fur really soft and shiny, and she has very little dander now.