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The appearance of your cat’s skin, coat, and fur are indicators of its health. A healthy coat is smooth and shiny, not coarse or brittle. Healthy cat skin is soft, supple, and clear, not greasy, flaky, or bumpy. While your cat’s diet and nutrition fuel the shine on the outside, basic grooming will surely add an extra touch of beauty.
There is so much you can do as a pet parent to make sure that your feline’s skin and hair stay healthy. From feeding it the right foods to investing in appropriate products for your cat’s well-being, treating skin problems in cats is not that confusing. Keep reading to learn more about cat skin conditions and how you can keep your cat’s coat and skin healthy.
Since there are various cat breeds, several coat characteristics are considered to be healthy, such as:
Hairless coat (Sphynx cat)
Curly hair with minimal shedding (Rex cats)
Smooth coats with sparse undercoats (oriental breeds)
House or domestic cats with a regular outer coat of short hair and a soft layer of undercoat to provide additional insulation
Longhaired cats with silky smooth hair that knots easily
As the largest organ of the body, your feline’s skin health should always take priority. For most cats, their skin is mostly covered with hair that sheds and grows back throughout their lifetime. The best way to maintain your feline’s skin and hair health is by feeding a balanced diet that includes high-quality digestible proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals. This will help your cat consume enough calories to maintain its energy needs. In fact, this will also cause the liver and kidneys to work more efficiently to eliminate all waste products.
While there are many nutrients that you can include in your kitty’s diet, some stand out as essentials for your kitten’s skin and hair health. Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are two nutrients that you should include in your cat’s diet without fail. Omega-3 fatty acids such as alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) help maintain skin and coat health and help sustain the skin’s water permeability barrier. Omega-6 fatty acids such as linoleic acid and arachidonic acid ensure that the epithelial tissues stay healthy in your cat’s body.
You can decide your cat’s meal plans with your vet who can suggest the right foods according to your cat’s age. If you have not consulted a vet and notice that your cat’s coat has become dull, dry, and sheds excessively, make sure that you visit a professional and make appointments for regular checkups.
Vitamins should be an integral part of your cat’s diet and must be fed in the right proportions. Many important vitamins are found in the raw materials of your cat’s food and are synthesised from there, making a balanced and nutritious diet key to your feline’s good health. Here are a few vitamins that a cat must receive from its diet:
Vitamin A: A fat-soluble vitamin that is eminent for a strong immune system and healthy vision. However, large amounts of Vitamin A can be toxic for your cat. Make sure you consult a vet to know the right amount of dosage for this particular vitamin.
Vitamin C: Vitamin C is an antioxidant that helps heal wounds and helps cats use protein effectively.
Vitamin D: Vitamin D helps retain phosphorus and calcium in your cat’s body. It is also known as the “sunshine vitamin” as it helps the bones, muscles, and nerves function well.
Vitamin B1 (Thiamine): A water-soluble vitamin that is important for healthy metabolism, and maintenance of normal growth and nerve impulse transmission.
Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin): Vitamin B2 helps your cat’s body break down carbohydrates, fats, and proteins, to produce energy, and to let the body use oxygen. This vitamin also helps maintain your cat’s skin and coat health.
Vitamin B3 (Niacin): A water-soluble vitamin that is eliminated through your cat’s urine, this vitamin should be restored regularly in your feline’s body. It helps keep your kitty’s gastrointestinal functions, nervous system, and skin healthy.
Vitamin B6: This vitamin helps your cat’s body break down fats, proteins, and carbohydrates to produce energy and supply oxygen throughout the body.
Like vitamins, minerals are also essential for your cat’s body. They promote enzyme formation, oxygen supply, nutrient utilization, and pH balance. Here are some minerals that should be included in your cat’s diet:
Calcium
Iron
Sodium
Magnesium
Chloride
Consult a vet to know the right amount of vitamins and minerals your cat should be consuming to stay healthy.
Common cat skin conditions such as excessive scratching and licking, redness and swelling of the skin, loss of fur, scabby and flaky skin, and more are inevitable. What you can do is follow these steps to ensure that these skin problems in cats are kept at bay:
Ensure that you are feeding your cat the best diet food available. A balanced and nutritious diet will help it derive the most important vitamins and minerals to synthesise carbohydrates, fats, and protein. It will also help in maintaining your cat’s overall skin and coat health.
Good grooming habits can really help your cat’s skin and coat health. While regularly brushing and combing your cat’s hair is a great way to bond, doing so will also prevent mats from developing. Mats can cause great discomfort for cats and can also cause hair loss and skin infections. Use a good grooming tool to ensure that your feline’s hair is combed with ease and there is no irritation or discomfort.
Shampooing your cat’s fur is not exactly common. Cats have a habit of self-grooming and they are not the most cooperative when it comes to baths. However, if your cat is itchy or just too dirty, it is best to use a shampoo that is formulated especially for cats. Ensure that you do not use any cat shampoo with tea tree oil since it is toxic to your feline’s skin and coat. If you do not know which shampoo to use, consult your vet to find out the ideal medicated shampoo for your cat.
Flea diseases are the most common skin problems in cats and should be treated immediately. Flea diseases can cause your cat to scratch and lick continuously, which can lead to wounds or partial baldness.
If you have a cat that is suffering from severe anxiety and stress, there will be signs. Excessive licking and grooming are signs that your cat is conscious and is acting out. This can cause a great amount of hair loss. Apart from appearance, stress and anxiety in cats can also induce serious health issues such as idiopathic feline lower urinary tract disease. If you notice your cat licking itself all the time, take it to a professional for a regular checkup.
Cat skin conditions are usually a sign of some imbalance in the body. If you have noticed that your furry pet has been having some skin troubles that are not getting resolved even after continued efforts, take it to a vet and rule out any serious conditions.
Feed your cat a balanced and nutritious diet and witness the results on its skin. Your cat’s appearance on the outside is a reflection of what’s going on inside. Make sure you include the right supplements (vitamins and minerals) in your cat’s diet.
Many vitamins such as vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, B6, C, and D are good for your cat’s skin.
You can improve your cat’s fur by feeding it good cat food, practicing good grooming habits, and keeping it free of any fleas.
You can consult your doctor if your cat has bad skin to diagnose the reason. Begin with basic steps such as feeding your kitty well, keeping it hydrated, and using the right grooming products and tools.
Bringing a new kitten home can be exciting, especially if it is your first time. The day you have been looking forward to has finally arrived and you are ready to take on your responsibilities as a cat parent! However exciting it may be to embark on this journey, a caregiver should not forget to prepare their home for a kitten’s first day and night.
Start establishing a routine during your new kitten’s first week at home. For instance, start taking it to the vet, and introduce it to friends, family, and other pets. You should also be fully prepared for its first outings once it is fully vaccinated. Lastly, kitten-proofing your home is highly recommended. Bringing a new kitten home is no different than bringing a baby home. As a caregiver, you should put away all hazardous items in the house and create a safe space for your kitten.
For caregivers who are bringing a new kitten home, this article is the ideal read! Here’s what you need to know about introducing a new kitten to your home.
There are multiple things you need to do before getting a kitty into your house. For example, you must find a credible veterinarian in your vicinity. Especially because you have to take your newborn cat to the vet as soon as you adopt it. So, let’s explore other crucial steps to take before bringing a kitten home:
Kittens are tiny and delicate; hence, anything that can hurt or harm them should be put away. Make sure you have set up a sleeping space for your kitten, a food bowl, and a water bowl. Apart from that, place one or more litter boxes around your house depending on the size of your home. Make sure you cover any sharp edges of your furniture and don’t expose your kitten to any dangerous figures. Moreover, keep harmful plants and any toxic substances out of its reach.
For the first few nights, it is normal for new kittens to be anxious. It will take some time for a kitten to get used to its new home. It is also normal for your kitten to cry for the first few nights. You can make this experience better for it by setting up a cosy sleeping space. Once it gets comfortable in the new home, the kitty can even sleep for up to 20 hours a day.
It is not recommended to suddenly change your kitten’s food. Thus, find out what it was being fed by its previous caretaker. Stick to that meal plan for a few days and then gradually start changing your kitten’s diet. The best person to give you any advice on the right diet for kitties is a vet. Visit a veterinarian to receive a comprehensive feeding chart for your feline friend’s diet. For kittens between two to 12 months of age, IAMS Proactive Health Mother And Kitten dry food is ideal. It is loaded with protein, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals to support healthy brain and eye development. This kitten food also contains colostrum and DHA – two essential nutrients that provide immunity and protection against diseases.
Now, let’s take a deep dive into understanding the things that must be done once you have brought the kitty home:
The first step after bringing a kitten home is to introduce your new feline friend to its new family. Kittens can feel nervous around strangers; hence, familiarising them with their new family is imperative. Ensure that the atmosphere is calm and not too loud as they tend to get anxious. Your kitten should be handled gently if being picked up by anyone. Give your kitten the space it requires and let it explore the house by itself.
If you have any other pets or more cats, introducing a new kitten to the rest of them is important. After all, they have to coexist and should get along as soon as possible. The best way to make them accustomed to each other is through scent. Keep switching sleep blankets so your pets can get used to being around each other. You can also place one pet’s towel under the other’s food dish. By doing this, all your pets will slowly get used to the new kitten.
Maintaining your kitten’s health is a priority. One of the most important things to do as soon as you bring a new kitten home is to set up a vaccination plan with the vet. Hence, make sure you visit a veterinarian at the earliest. Stay consistent with all vaccination doses for your kitten’s overall well-being. Later on, start taking your pet for regular medical check-ups. The doctor will examine your kitten’s weight, teeth, ears, etc. to gauge its nutritional needs.
Once your kitten starts feeling a little comfortable in your house, it will start exploring the space. If you see your kitten roaming around, it is great news. This means that it has started trusting the people and environment. However, make sure your kitty doesn’t get hurt while exploring its new home. You also don’t want to keep interrupting your pet to protect it from sharp edges. Hence, do not skip kitten-proofing your house. When your kitten gets up to move around, resist the urge to cuddle; let it explore and find the most comfortable spot for itself.
We all know that a new kitten requires some time and space to adjust to its new surroundings. However, once your new feline friend is all settled in, you can start playing basic games with it. For instance, play with a string. Cats love to play hide-and-seek or peek-a-boo. Start rewarding it with treats when it plays with you. It will soon start trusting you. And when your kitty rubs its body against you, licks your hand, or shows any form of affection, you will know that you have earned its trust.
