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Libby

HELP! I have kitty dandruff!

Hello Catster! It`s Libby! I need some help because I have kitty dandruff! I mean a lot! I'm already on the best of foods and when my meowmy tries to brush me, I can't help but get afraid. I feel bad now because I mangled her hand and it's all ripped up! Eww! She said she still loves me though! Also, while I am asking this question, my meowmy wants me to ask if anybody knows a way to help keep me calm while she is doing my nails. This one's not just me, my brothers, Amigo and Grady, are really bad for this. They wail and scream their heads off. She is very careful not to cut the wick I think it's called. Please help. I don't want to be dirty!
Thanks! - Love, Libby


Asked by Libby on Mar 21st 2009 Tagged claws, dandruff, bath, brush, comb, scared, scratch in Home Grooming
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Lola

First, I would suggest a vet check. Dandruff can be related to diseases such as diabetes. As for the nails, some Catsters have had success doing it while their cat was sleeping. I would also suggest trying to shampoo Libby, except it sounds like she wouldn't like it.


Lola answered on 3/21/09. Helpful? Yes/Helpful: No 0 Report this answer


Allie

Well, first of all, even the "best foods" may have some ingredients in them that she is allergic to that may be causing her dandruff. My girls love their Royal Canin but it seems that 1 or 2 are allergic to the corn in it because they do much better on Blue Buffalo foods which do not contain corn, wheat, soy or animal by products. So that's one possibility. But you really should have the vet take a look to see what is wrong. For the brushing, be sure that you are not using one with pointy or wire bristles that may be hurting her if her skin is already irritated. A soft brush might not be as scary for her. Nail clipping will always be a problem once they have a fear of it. The only thing you can do is to keep the nail clipper handy (I keep it on my desk) and try to do it when they are already on your lap and calm and comfortable. Massage their paws and pet them while talking nicely to calm them down. But once they fear it, they usually always will even if you have never hurt them.


Allie answered on 3/21/09. Helpful? Yes/Helpful: No 0 Report this answer


Guest

Stop feeding Libby ALL dry food (regardless of how long - or how much patience - it takes to wean her off it). Give her only the highest quality canned food you can afford ... preferably grain free. If you have an independent pet store in your area, especially a "pet boutique", go there.

An amazing number of chronic, low-grade health problems can be cleared up just by banishing dry food ... no matter how high quality it is.

A boutique will likely recommend a calmative for the nail thing. Avoid herbal preparations meant to be ingested until you fully research them. Some herbs are used for cats because they're okay for people, which is not always wise.

A friend slowly, patiently taught his cat to let him FILE, rather than clip her nails. My cats only get their nails clipped when they're at the vets (where they're resigned to it). Cats hate having things DONE to them, so I save that for when it's necessary. But then, I'm not that fastidious about these things.


Member 816248 answered on 3/22/09. Helpful? Yes/Helpful: No 0 Report this answer


Guest

Hello Libby. I know personally through similar circumstances that when my kitty Belly suffered an irritable bout of kitty dandruff, she had fleas. I forget precisely what the disorder is called (not all kitties get a skin/dandruff reaction to fleas, but many do), but the kitty's skin gets severely irritated by the parasitic-like fleas and she becomes highly defensive when touched or petted, especially in the higher infestation zones of her body. Belly would bear her teeth like a tiger when we would begin to scratch her hide, and finally, after casually inspecting her tail-area with my fingers, I found nasty crawly fleas. There were earlier symptoms however: she was covered in mysterious black flakes as well as dandruff, and we discovered via our pet store experts that those flakes were flea "by-products", aka feces.

Less severe explanations for dandruff: she may be lounging too closely to a heat source, like a furnace or fireplace, and drying out her skin like Belly recently was.


Member 822631 answered on 4/3/09. Helpful? Yes/Helpful: No 0 Report this answer


De Do/Bud/Spud

Try to get a brush that is made for cats, and brush twice everyday, once in the mornning and once at night and see if that helps.


De Do/Bud/Spud answered on 10/23/09. Helpful? Yes/Helpful: No 0 Report this answer


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