My Kitties have dandruff.

[MagicKitty]

I have 2 wonderful cats. Unfortunately, they have butt dandruff. It looks gross and can't possibly be good/normal for them. Can someone tell me A) what causes it and B) how can I get rid of it?
The dandruff seems to be localized to the base of their tails. Is this a problem with their ability to groom themselves? I do brush them, but it seems to make it look worse.

Any advice is greatly appreciated.
Thanks
K

[jason]

im not sure about this, but for the sake of others who know more could you describe the dandruff as in color, size and consistancy?

also, how long have you noticed this? did they develop this together or one first?

[Guest]

Thank you for your reply...
It is always white, I think the flakes are large, for a cat, about the size of the point on a dull pencil. My older cat developed the dandruff first, and she has thick fluffy fur. My younger cat now has it and her fur is silky-smooth. I don't remember exactly when the dandruff appeared, but I'll guess that it's been a regular thing for the last 4 mo or so.

Thanks again!
K

[Traci]

How old are they, and are they by chance overweight? If so, this could prevent them from grooming in that area.

If you haven't had them checked by your vet within the last year, now is the time to do so, to monitor weight and general health status. You might also discuss what you're feeding them with your vet, he may suggest a new diet or a supplement with fatty acids to help the coat condition. But, first thing is to ensure they are healthy before all else.

[MagicKitty]

My older cat is about 6 yrs and my younger cat is almost 3yrs. I feed them Iams Weight control/Hairball care. (Dry food) They are indoor cats and they are both about 10 lbs each. They probably need to shed a couple pounds. Presuming a diet change is in order, what shall I do in the meantime to manage the flakes?

Thanks again,
K

[Traci]

Well, there isn't too much you can do at this point until you know any underlying health conditions are ruled out. Overweight, poor grooming habits, lack of essential acids in the diet, or even dry air in the home can contribute to dandruff. If they are not on a veterinary-supervised weight management program, I would start there and discuss with your vet the dietary approach. (commercial weight control foods are not ideal for every cat, sometimes adjustments may need to be done, such as type of food, commercial vs prescription, or simply adjusting the feeding amounts, but all must be based on the individual cat's dietary needs, optimal weight prediction, and general health status)

You can also ask your vet about adding Linatone or a fatty acid supplement to the diet for coat condition (ask your vet first please, you don't want to oversupplement a diet without a health check first)

If you think the air in your home might be dry, try using a humidifier. Gas heat and constant heat in winter months will not only affect their coat condition but can cause excess shedding as well (cats generally are less active in winter months anyway, especially when the home is always warm)

[Paulette]

Hi there,

I have an all-black cat who had a dandruff problem and I've found that religiously brushing him morning and night (even if just for a few minutes) has helped tremendously. Brush especially in the areas where the dandruff shows up -- the brushing stimulates the oil glands.

Of course, in the meantime, I agree about having kitties checked for health problems, but I would give the brushing a try. It may take a month or so to see the difference, but it did work for my Jack. In addition, some kitties really ENJOY a good brushing.