Weepy eye, dandruff and wee, oh my!

[Italiangreyhound]

New boy seems to have slightly weepy eyes and a touch of dandruff!

Anything I can do?

The dandruff if not too bad and seems to come and go; we brush him.

The weepy eye is wiped with clean tissue or cotton wool with cold tap water on it. Is this OK or should it be boiled water??

His wee smells a tiny bit but I think that is because he is being kept in and using litter tray for everything (so maybe I just need to change the whole thing more often?). Where as our last cat was roaming free and weeing where he liked, not in litter tray!

Thanks,

[Italiangreyhound]

PS he is 6 year old black and white neutered male rescue cat, see here for photos here ...

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/the_litter_tray/2349414-New-boy-arrivestomorrow

[Fluffycloudland77]

How weepy? I think a bit of weeping is normal. Sticky eyes not so normal.

[Italiangreyhound]

A small bit. Quite dark. about a quarter of the top of a cotton bud, that type of thing.

[Fluffycloudland77]

Sounds normal then, I call them eye bogies.

No idea about dandruff though.

[Italiangreyhound]

Thanks, good news.

[Miltonmaid]

Have you checked for fleas? They can sometimes cause skin problems like dandruff.

[Italiangreyhound]

Oh lord, no I am not sure what to look for. But the RSPCA centre treated him very well. Now my bloody leg is itching!!! What do I look for!

[shaska]

When I saw your title I wondered if I'd started a thread and forgotten it.

Eye bogies I only worry about if the cat is scratching the eye or appears not to be opening it fully, or if it looks inflamed/infected.

Dandruff watching with interest! I switched foods recently and the lamb has developed a bit of flakiness so I'm wondering if it's dietary as she doesn't have fleas. But then also wondering if it's a natural reaction to sitting directly under the radiator for half the day all winter. Flea signs will look like little black specks close to the cats skin that you can see if you part the fur- it's flea poop!

Wee- are you using clumping or non clumping litter? I find clumping helps as you can scoop balls of wee out and don't have to change the whole tray to keep the smell down.

[Italiangreyhound]

Non-clumping and not changing often Enoch. My bad!

came down today and cat has pooed on floor in utility (lino luckily!) A dirty protest at my not changing litter enough. Our last cat did not use tray so I got out of habit.

The dandruff was there before he came, seemed to get batter, then back, now not so bad. Just not sure!

[RubbishMantra]

That was an awesome typo Italian.

For a minute I thought the late Enoch Powell had joined in for a discussion on cat litter.

Try a clumping one. The Sainsbury one's good. Fill the tray nice and deep.

[Italiangreyhound]

How often do you change the whole thing? Enoch!

[RubbishMantra]

Well this sounds gross. But I follow Jackson Galaxy's advice, and only do it about once a month. maybe I'm just lazy (Obviously scooping the fecal matter and pee clumps as they appear) They do like their tray to smell of "themselves". When it's cleaned, I don't use disenfectant, just washing up liquid. Loads of rinsing with hot water. Gets rid of the washing-up liquid smell. I use covered litter trays. They have carbon filters. which Little Monsieur has decided must be destroyed

And he's right, some cats don't like scented cat litter. Mine are fine with it (Sainsbury's). Worlds Best is really good, and compostable. You can buy it online from Zooplus. I think the finer grained litters are more acceptable to a lot of cats. They originate from desert type countries, so would've used sand to cover their doings. So the less gravelly ones are more acceptable to their paws.

Just realised I have a strange and unusual knowledge of cat litter.

[RubbishMantra]

But I shall bow to the superior knowledge of Enoch if he deigns to appear on the thread.

[Mostlyjustaluker]

The eye thing just sounds like sleep and if you leave it eventually comes out, although I can help myself removing it. My cat used to get dandruff before I ch aged him onto posh food. His fur is so soft and shiny that I have although considered eating it.

My cat hates his litter tray and would prefer to use the bathroom, unfortunately he can't use the toilet so that would be the bath, shower or sink. We keep the bathroom door shut. When he uses tray I clean after every poo and change whole thing every couple of days or just goes on the floor beside the tray. The wood chip stuff, cheap at wilkos, is the best or hiding the smell.

[RubbishMantra]

Completely agree with Mostly.

When MCat and DH came to live with me, he had a really dull coat. He used to eat Go-Cat.

Got them on some decent food, (Applaws dry and Cosma wet for MCat, more vegetables for DH) Now they have lovely, shiny coats.

[Italiangreyhound]

His coat is very shiny, just a few flakes... Head and shoulders?? JOKE!

[Mostlyjustaluker]

rubbish does DH have a shiner coat too?

[RubbishMantra]

He steals my Molton Brown.

So alongside the vegetable enhanced diet, he does indeed have a lovelier shiny coat. Much better for DH than Go-Cat.

[Miltonmaid]

With fleas you'd probably see brown or black flecks when you part the fur, particularly in the neck area. Or on the comb if he will let you comb him with a fine tooth comb. I agree about good quality food, I think there are ones that have omega oils for shiny coat.