Cats with Sensitive Skin
By: Pet City
Is your feline companion looking more scruffy & flaky, instead of their usually shiny & fluffy self?
Ideally your cat’s fur should feel soft and smooth when you pat them. So if you discover redness, lumps flaking or other signs of irritation they may have a skin condition that requires treatment.
If your cat is scratching, licking or itching repeatedly in one spot, there could be a number of causes. Always consult your vet to try and diagnose the issue.
Causes
- Infections – Bacterial infections can cause skin problems
- Hormonal Imbalances - imbalanced in hormones can make cats prone to skin problems, and point to other underlying issues
- Parasites – fleas, lice and mites can all cause skin irritation.
- Food intolerances – these can occur as a reaction to certain proteins in your cats food
- Other Allergies – ‘inhaled’ allergens such as dust, pollen, mould etc can be the cause in some cases.
- Dermatitis
Watch out for
- Increased scratching, licking or itching
- Red patches, spots or pimples
- Scabs
- Dry, flaky or scaly patches
- Hair loss
- Bad skin odour
Food Allergies
Cats can sometimes be allergic to specific proteins in food. If you find that your cat seems to be having reaccurant skin issues, talk to your vet about what the problem could be. To determine if it's food related, they may suggest putting your cat on an elimination diet.
Flea Allergies
Even one bite from a flea can set your pet into a scratching frenzy. Keeping up-to-date with your flea medications will reduce the risk of flea allergies.
Environmental Allergies
Lots of every-day household things can cause irritation for cats. Some of these things are:
- Some scent diffusers
- Flowers and other live plants
- Harsh household chemicals
Removing these things from the environment is generally the best practice to keep your pet out of harms way.
Skin conditions can have a wide range of causes, so be sure to consult your veterinarian if you notice any of the above issues.
Even if the cause of your cat’s skin condition is not related to nutrition, your cat may be helped with a high quality food formulated especially for skin sensitivity. Look for one containing high quality protein, essential fatty acids and antioxidants – all are important nutrients that can help heal and protect your cats skin. Good food will help improve the body’s first defence against possible irritants – the skin!
Some options include: Hills Science Diet Sensitive
