My Cat Has Black Dandruff

I was wondering what may be the cause of the cat dandruff and what treatment would help.

My cat has black dandruff.

Cat dandruff is a condition characterised by small white flakes of skin and usually has an underlying cause including allergies parasites and dehydration. Dandruff in cats usually is from one of four causes. If your cat has white flakes as well as black specks in her fur she likely also has dandruff. Causes of cat dandruff.

As our cats are scrupulous in their hygiene if they have external fleas it is common for them top ingest these parasites as they fulfil their grooming ritual. This leads to irritation itching and those white flakes that may fall onto your pet s bed and other favorite. Be careful not to over shampoo which can dry the skin out further. Dandruff is not just an aesthetic issue with cats cat dandruff can be symptomatic of a bigger health concern and your cat s scratching can lead to skin damage a healthy cat will have smooth soft skin without dandruff flakes or visible sores or irritation.

These external parasites are hematophagous which means they feed on the blood of their host often causing severe irritation in the process. The most common and noticeable sign of cat dandruff is dry flaky skin. Although various things cause this condition frequent brushing can help keep the flakes at bay. Cat parents searching for my cat has dandruff often wonder if that cat dandruff means a trip to the vet.

While dandruff may seem like a harmless condition it can actually be a symptom of a medical problem or skin allergy. Akin to human dandruff the condition is caused when the oil glands in a cat s skin go into overdrive producing more oil than is needed. The key to treating cat dandruff is to moisturize your cat s skin so it doesn t flake. An otherwise healthy cat with a few flakes of dandruff probably doesn t require a.

As you will see the signs of cat dandruff are very similar to the clinical signs of dandruff in people. Nutrition hydration parasites health problems or. If your cat has parasites chances are he may have dandruff too. If your cat has dark fur the flaky skin will be even more apparent.

If your cat s fur is dotted with little white flakes he may have dandruff. If your cat has thick fur you may have to part their fur in order to see the flaking skin. Bites from fleas lice and mites can all cause allergic dermatitis. One particularly nasty type cheyletiella mites have been called walking dandruff since they re large enough to see with the naked eye but too small to distinguish detail.

I have a 4 year old indoor himalayan tabby mix who has cat dandruff on the back half of the top of her back.