Skin & Coat Care for Cats

The condition of your cat’s skin and coat is more than just appearances–it’s also a reflection of your feline’s health status. Establishing a strong foundation that incorporates good nutrition, effective flea prevention, and an adequate grooming routine are all essential to good skin.

In this blog post, we’ll discuss how nutrition and dietary supplements can boost your kitty’s skin and coat, as well as the importance of grooming and parasite control.

Nutrition 

Feeding your cat a balanced and complete diet is essential to overall health and well-being, but several nutrients play an important role in skin and hair vitality. Both omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids are essential for good skin. Cats are unable to synthesize essential fatty acids internally, so they must get them through their diet. A deficiency of these crucial nutrients can lead to matted or discolored hair, hair loss or patchy hair, and water loss through the skin.

Without essential vitamins such as A, B and E, your cat might suffer from hair loss, a poor-quality coat, scaly skin and problems with how it produces keratin, the main component of hair. These vitamins are needed to keep your cat’s skin and hair functioning well, as they can regulate cell growth (A), help metabolize fats (B), and support the immune system (E).

While there may be genetic factors which have an impact on the health condition of your cat’s skin, by choosing an appropriate diet which includes all the nutrients they need, you can support them in developing a strong, healthy skin and coat.

Dietary Supplements

Supplements can be beneficial to include alongside your cat’s diet. If your cat has flaky skin or a dry coat, supplementing with essential fatty acids can often help. High in Omega-3, OMEGLO Skin Function Support helps support skin function and of the metabolism of joints. OMEGLO is a complementary dietetic feed for dogs and cats, for the support of skin function in the case of dermatosis and excessive loss of hair.

Seven Optimal Oil is also another great addition to add to your cat’s diet.  This blend of high quality oils provides more than 190 bioactive nutrients including healthy ratios of Omegas 3, 6, 9 and rare Omega 7, nourishing the body with essential fatty acids, minerals, and antioxidants.

Parasite Control

A common source of itching and flaky skin in cats are fleas and flea allergies. It is essential that all cats be kept on a regular flea preventatives, as flea and flea allergies are a very common source of skin issues. FLEAWAY PLUS Flea & Tick Treatment for Cats helps stop the development of flea eggs, larvae and pupae. WORMAWAY for Cats treats common intestinal worms such as roundworms and tapeworms and their larvae. It is essential to keep up to date with your cat’s parasite preventative measures to ensure their skin remains healthy.

Grooming

While it’s true that a lot of cats can groom themselves, if you have a medium or long-haired cat, the extra grooming can be a real benefit to them. Some senior cats and long haired breeds can find it difficult to keep their coats in good condition and require some help to stay in good shape.

Daily grooming of your cat will help ensure their coat is kept in good condition. It not only leaves them feeling great but also helps maintain good health. Other benefits include;

• Can help improve muscle tone and stimulates the skin to produce oils that give their coat a healthy shine.
• Daily brushing helps remove loose hairs, prevent matting, and minimise hairballs that may end up in their stomach.
• Grooming gives you the opportunity to inspect your cat’s health by feeling for cuts, bumps, swelling, and parasites such as fleas and ticks.
• If done correctly, it can be a great bonding experience between cat and cat-parent.

Grooming Must-Haves:

• SAFARI Complete Cat Brush is an all-in-one brush that combines the design of a soft slicker brush with a traditional bristle brush to provide a healthy, shiny coat. It easily removes tough mats and tangles, while also removing excess hair and reducing shedding. When used regularly, the brush reduces hairballs as well. Whether your cat has short or long hair, this brush ensures effective grooming.
• Botanica Natural Herbal Cream is a unique combination of herbal ingredients carefully selected and blended to feed and encourage healthy skin. The herbal properties of Tea Tree along with the soothing Aloe Vera amd the additional beneficial value of Comfrey and Lavender for aching muscles and tendons, provide an all purpose natural Herbal Cream to help support and maintain healthy skin.
• Tropiclean Essentials Soothing Pet Shampoo, which has specially formulated shea butter shampoo which helps to soothe and hydrate your cat’s skin & coat.

How Often Should I Groom My Cat?

Your cat won’t require daily baths, but may require daily brushing, especially if they are long-haired. Daily brushing can remove any loose hairs, preventing them from being swallowed and turning into hair balls. Brushing also stimulates blood circulation and sebaceous gland secretions, resulting in a healthier skin and coat. Older cats in particular may not use scratching posts as frequently as they did when they were younger; therefore, nails should be checked weekly and trimmed if necessary.