What Causes Dry Skin in Cats?

There are many reasons why your cat's skin will become dry. First, determine is if it is simply dry skin or if it is something more serious. A trip to the vet will tell you if your cat has a disease or infection that is causing his dry skin.

Overbathing Your Cat

Cats for the most part are very meticulous self cleaners. You do not usually need you to bathe them. If for some reason you do need to bathe your cat, make sure you use a conditioner that is made for cats after you clean them. Not using a conditioner, or using a conditioner made for humans, will dry out your cat's skin.

Fleas

Your cat may be allergic or sensitive to the saliva of fleas, which can make his skin red, itchy and dry. Simple flea control at home can fix this problem.

Nutrition

It is very important to make sure your cat is getting enough fatty acids in his diet to keep his skin and coat healthy. Not enough of these will cause his skin to become dry and itchy.

Grooming

Combing your cat's hair regularly will get rid of dander and loose hair that can build up in her fur. Not doing this enough will clog your cat's pores and allow bacteria to grow, causing dry and itchy skin.

Sunburn

Your cat can get sunburned if he is exposed to the sun for too long. Although it is more common in light-colored cats, a sunburn will cause any cat's skin to become dry and irritated. To prevent this, just limit the amount of time you let him out in the sun.

Resources

• Doctors Foster and Smith Pet Education
• CatChannel.com