Cat Dandruff?

[fluffydressinggown]

I have noticed that our cat has what looks like dandruff, very small white flakes in her fur, she is black and white so the flakes are quite visible.

Can cats get dandruff? Is there anything we can give her to stop it?

I should imagine that they can get it, OP, although you'd really need to get a view from Lone or one of the other vets who post.

As it#s not something you see as a commonplace, I think that my immediate thought would be to establish whether there was some underlying cause eg is she being treated to schedule for fleas and mites, is she grooming herself as normal or do you have to assist her, has she any medical conditions and when was she last at the vets etc etc ? Oh - and how old is she and have there been any changes in her environment recently?

She is flea-ed (stronghold) and wormed (milbemax) so I don't think it is fleas.

She is three and she grooms herself normally and she is pretty healthy. Not been seen by the vet since June when she had her jabs.

Thanks for your reply.

Dandruff is usually a sign that a cat is not grooming properly. Cats normally only stop grooming if they are unwell or in pain. Does she still sleep where she always has? Can she jump up?

She seems to groom herself a lot (like most cats do!)

She is behaving very normally, sleeping in her bed or on the sofa or on us. She is very friendly and has jumped up and had lots of strokes and cuddles today.

How old is she? How would you describe her body condition?

Is it not just the dander from her spit/grooming? I have a black and white kit. She has lots of white bits in her fur but that's what it is...

It might just be dander.

She is three (ish - she is a rescue) and she is in good condition generally, she is a little bit podgy but otherwise just fine.

Whereabouts on her body are the flakes appearing? If she's a little.....full-figured..... I'm wondering if that could be impeding some of her grooming activity?

Just saw her photos - Yes, she is a bit chunky isn't she? What does she weigh?

Could it be stress? Mine has it sometimes and I have associated it with people invading her home for days, builders for example, or when we leave for a few days.

How is her coat looking? Our cat got dry dandruffy bits and his coat looked dull when he had an underlying health condition - when treated one of the first things that improved was the appearance of his coat, he looked glossy and healthy again, and no more dandruff.

She weighs about 3.5-4kg. She is very fluffy so I think the pictures on my profile make her look bigger than she actually is.

I don't think she is stressed and her coat looks (and feels) healthy.

I am worrying now that I am missing something!

Maybe give her a hand with her grooming and see how that goes ? (Most cats love a groom once they get used to it and if she has a very fluffy coat, she may find it hard going.

PS - I take back what I said now that I know her weight. That's not overly heavy in my book.

After making this thread she has stopped eating properly. Wondering if the dandruff was the first sign that she was poorly. She still seems fine in herself; grooming, sleeping, interacting with us as normal...She will eat treats and she loiters in the kitchen wanting food but when we put it down she ignores it.

Really worried, got an appointment at the vets at 11.

I think that's wise if only to reassure yourself.

Best of luck and let us know how she gets on.

The vet gave her a once over and she is fine, I was worried she had a problem with her mouth but the vet said it was very healthy.

She said to bring her back for a blood test if she is not eating by the end of the week.

Worried :(

...by the end of the week?

See how she's getting on by tomorrow. (And best make sure plenty of water all around.) It's possible that she's taken against her existing food for some reason - have you tried her with a bit of moist chicken?

The vet gave me some pouches that are chicken and rice and thankfully she has eaten one of them tonight. We have also been and bought some different wet food to try her on.

That's better. (Eating the pouch.) Sometimes they just need to eat something to get the whole system rolling again.

Fingers crossed for her.

She is still turning her nose up at biscuits but she ate a whole pouch of chicken last night, she is still eating less than normal but at least she is eating something.

That's encouraging. Keep on with the wet food then. She may be off dried - they'll sometimes take against a particular food or flavour for a bit.

It sounds like she's gone off dry food, ours has gone off butchers choice & dry food before but only when we've bought in bulk.

Is the chicken pouch sensitive food? Or hypo allergenic? If it is its not cheap as a long term food.

......but only when we've bought in bulk......

Do I know that scenario!