Helping a Cat with Sensitive Skin

As any pet parent knows, one of life's simple pleasures is petting your cat. Running a hand over a soft coat of thick, shiny fur feels good to you and your cat. Unfortunately, if your cat has poor skin health, that simple pleasure might not be so pleasant.

Signs of a problem:

• Dry, flaky skin
• Excessive scratching, especially at the head and neck
• Excessive shedding
• Hair loss, bald patches

What can you do?

• Check for pests. Examine your cat's coat and skin thoroughly for the presence of ticks, fleas, mites, lice or other parasites. If you spot any, ask your veterinarian for advice and follow the appropriate treatment.
• Consider allergies. If your cat is pest-free and otherwise healthy, the discomfort may be caused by an allergic reaction to something in the environment, such as pollen, dust or mould. Allergic dermatitis is an inflammation of the skin that results in licking, scratching, loss of fur and dry, flaky skin.
• Talk to your vet. Skin conditions can have a wide range of causes from parasites to allergies, hormonal imbalances to bacterial infections, stress and more. Be sure to consult your veterinarian about your cat's individual health and treatment options.
• Feed your cat well. Even if the cause of the skin condition is not related to nutrition, your cat may be helped with a high quality cat food formulated especially for skin sensitivity. Look for one containing high quality protein, essential fatty acids and antioxidants - all are important nutrients that can help heal and protect your cat's skin. You can find all these in Science Plan Sensitive Stomach & Skin Adult cat food, made especially for cats with sensitive skin. Learn more about Science Plan Sensitive Stomach & Skin.