Cat Shedding Hair And Dandruff

A cat comb or brush can also help you diagnose dandruff if you re seeing flakes there after a grooming session.

Cat shedding hair and dandruff.

The white flakes of dandruff are visible to the naked eye and not to be confused with dander which is much smaller and part of the natural skin shedding process. Fungal and yeast infections. External parasites such as fleas lice and mites will irritate the cat s skin resulting in an allergic reaction and therefore dandruff. A condition known as cheyletiellosis commonly referred to as walking dandruff is caused by a type of mite.

Unfortunately without medical attention this condition may get worse. Sometimes what looks like heavy dandruff on your cat isn t actually dandruff at all. If your cat has thicker fur you might need to part their fur to see the flakes on their skin. The cheyletiella mites particularly are known to cause even more damage more on that in a moment.

Cat dandruff due to seborrhea tends to be seen more commonly on a cat s face back and flanks. If your cat has this type of infection he will likely have crusted lesions. Cat dandruff is a condition characterised by small white flakes of skin and usually has an underlying cause including allergies parasites and dehydration. Dandruff symptoms also include scaly dry looking skin.

Lavallee ringworm can infect your cat s hairs and cause hair loss. Cheyletiellosis is caused by an infestation of cheyletiella mites which feed on your cat s skin leading to itchy scaly skin and hair loss. Dandruff in cats can also be triggered by both external and internal parasites. Dandruff in cats may as well be a sign of a skin disorder called seborrhea where the sebaceous glands in the skin secrete too much sebum oil.

If your cat s dandruff is accompanied by hair loss and skin redness this could be a more serious condition called walking dandruff it s actually not dandruff but a form of mange caused by the cheyletiella mite. However some skin parasites particularly one called demodex and fungal infections such as ringworm can lead to. With too much sebum on the skin your cat is not able to shed dead skin cells as fast as it should. Most of the time dandruff even when severe is not representative of a disease.

Excessive shedding is one of the most common coat related problems in cats but many cats also develop dry itchy skin and dandruff. Be careful not to over shampoo which can dry the skin out further.