Cat skin and coat
Why does my cat have dandruff?
A few white flakes on a dark sofa are easy to shrug off. VCA's veterinarians do not treat them as normal, though, and they are often the first visible sign that a cat has stopped managing its own coat. Here is what usually causes them, what a bath and a brush can and cannot do, and when to book the vet before the groomer.
What dandruff means
Dandruff is dead skin the cat is no longer clearing, and VCA treats it as a sign rather than a normal coat
VCA's guide to a healthy cat's coat describes skin that is supple and clear, without greasiness, flaking or bumps, and a coat free from dandruff. It lists excessive dandruff, heavy shedding, a greasy coat and an unpleasant odor as signs of a possible underlying problem. The flakes are dead skin. A cat's tongue normally clears them as part of grooming, so when they build up, either the skin is producing more or the cat is removing less.
When flaking goes further, vets call it seborrhea. VCA describes two types, dry and oily, and says most affected cats have a mix of both. Primary seborrhea is inherited and seen in breeds such as Persians; secondary seborrhea, the more common form, follows another problem. VCA notes the flakes often show up where the cat sleeps and that the changes usually appear along the back, which makes the spine, the lower back and the base of the tail the first places to look.
Common causes
Dry skin, weight, age and parasites cause most flaky coats, and a few of the causes spread
VCA's list of secondary causes is long: hormonal imbalances such as an overactive thyroid, allergies, parasites including fleas, ticks and mites, bacterial or yeast infections, diet, environmental changes, and obesity or pain that limits grooming. Weight and joints are the causes owners can often see. A heavy cat, or an older one with stiff joints, cannot twist far enough to wash its lower back, and VCA notes that arthritis and obesity can stop a cat grooming well enough to prevent dandruff or matting.
One parasite deserves its own mention. Cheyletiella, the mite behind the nickname walking dandruff, produces scaling with large flakes, most often along the back and upper body, and VCA describes it as highly contagious among dogs, cats, rabbits and people. If the flakes seem to move under a bright light, or someone in the house develops itchy spots, call your vet. Diet can play a part too: VCA's nutrition specialists note that a poorly balanced diet can leave the skin dry and scaly.
- Flakes mostly on the lower back: often reach, weight or joints
- Flakes that move, or itchy people in the house: possible mites
- Flakes with scabs, itching or hair loss: skin disease, vet first
- A dry, dull coat on a homemade or unusual diet: ask your vet
Bath and brush
A bath lifts the flakes and a brush spreads the oils, but neither one treats the cause
Brushing is the everyday tool. VCA says brushing removes loose hair and dead skin and spreads the coat's natural oils, and International Cat Care says grooming stimulates the skin to produce oils that give the coat a healthy shine. Its guidance is to groom shorthaired cats at least once a week and longhaired cats at least daily, only for as long as the cat is comfortable. For a cat that can no longer reach its back, your comb does the job its tongue used to do.
A bath is the occasional reset. International Cat Care's view is that a healthy cat has no need of a bath, so a bath for dandruff is for a cat whose coat has built up flakes, grease and loose hair it cannot clear by itself. VCA's healthy-coat guide supplies the test that matters: if a skin or coat problem returns quickly after bathing or grooming, the cat needs a veterinary exam. A bath that only buys a week is a clue, not a cure.
- 01
In good light, part the fur along the spine with a fine comb.
- 02
Look at the flakes: small and dry, greasy and clumped, or large and patchy.
- 03
Watch the parted fur for a few seconds to see whether anything moves.
- 04
Comb onto damp white paper; black specks that run red are flea dirt.
- 05
Check the lower back and tail base, where a heavy or stiff cat stops reaching.
- 06
Look at your cat's bedding for flakes where it sleeps.
- 07
Note any itching, scabs or bald spots, and book your vet if you find them.
When it is the vet
See your vet first when flakes come with itching, scabs, a smell or a change in your cat
Dandruff with company belongs with your vet. VCA's seborrhea guide describes red, crusty patches, brown waxy buildup and a noticeable odor that is usually worse with infection, and its list of possible tests runs from skin scrapings and hair plucks to blood work and thyroid testing. Cornell's Feline Health Center notes that many feline skin conditions can pass to other cats and, in some cases, to people, so preventing spread is often part of the plan. Only a vet can tell which cause you have.
Book the vet before the groomer if your cat is itching or overgrooming, has scabs or bald patches, smells, has lost or gained weight, or if the flakes appeared suddenly. Bring a note of when it started and anything that changed, such as a new food or a new pet. The City of Gloucester publishes a list of local and emergency veterinary offices, and Massachusetts Veterinary Referral Hospital in Woburn is open around the clock for anything urgent.
- Itching, licking or overgrooming
- Scabs, crusts, redness or bald patches
- A greasy smell or brown waxy buildup
- Weight loss or gain, or a change in appetite
- Flakes that appear suddenly or seem to move
At Dogtown
Once your vet is happy, the Full Bath at $95 clears the flakes your cat cannot reach
The Full Bath, $95, is a bath with water, nails and a brush-out, and it is the service most flaky cats need once the cause is known: it lifts dead skin, grease and loose undercoat from the places the cat no longer reaches. Minimal Trims, $45, is trimming and partial shaving with no bath, useful when the fur over a greasy patch needs clipping short. The Full Service, $120, combines a full bath with shaving, trims and nails, and nail clipping on its own is $20.
Cats are groomed at 210 Eastern Ave in Gloucester, in a quiet space away from the dog areas, by our cat behavior specialists. There is no evaluation visit: every cat is assessed for coat condition and temperament on arrival, and a cat that cannot be groomed safely that day is referred to your vet. If your vet has prescribed a shampoo, bring it and ask the front desk whether it can be used. Through the Cape Ann heating season, a comb every few days keeps flakes from building up between visits.
At Dogtown
Cat grooming at Dogtown
A quiet cat studio in Gloucester for baths, trims and nail clips, with every cat assessed on arrival.
Asked and answered
Questions people ask about this
Short, complete answers you can act on today. More in the full FAQ.
Is cat dandruff normal in winter?
Can I bathe my cat at home for dandruff?
Will brushing get rid of my cat's dandruff?
Can people catch anything from a cat with dandruff?
Which Dogtown service should I book for a flaky cat?
More questions? Read the full FAQ
Sources
- VCA Animal Hospitals: coat and skin appearance in the healthy cat
- VCA Animal Hospitals: seborrhea in cats
- VCA Animal Hospitals: cheyletiellosis
- VCA Animal Hospitals: nutrition and your cat's skin and haircoat
- International Cat Care: grooming your cat
- Cornell Feline Health Center: feline skin diseases
- City of Gloucester: local emergency veterinary offices
Rules and dates change. We re-check every beach, licensing and ordinance page each spring and fall; the source above is the current word.
Keep reading
Next step
Book a bath for a flaky coat
Book the Full Bath online or in the Dogtown app, and add a note about the flakes and anything your vet has said.
- 01Free evaluationWeekdays 6:30 – 9:30 AM
- 02Book a dayOnline, in the app or by phone
- 03Play, rest, repeatReport card at pick-up
