Have you just realized that your cat has dry skin and wondering what to do? Well, worry not because today you have landed in the right place. Dry skin is a common health condition that affects cats of all breeds.
Common signs indicating your cat having dry skin include flakey spots around their coat, constant itching and scratching, and white dandruff. Common areas where dry skin is likely to develop in cats include the nose, ears, base of the tail, and back.
Dry skin is a serious condition that can diminish the shine of your cat’s fur or even cause skin diseases if it is not treated on time. Therefore, you need to take action immediately when you notice that your cat has dry skin.
Fortunately, there are many natural but very effective remedies for treating dry skin in cats, including using a natural moisturizing agent, feeding her with high protein food, using omega 3 fatty acid, and more. In this article, we will discuss natural remedies for my cat’s dry skin.
How do I know my cat has dry skin?
Common signs of dry skin in cats include diminished shine on your cat’s fur. Your cat’s fur will have what looks like dandruff on its fur. Other popular symptoms include:
| Constant scratching flakey spots around the coat | Flakey spots around the coat |
| Patches of white dandruff on her coat |
Common areas where dry skin is likely to develop in cats include the nose, ears, base of the tail, and back. So, you should carefully check your cat in these areas to see if it has the symptoms mentioned above.
Why does my cat have dry skin?
According to experts, the top reason your cat may have dry skin is the quality of food that she eats. In most cases, a cat’s diet that suffers from dry skin is usually deficient in crucial minerals and nutrients such as zinc, omega 3 fatty acid, and protein. So, dry skin could indicate that your cat is not eating a proper, well-balanced diet.
Dry skin could also occur if your cat is overweight or have mobility problems. Cats need constant grooming to rid the coat of shed hair and dead skin. Grooming also spread natural oil for healthy fur and skin. An overweight cat cannot perform self-grooming, and if she does, she may not reach crucial parts such as the back and tail end. Obese cats usually have a problem getting these essential areas groom, resulting in skin inflammation, flaking, and hair matting.
Another reason why your cat could develop dry skin is because of allergies. Your cat may be allergic to things such as food, pollen in the air, new grooming products, a new bed, among many others. Allergic reactions caused by any of these products could cause dry skin.
Other common causes of dry skin in cats include fleas, lice, and further parasite infestation, weather changes, serious health conditions such as diabetes, heart condition, and hyperthyroidism, over-grooming, fungal infection such as ringworm, sporotrichosis, or yeast infection, using the wrong shampoo, using water that is too hot and certain hormonal disorders.
What natural remedies can I use for dry skin for my Cat?
| Use Oatmeal Soak |
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| One of the best natural remedies for treating dry skin in a cat is applying a slurry of oatmeal mixed with water. Use a food processor to ground oatmeal into a finer powder, then top it up with water to a point where your cat can soak. Soak your cat in the mixture for at least 10 minutes for optimum results. Oatmeal will help nourish, moisturize, and soothe your cat’s skin, thus eliminating the dryness. The moisturizing properties of oatmeal will help to soften your cat’s dry skin. Oatmeal also has potent anti-inflammatory properties that prevent itchiness and provide much-needed properties. |
| Use Epsom Salt |
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| Epsom salt is another very effective home remedy. Epsom salt is different from table salt and has been used for centuries to treat various skin ailments in humans and animals. It not only helps to flush out toxins but also helps to softens your cat’s skin. Epsom salt is highly recommended because it gets absorbed immediately, thus providing instant relief or itchy skin. |
| Better Diet |
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| The most likely reason why your cat has dry skin is because of a poor diet. Giving your cat a healthy and well-balanced diet that comprises of protein essential fatty acids such as omega 3 and omega 6 and minerals such as zinc will help enhance your overall health and make its skin soft. Most cat foods are low in protein and omega fatty 3 and omega 6 fatty acids which are crucial in enhancing your skin health. It is recommended that you buy these dietary supplements to improve your cat’s skin health. Your cat’s itchy skin may also be a result of a lack of natural oil in your cat’s diet, particularly if it feeds primarily on kibbles. It is important to add oil to your cat’s diet to help improve its skin health. Recommended oils for cats include hemp oil, olive oil, and oil from fish. Keeping your cat well hydrated by ensuring it has a constant supply of fresh, clean water may also lower the likelihood of having dry skin. |
| Groom Your Cat |
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| Cats are very good at self-grooming. However, if your cat has gained a lot of weight, it may be unable to groom itself in crucial areas such as the back and tail end. In that case, it is important to help groom your cat to help get rid of dead skin, spread natural oils, and maintain a comfortable oil. Please avoid bathing your cat unless it is necessary. When washing it, ensure that you use an appropriate shampoo that is gentle on her and has potent moisturizing effects. Brushing your cat regularly is highly recommended as it prevents your cat’s skin from becoming flaky and dry. It also helps to increase blood circulation and boost the distribution of natural oils. |
| Use A Natural Moisturizer |
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| Moisturizing your cat’s skin is highly recommended as it helps to treat and prevent the skin from getting dry. There are many natural moisturizers that you can use to enhance your cat’s skin, including CBD oil, moisturizing shampoos, coconut oil, and much more. Combining natural moisturizers with other products such as aloe Vera or oatmeal can provide even more desirable results. |
| Use Dehumidifiers |
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| Your cat’s dry skin could also be a result of dry weather. Therefore, if you live in a generally dry area, use a humidifier to help prevent your cat’s skin from getting dry. |
| Use Baking Soda |
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| Baking soda has potent antifungal properties and may help provide much-needed soothe for your itchy cat. Create a paste by mixing baking soda with water, then apply it to the affected area. Leave it for at least 10 minutes before rinsing. Using this paste for one week will eliminate itching, one of the main symptoms of dry skin. You can even get better results if you mix baking soda with coconut oil. |
What are some preventative things I can do to help?
As they say, prevention is better than cure. There are many things you can do to prevent your cat from suffering from dry skin. This section will discuss some of the things you can do to prevent your cat from suffering from dry skin.
Always feed your cat with a healthy, well-balanced diet. If their food lacks crucial nutrients, vitamins, and minerals such as omega 3 fatty, zinc, and protein, add a supplementary diet that contains these essential minerals to their diet.
Make changes in your home. If her dry skin is caused by an allergic reaction or dry air, make adjustments such as installing a humidifier in the room to make your cat’s skin moist or get rid of things that trigger the allergic reaction.
Promote a stress-free environment. Your cat can also develop dry skin when it is under stress. Promoting a stress-free environment such as providing a calm and cat-friendly environment or just spending quality time with them could help to relieve stress.
When to see your vet
If any of the above-mentioned home remedies don’t work or the condition keeps getting worse, you should immediately visit your vet. Your vet will conduct a thorough examination to determine the cause of the problem and recommend the most effective treatment. When in doubt on which treatment will work best for your cat’s dry skin, it is better to visit your vet for the best advice and treatment.
Conclusion
Dry skin can be caused by many things. The earlier you detect and treat the problem, the faster your cat will get better. Fortunately, treating your cat dry skin is not difficult. There are many natural home remedies that you can use to treat your cat’s dry skin, as we have discussed. However, if the techniques mentioned above don’t work or you are unsure which method to use, visit your vet for advice and treatment.