Common Illness in Cats - Coat Conditions | Healthy Paws Pet ...

Excessive itching can lead to fur loss; allergies and mites are the most common culprits. Photo courtesy of Muhammad Mahdi Karim.

A cat?s coat is its fur and pride; felines spend hours everyday grooming themselves. Some diseases can cause painful or unpleasant symptoms that result in fur loss, changes in fur texture, and dandruff. Here?s a guide to abnormal coat symptoms and their potential causes.

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Fur Loss

Unless your cat is a hairless breed, chances are you?ll be able to notice if your pet is experiencing any fur loss, or alopecia. The baldness can be partial or complete, random or in a pattern, and occur fast or slow. The following conditions all list fur loss as a symptom:

• Anxiety disorders can cause a cat to over-groom.
• Hyperthyroidism has the side effect of alopecia.
• Food allergies and environmental allergies may also cause excessive itching, which can lead to fur loss.
• Ringworm, a parasitic fungal infection, has fur loss in a circular pattern as a primary symptom.
• Mange is a condition caused by mites; cats suffering frequently experience alopecia.

Treatment: Make an appointment with your vet; all of the above medical conditions require medications prescribed by a veterinarian to treat.

Oily or Greasy Fur

As a cat ages, grooming can become difficult due to joint conditions like osteoarthritis and hip dysplasia. Senior pets sometimes lose interest in grooming themselves as well. Fur can change in texture and become greasy or oily, often appearing spiky and clumped together. This is due to an increase or lack of distribution of the natural oils in the cat?s fur. Conditions like the following can cause this change:

• Hyperthyroidism causes hormone imbalances; this can change your pet?s fur texture.
• Seborrhea is a skin condition caused by some parasites, dietary deficiencies, or allergies and may also be genetic.
• Diabetes mellitus can also be a culprit.

Treatment: If your cat?s condition is caused by lack of groom or old age, try brushing your cat with a flat slicker brush. Bathing your pet with a gentle shampoo monthly may also help. However, if your cat is young or is still grooming, see your veterinarian for treatment of an underlying disease.

Dandruff

This symptom is caused by an excess of dead skin being shed off. It is often visible as small white flakes on the animal?s fur.

• Cheyletillosis, a skin mite condition, may cause dandruff as the mite moves under the animal?s skin.
• Ringworm parasites can cause visibly flaky skin.
• Diabetes mellitus causes hormone fluctuations that can affect skin dryness and coat texture.
• Seborrhea may explain dandruff as well as oily coats.
• Winter conditions are dry; forced air can dehydrate an animal?s skin, leading to mild dandruff.

Treatment: At-home treatment for mild dandruff can include installing a humidifier in the winter months. Adding omega-3 fatty acid supplements to your cat?s diet may also help; however, consult a veterinarian first ? you should never give your pet supplements without direction. If your cat is suffering from severe dandruff or more than one skin condition, it?s time to visit the vet. Medicated shampoos may be prescribed to treat seborrhea.

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Conditions affecting your cat?s fur are often symptoms of an underlying problem. If the symptoms persist, see your vet. Don?t over-bathe or -brush your pet; this can affect oil gland levels and only make your cat?s coat worse! With treatment, coat issues will resolve, and your pet can groom himself with pride!

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