What is cat dandruff & can it be brushed off?

Updated 24/04/2024

Cat dandruff can’t simply be brushed off, literally. Whilst a little sprinkle of cat dander is purr-fectly normal, too much dandruff on cats could be a sign something is a miss. To help you tell the difference and spot suspicious sprinklings, we’ve pawed together a few facts about cat dandruff, what to do if your cat has dandruff, and cat dandruff remedies.

What is cat dandruff?

Cat dandruff is small white or gray flakes of dry skin. This can happen for several different reasons, but cats are meant to shed like this from time to time. In fact, normal cat skin flaking is known as cat dander, and should only be called dandruff in cats when it’s a medical issue. So, what causes cat dandruff?

Why does my cat have dandruff?

It’s important to note that if you’re ever worried about your cat’s skin, or fur, or if you’ve suddenly started to see something like cat dandruff in your cat’s fur, consult your veterinarian first. Never attempt any home remedies or ignore a change in your cat’s well-being or behavior, it’s always better to be safe than sorry.

With that in mind, let’s have a look at the most common cat dandruff causes:

Skin allergies

Caring for cats with allergies can be tricky and dandruff on cats might be the least bothersome symptom. However, a mild skin allergy to perfumes, detergents, household cleaning products, flea collars, or other irritants such as house dust, grasses, pollens, and trees, can cause cat dandruff to appear quite rapidly. If they’ve rubbed their bodies on something their skin is allergic to, the dandruff will appear in specific patches. However, more serious skin allergies may cause a breakout in dandruff all over their bodies.

Talk to your vet straight away and take note of anything that may have changed in their routine or yours. This could be something as simple as trying out a new washing liquid.

Food allergies

Like skin allergies, food allergies can cause some kitties to have dry, flakey skin which takes the form of cat dandruff. This could appear either all over their bodies or in patches, it’ll depend on how the cat reacts. Food allergies can cause sudden changes in your cat's health, so always keep an eye out if you suddenly notice extra white flakes.

Allergies to external parasites

Fleas, ticks, dust mites, these tiny beasties can cause your kitty to flake and scratch. Luckily, there are plenty of tick and flea treatments for cats, along with preventatives to stop them from latching on in the first place. If your feline is facing a dust mite allergy, chat with your vet to see if they have any specific treatment or shampoos to help them.

Dehydration

This might seem like an obvious one, but a parched kitty will lead to dry skin and cat dandruff. Be sure your feline is drinking enough throughout the day, even if they decide your water glass is more appealing than their water bowl.

Other underlying health conditions

Like any health change in your cat, dandruff on cats can be a sign of something more sinister. Any health condition that prevents your cat from grooming itself can contribute to dandruff formation. Obesity is a common cause of being unable to physically groom themselves leaving their coat less than at its best. Being unwell, whether it be fighting an infection or dealing with a disease (such as hyperthyroidism/arthritis, etc) will also lead to poor coat quality and a potential to see an increase in dandruff. Whilst it’s mostly nothing too serious, it’s always best to take them for a vet check to reassure both you and your kitty that they’re okay.

Cat dandruff treatment

Cat dandruff shampoo

Yep, cat dandruff shampoo is a thing! Just like with human dandruff shampoo, these are prescribed topical medicines used to soothe and rehydrate the skin. Consult your veterinarian on which cat dandruff shampoo they would recommend, don’t buy the first one you see on Amazon!

Make sure they have a balanced diet

This kind of goes back to our cat dandruff caused by a food allergy or dehydration. To keep their tiny tummies hydrated, be sure they’re eating enough wet food each day as well as drinking water. If you’ve recently changed up their food, this could be a sign their little body doesn’t agree with this change. Talk to your vet, and see what they suggest.

Depending on the underlying cause of dandruff, a diet change may be suggested by your vet to treat underlying allergies. Additionally, food supplementations containing EFAs (essential fatty acids) can also be added to the diet to increase skin barrier efficiency and health which reduces the risk of dandruff and skin diseases. Ask your vet if you think your cat could benefit from this type of care. 

Brush your cat

Sounds obvious, right? But those white flakes don’t always vanish on their own. Cats are paw-some at keeping clean and well-groomed, but they may miss a spot now and again. This is particularly helpful whilst your kitty is receiving medical treatment for cat dandruff - brushing them out will remove leftover dandruff and help them feel more comfortable.

Other cat dandruff remedies

Because the Internet is the Internet, there are so many websites offering tons of homemade cat dandruff remedies promising to be, “a secret vets don’t want you to know”. Ignore them, your vet will always know best. If you want to try any of the home cat dandruff remedies, consult your veterinarian first. Never attempt anything new without speaking to a professional.

Meet our veterinary expert, Lily

This article has been checked by veterinarian Lily Richards BSc (Hons) BVSc MRCVS. Lily qualified from Liverpool University in 2011 and spent 5 years as a veterinarian working in mixed animal practice. As Lily’s passion for exotics and exploring more complicated small animal medical cases developed, she stepped into small animal-only practice. By 2018 Lily was leading a busy branch of a large hospital practice with a fantastic team, enjoying working on both surgical and medical cases. Since falling poorly in 2021 Lily has found a new passion in medical writing. Sharing medical knowledge and writing for the public is a particular passion.

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