Cat Dandruff Solutions

Small white or brown flakes on your cat's coat indicate that it suffers from dandruff. This condition is usually the result of dry skin caused by the cat's diet or its environment. However, it can also result from a more serious underlying medical condition, such as diabetes or hyperthyroidism, according to the website VetInfo. After ruling out these conditions with your veterinarian, take measures to alleviate your cat's dandruff by treating its skin.

  1. Dry Skin

    • During the winter months or in dry climates, the lack of humidity can contribute to your cat's dry skin. Brush your cat daily with a natural bristle brush to circulate the oils on your cat's coat, relieving its dry skin and removing the unsightly flakes from the coat. Place a humidifier near a location in your home that your cat enjoys sitting or playing in. Spray a leave-in conditioner for pets -- found in pet supply stores -- on the cat's fur and rub it into the dry skin with your fingers.

    Diet

    • Obese cats suffer from dandruff because they cannot reach their lower back and base of the tail, where dandruff is most common, to clean. Put your cat on a diet that is high in fiber and low in fat to help it lose weight. Increased dietary fiber helps the intestines eliminate toxins, which can also contribute to dandruff on the skin, according to "Cat Lover's Daily Companion." Supplement its diet with omega-3 essential fatty acid supplements for cats, such as wild salmon oil or other fish oils. Add a small amount of grated carrots or zucchini to add moisture and fiber to the cat's canned food. Switch the cat to a canned food diet to increase the moisture content of its food and better hydrate its skin.

    Bathing

    • Bathe the cat using a non-soap, moisturizing cat shampoo every two to four weeks, according to "The Cat Bible." This will rid your cat of the flakes or greasy residue on its skin. Bathing works especially well for cats that suffer from seborrhea, a dandruff accompanied by oily discharge or odor on the skin. Shampoos containing aloe vera or oatmeal soothe the skin and alleviate the dryness. Use tepid, not hot, water, which can further cause dryness. Rinse out the shampoo completely one or two times after bathing to prevent the residue from causing irritation on the cat's skin.

    Medical Causes

    • Inspect your cat's skin, coat and skin flakes. If the flakes appear to move, your cat suffers from a condition called cheyletiellosis, or walking dandruff, caused by mites. Cats with cheyletiellosis require veterinary diagnosis and treatment to rid the cat of the mites through medications such as ivermectin or daily lime-sulfur rinses. If the cat suffers from seborrhea, the oily discharge and dandruff can lead to skin infections, which require prescription anti-fungal or antibacterial creams to treat them. The veterinarian may also recommend a topical flea treatment, since these medications eliminate fleas and some types of lice, which can lead to dandruff.