What Can I Feed a Cat With Dry Skin?

When cats have dry skin, it is often a sign of poor nutrition. Although navigating the cat food aisles of supermarkets and pet stores can be intimidating, carefully choosing an improved diet for your cat will help give her a healthy coat.

  1. High-Quality Food

    • Feed your cat name-brand food and check the ingredients to see if a specific meat--such as salmon or chicken--is the first item listed, as this signals the food is high-quality.

    Avoid Fillers

    • Avoid cat food with corn, wheat or soy as a main ingredient, as these are non-nutritional fillers.

    Wet Food

    • Add wet foods to your cat's diet to hydrate your pet and promote an oily coat.

    Omega-3

    • Look for cat foods with omega-3 fatty acids, or ask your veterinarian if a supplement is right for your cat. Omega-3 supports a healthy coat by helping your cat produce skin cells and oils.

    Other Supplements

    • Add vitamin A to your cat's diet and drop a tablespoon of olive oil into his food several times a week, as these spur oils to your cat's skin.

    Food Allergies

    • Ask your veterinarian to test for possible food allergies--especially beef--as these may interfere with your cat's skin condition.