How to Stop a Cat's Itchy Skin

If your cat is itching, squirming and nibbling at his coat in an unusual fashion or is sporting a flaky coat of "dandruff" it's time to take action. A few of the best places to start are hydration, gentle exfoliation and good daily grooming habits. Following these steps will give you a clean slate in managing your beloved cat's itchy skin, so read on for how.

Things You'll Need

• Fresh drinking water source that's attractive to your cat
• Gentle brush
• Distilled water
• Moisturizing shampoo designed for cats
• Detangler/conditioner for cat fur
• Clean towels
• Bathtub or kitchen sink

Instructions

Keeping Your Cat Hydrated

1. As with humans, hydration that comes from inside the body is more effective than what is applied externally. Getting cats to consume more water isn't always easy but there are two tested strategies at work: Their water source needs to be fresh, in a scrupulously clean bowl and they love moving water. For freshness, replace water in their bowl daily and if a piece of kibble or other debris falls into the bowl, replace immediately. Make sure that their water bowl is washed clean each week. Mineral deposit scale and other contaminants can build up on the inside of the bowl and need to be scrubbed away. Make sure to use only a small amount of dish detergent and rinse repeatedly in very hot water. Never use any cleaner that is not designed for human dishes. If you cannot get an old bowl clean with dish soap and a scrub, throw away the bowl and get a new one, preferably metal, porcelain or glass. Cats sense of smell is so acute that any trace of cleanser or chemical will be a deterrent to drinking. There are many drinking water fountains for pets on the market and cats love them. The water is filtered and re-circulated into the drinking bowl via a fountain that helps to oxygenate and freshen the water. This is a great investment for your cat's health and can be purchased for $25 and up.

2. Daily gentle brushing is the best tool in maintaining your cat's skin and coat health as well as a daily opportunity to keep a vigilant eye out for any abrasions, infections or rashes that may be causing the itching, scratching and biting. Use a brush that has gentle plastic or natural bristles that are long enough to draw through the cat's coat and massage the skin but are not sharp against the skin, which is very delicate.

3. Taking your cat to a groomer for a bath or bathing them yourself is a good first step is getting a clean slate and in solving the itching problem. Fill your sink or tub with warm, not hot, water so that is is deep enough to come halfway up your cat's body when sitting or standing. You may want to put a towel in the bottom of the tub so that the does not slip and strain and hurt themselves. Wet them gently from the neck down. Apply a shampoo made specifically for cats and massage into their coat including th tail. With a cup you can do the first rinse with the water in the tub. Then drain the tub of dirty water and rinse with a hand held shower head or a large plastic tumbler. Rinse several times until no soap or bubbles appear on their coat or in the rinse water. And then rinse once more. Be very careful not to get any water in the cat's ears or nose and keep any shampoo application well below the neck.

4. Condition the cat's coat. After shampooing and rinsing your cat's coat, its time for a conditioner or detangler, which is particularly helpful when your cat is long-haired or has a thick coat of fur. Apply and rinse with warm water. The most important rule here is that you can never rinse too much.

5. A final rinse with distilled water is particularly good for cats who have dandruff or flaking skin as it effectively removes any residual shampoo and flakiness. Rinse several times in warm tap water and then give a final finish rinse with a large gallon jug of distilled water that you have had warming slightly in a sink of hot water. Once rinsed with the distilled water, gently wrap your cat in clean soft towels and gently blot dry. If your cat has a long coat, once she is towel dried, allow her coat to air dry for a hour or so and then very gently comb or brush through to smooth the coat as it finishes drying.

Tips & Warnings

• If you have never before bathed your cat, or if they are particularly afraid of the water, which is very common, make sure to gently trim their nails before the bath. You may also want to wear a long sleeved t-shirt or sweatshirt just in case a tussle ensues.

• Never wash your animal with shampoos or conditioners that are not specifically designed for them. Cats ingest everything that is on their fur during their cleaning process and many shampoos contain chemicals and sometimes even natural ingredients that can be hazardous to your cat. Only buy products designed for use on cats at reputable pet supply stores.