The general condition of your cat’s skin and coat are good indicators of their health. A healthy coat should be shiny and smooth, not coarse or brittle.
Likewise, healthy skin should be supple and clear, not greasy, flaky, or bumpy. Health and nutrition influence the shine and texture of your cat’s coat from the inside, while regular grooming and skin care help keep your cat’s coat clean and tangle-free on the outside — no matter what type of haircoat they have.
What types of haircoats could a cat have?
Selective breeding has led to cats with several coat characteristics, such as:
- Hairless Sphynx
- Curly-coated, minimally shedding Rex cats
- Smooth-coated Oriental breeds with sparse undercoats
- Domestic short-haired cats with a protective outer coat of guard hairs, and a soft, fine undercoat that provides additional insulation
- Long-haired cats with fine silky hair that tangles easily
Some cats that live in cooler climates, particularly if they frequently go outdoors, have two heavy, seasonal shedding cycles each year (late spring and late fall), during which much of the undercoat falls out in clumps. However, many indoor cats shed at low levels all year-round.
How does nutrition affect my cat’s hair and skin?
The skin is the body’s largest organ, and skin cells replace themselves rapidly. For most cats, most skin is covered with hair that is shed and replaced several times yearly.
To maintain the skin and hair in a healthy state, your cat requires a properly balanced diet that contains high-quality digestible proteins, carbohydrates, fats, minerals, and vitamins and provides the appropriate calories to meet their energy needs. If the nutrients are not digested well and are of poor quality, they will not meet the body’s needs and will cause the liver and kidneys to work harder to eliminate the indigestible waste. The ideal diet should be individualized to your cat’s specific life stage (i.e., kitten, adult, senior) and health status.
Quality and balance are the keys to good nutrition. A cat eating an inadequate diet will have a dull, dry haircoat and may shed excessively. Consult your veterinarian for advice on choosing the optimal diet for your cat.
What role does health play in my cat’s coat and skin appearance?
Illness or stress, especially if chronic or long-standing, will affect the appearance of your cat’s coat, particularly its shine and texture. Many cats shed excessively when they are under stress. Diseases that can affect your cat’s coat include:
- Hormone imbalances or other metabolic problems (e.g., hyperthyroidism)
- Digestive disturbances (e.g., chronic diarrhea)
- Internal parasites (e.g., intestinal worms)
- External parasites (e.g., fleas, ticks, mange mites)
- Cancer
- Arthritis and obesity (can cause problems such as dandruff or matting if the cat cannot self-groom)
Many skin conditions affect the shininess and appearance of your cat’s hair. Allergic skin disease and seborrhea cause itching and changes in the normal production of skin oils, resulting in a dull coat and excessive shedding, either in patches or over the entire body. If your cat’s skin or coat problem is due to an underlying health issue, it often improves dramatically when the illness is addressed through treatment, which may include dietary changes.
What role does regular grooming play in my cat’s coat and skin appearance?
All cats with hair benefit from regular brushing to remove loose hairs and dead skin cells; keep the coat free of dirt, debris, and external parasites; and distribute natural skin oils along the hair shafts.
Cats with long, silky, or curly coats require daily brushing to keep their hair from becoming tangled or matted, especially around the ears, in the armpits, and along the back of the legs. Cats with short haircoats may require less frequent brushing. Daily brushing reduces the amount of hair cats swallow while self-grooming, which reduces the number of hairballs they develop.
Regardless of the type of haircoat, you should inspect your cat’s coat every few days to ensure there are no tangles or clumps under the armpits, in the groin, or behind the ears. If you regularly check your cat’s coat and skin, you also have a better chance of detecting any unusual lumps, bumps, parasites, or sensitive areas on your cat’s body.
How often should I bathe my cat?
Most healthy adult cats are fastidious groomers and rarely require a bath. How often a cat needs to be bathed depends on the cat’s age, lifestyle, and whether there are any underlying health problems. For example, an arthritic or overweight cat with difficulty grooming may need the occasional bath to remove loose hair and objectionable odors.
If your cat has skin allergies, your veterinarian may prescribe frequent bathing with a therapeutic shampoo or a “dry shampoo” as part of the treatment regime, or a special therapeutic shampoo and conditioning rinse to prevent skin problems associated with repeated baths.
Why does my cat have skin or coat problems at certain times of the year?
Some cats suffer from skin irritation related to dry winter conditions and a lack of humidity in our homes. Cats with allergies to pollen from trees, plants, or grass may develop skin problems during pollen season, which may occur in the spring with tree pollen or during summer or fall with plant pollen. Some cats are allergic to fleas or other biting insects and can develop a rash or patchy hair loss with a single insect bite.
If you bathe or groom your cat and the skin or coat problem returns quickly, go to your veterinary clinic for an examination. Sometimes, skin problems like a rash, itchiness, excessive dandruff, heavy shedding, a greasy coat, or an unpleasant odor can indicate an underlying problem. In many cases, this problem will be simple to diagnose and treat, but occasionally, the underlying disorder can present a diagnostic challenge and might even require referral to a dermatologist. Once the underlying problem is diagnosed, the appropriate treatment can be prescribed to control your cat’s symptoms.
Your cat’s general coat appearance may be the first indicator of health problems. A healthy cat does not shed excessively and has a shiny coat free from dandruff or greasiness. Before you reach for the shampoo, think about whether that lackluster coat could be telling you something else. If you have any concerns, contact your veterinarian. .
