Does your cat have dry or itchy skin?
Ideally your cat’s fur should be clean and fluffy, and feel soft and smooth when you pet her. So if you do discover redness, lumps, flaking or other signs of irritation when you pet her, she may have a skin condition that requires treatment. Look out for an increase in scratching, licking or itching in places she’s favoring more often.
What are the causes?
Your cat’s itchy & dry skin can have many causes. If she is showing signs of irritation, consult with your veterinarian who will be able to diagnose the condition. Your veterinarian may recommend tests to identify the exact reason for your cat’s skin condition. Common causes may include:
- FOOD INTOLERANCES (This can occur as a reaction to certain kinds of proteins in your cat’s food)
- OTHER ALLERGIES (Your cat may be allergic to “inhaled” allergens such as dust, pollen, mould, etc. Some flea treatments can cause “contact” allergies)
- PARASITES (Fleas, lice and mites can all cause skin irritation. Bites from parasites are irritating, causing cats to bite and scratch themselves, damaging their skin)
- HORMONAL IMBALANCES (Too much or too little of certain hormones can make cats prone to skin problems. These imbalances may point to other serious underlying problems that need to be identified and treated)
- INFECTIONS (Bacterial infections can cause skin problems)
What to look out for
If you have a cat, you’ve seen the effort she takes to keep her fur clean. Because of this well-groomed exterior, however, it may take some time before you identify skin conditions that can be bothering her. In fact, you may not even notice any sort of irritation unless you see one of these signs:
- Red patches, spots or pimples
- Scabs, crusts or thickened skin
- Dry, flaky or scaly patches
- Hair loss
- Bad skin odor
- Itching, scratching, increased licking or rubbing.
Talk to your vet
Skin conditions can have a wide range causes—from parasites to allergies, from hormonal imbalances to bacteria, infections, stress and more. Be sure to consult with your veterinarian about your cat’s individual health and treatment options, and ask if switching her food might help.
Hills Science Diet Products
