# cat dandruff **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 3, 2003, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-dandruff/216662 "2003-12-03T05:39:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![LorieSmurf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a587f6/32.png) [@LorieSmurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LorieSmurf)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2003, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-dandruff/216662/1 "2003-12-03T05:39:09Z")
My overweight cat (15 lbs) has horrible dandruff on her back. Just flakes flakes flakes. I brush her daily, and the more I brush, the flakier it gets. I’m supposing it’s because she’s too fat to get back there and lick herself. I’m tempted to smear some food on her back so the other cats will hold her down and lick back there for her 😛 Besides the obvious solution (getting her to lose weight, which I am trying to do by less food and more exercise), what else can I do to help her? A special shampoo or spray? Hot oil treatments?? SHAVING?? Thanks Cat Dopers----you know who you are… Lorie ---
**Author:** ![porcupine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ac91a4/32.png) [@porcupine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/porcupine)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2003, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-dandruff/216662/2 "2003-12-03T05:45:54Z")
What kind of food are you feeding her now? If it’s not a good brand, it could contribute to the skin problem. My vet put my overweight boys on Feline High Factor Formula a few years ago. They’ve both lost weight and are closer to 14 lbs, instead of being almost 16. They are **large** cats and eve if thin would probably weigh ideally around 12 or 13. One of then used to have much flakier skin, but it has improved. I’ve also found that running a humidifier keep their skin (and mine as well) from drying out as much during the winter. ---
**Author:** ![Odinoneeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/97f17d/32.png) [@Odinoneeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odinoneeye)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2003, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-dandruff/216662/3 "2003-12-03T05:48:58Z")
Never had that particular problem with a cat. Did you ask your vet for advice? ---
**Author:** ![TelcontarStorm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3ab097/32.png) [@TelcontarStorm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TelcontarStorm)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2003, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-dandruff/216662/4 "2003-12-03T17:22:28Z")
I had a beautifu B&W Boy who suffered from this problem as well. Cheap cat foods as Porcupine points out are not good. We fed our guy either ALPO dry, or Dad’s Gourmet blend. Any good brand you buy from the feed store or vets office should suffice. Purina ONE is a good brand one can find in the Grocery as well. Try putting brewers yeast in thier food as a suplement. Gives beautiful shiney coats for everyone involved. Feed stores have the suplement with directions. Try putting a bit, (though the amounts I do not know,) of Vegetable oil on the food daily. Cheeze whiz is marvelous! Be sure to cover feet as well. They simply cannot/will not walk with sticky feet. ---
**Author:** ![NajaNivea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/22d042/32.png) [@NajaNivea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NajaNivea)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2003, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-dandruff/216662/5 "2003-12-03T21:42:09Z")
My cat had the saddest looking, flaky, greasy, funky coat. We switched his diet, and not only does he have beautiful, non flaky fur, but he put on weight and has tons of energy. I tend to think that diet makes all the difference in the world. You may want to take a look at what you’re feeding and see what the meat/grain ratio is, and perhaps add in some omega 3/6 fatty acids. Salmon oil and fish body oil are good choices, but not cod liver oil–too high in certain vitamins. You can get both salmon oil and fish body oil at 'most any store that carries vitamins and suppliments. ---
**Author:** ![LorieSmurf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a587f6/32.png) [@LorieSmurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LorieSmurf)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2003, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-dandruff/216662/6 "2003-12-04T06:05:10Z")
Thanks for the responses and ideas, guys!