If your cat has dry, itchy skin, it could be from an external source: mites, fleas, fungus or a contact allergy. But her skin condition may be caused by something internal as well: poor diet, dehydration, internal parasites and allergies are all common causes of flaky skin, dull coat and itchy, irritated skin.
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External Causes
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Fleas are usually easy to spot. Roll your cat over onto her belly and check for small, dark brown fleas---they're easiest to spot on the relatively hairless belly area. Alternatively, run a flea comb through her hair. The fine-toothed comb will catch fleas and pick up "flea dirt," that is, small, black specks of dried blood left behind by their blood meals. If your cat is housing a flea population, stop by your veterinarian's office. Prescription flea preparations are more effective and have fewer potential side effects than over-the-counter preparations. Some of these brands contain dewormers and tick control ingredients, too---an easy way to eliminate a variety of skin- and coat-depleting pests.
Mites are a different story. Most mites are too small to be seen with the naked eye; your veterinarian will need to perform a skin scraping and lab test. Treatment may include topical ointments, dips or oral medications.
Ringworm---not a worm but a fungal infection---is very common in kittens and will cause hair loss, itchy skin and patchy, red lesions. It is treated with oral medications. Ringworm is highly contagious and all areas occupied by an infected cat should be thoroughly vacuumed, swept and disinfected.
Contact allergy symptoms are usually seen around the face and on the paws. Often, these kinds of allergies are caused by a reaction to plastic food bowls. Switch to a stainless steel or ceramic bowl.
Internal Causes
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Your cat's diet should be composed primarily of meat. If you feed commercial cat foods, read the label. Avoid foods that do not contain a named meat as the first ingredient. Also skip any foods that contain chemical preservatives such as BHT, BHA and ethoxyquin, as these are suspected carcinogens and are often used in low-quality foods.
Be sure your cat is getting enough water. An easy way to up her fluid intake is by switching to a high-quality canned food. You can add a little water to dry food, too---any increase in water consumption will hydrate the skin and improve her coat.
Supplements
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Add a skin and coat supplement---sometimes called fatty acid supplements---to your cat's daily rations. There are a variety to choose from, including some that contain salmon, avocado, flax or safflower oils. Look for a supplement that contains omega 3 and 6 for best results.
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