Cat Dandruff – What Does It Mean?

Dandruff is common among cats and can affect cats of any age, sex, or breed. It might be accompanied by other symptoms, and you’ll need your veterinarian to make a diagnosis and advise on any necessary treatment.

Severity:

Usually mild.

Key Points

• Dandruff might be the only symptom of some health conditions
• Dandruff can be caused by a range of conditions, including allergies, parasites, and infections
• If your cat has dandruff, they might not be grooming as well as they should, which could mean they have arthritis or another mobility issue
• Your veterinarian may take hair samples or skin scrapes or do blood tests to try to find the cause

Common in

Older cats are most likely to be affected, but any cat can develop dandruff.

Symptoms & types

Depending on what’s causing your cat’s dandruff, they might have other symptoms. These might include itching, bald spots, red or sore areas of skin, or excessive grooming. You might also notice they act unwell, have gained or lost weight, or are slower and stiffer when moving around. On the other hand, in some situations, cat dandruff can be a symptom on its own, especially if the cause is environmental or due to a pet parent brushing them too often or not enough.

If your feline friend has cat dandruff, it’s best to take them to the  veterinarian near you .

Understanding the diagnostics

If your feline friend has cat dandruff, it’s best to take them to the vet. Your veterinarian will be able to give them a complete examination to check for any signs of health issues. They’ll then focus on the skin and fur, looking for signs of parasites, infection, self-trauma, and excessive or reduced grooming habits. They may find signs of an underlying health issue during their examination, like arthritis; however, if the cause isn’t apparent, they might need to do more tests. Your veterinarian might recommend doing a blood test, or they might take samples of hair, skin scrapes, or tape strip impressions of the skin. These samples can be tested for parasites or sent for culture of bacteria or fungus.

Symptoms might include itching, bald spots, red or sore areas of skin, or excessive grooming.

Learning About The Causes

Many causes of cat dandruff are environmental. For example, a lack of humidity can lead to dry, dandruff-prone skin, especially in indoor-only cats. Regular use of central heating or even dehumidifiers might make our homes more comfortable for us, but it could cause your furry friend’s skin to become very flaky. Another cause that pet parents inadvertently inflict is a lack of brushing. If your kitty doesn’t groom themselves well or has long, matt-prone fur, they’ll need regular brushing to prevent dandruff build-up. However, don’t get too carried away because over-brushing can cause chronic irritation and mean more skin cells come away than normal, leading to dandruff. Not many cats tolerate a bath, but if yours is one of the few who does, make sure you use a pet-friendly shampoo and don’t bathe them often. Removing too much of their normal skin oils will dry the skin out and make it more prone to irritation or infection.

If your kitty doesn’t groom themselves well or has long, matt-prone fur, they’ll need regular brushing to prevent dandruff build-up.

Diet is also a factor when it comes to cat dandruff. Cat food that is low in fatty acids could make your cat prone to flaky, scurfy skin. Equally, if your cat has a food allergy or any other allergy, you might notice dandruff, as well as see your cat scratching, licking, and nibbling more because they are itchy. Although fleas don’t cause dandruff, they can cause black dirt throughout the coat, known as flea dirt, and you might notice some scurfy or scaley skin too. You can find out more about identifying fleas on your pet here or click here to find out how to get rid of them. There are some parasites that can cause dandruff in cats, though. One particular mite called Cheyletiella causes ‘walking dandruff’ where mites can be seen moving through the coat.

Dandruff can also be a sign of bacterial or fungal infections, which might cause itchiness and sore, oozy or scabby skin lesions. However, one type of fungal infection, called ‘ringworm’, often doesn’t cause many symptoms in cats, so a bit of dandruff might be your only clue.

Very occasionally, dandruff can signify more serious skin conditions, like certain types of skin cancer. However, sometimes the underlying cause of dandruff isn’t a skin problem at all but a wider health issue. For example, ailments that cause mobility issues, like arthritis or obesity, can lead to difficulty grooming, and dandruff can occur as a result. 

Cat food that is low in fatty acids could make your cat prone to flaky, scurfy skin. Equally, if your cat has a food allergy or any other allergy, you might notice dandruff.

Best Treatment Options

To effectively treat or manage your cat’s dandruff, you first need an idea of what’s causing it. Therefore, it’s essential to get your furry family member checked over by a veterinarian. Once the diagnosis is established, the veterinarian may recommend a diet change, allergy testing, or restricted use of the central heating. They might also suggest improving ventilation in the home to increase humidity or that you take over some of your cat’s grooming duties. A spot-on or tablet parasite treatment can be used if there is any evidence of parasites. Depending on the cause, medications like antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, or anti-fungal therapies may be needed.

To effectively treat or manage your cat’s dandruff, you first need an idea of what’s causing it.

Summary

You might wonder whether cat dandruff really matters. After all, it’s not like your cat will face any social embarrassment like human sufferers might. However, dandruff can be a sign of many different health conditions, even if it’s the only symptom. If your cat has dandruff, book an appointment with your veterinarian to get to the root of the problem.