Cat question

[bogolove]

I have noticed lately that my Kitty has had what appears to be dandruff. We use the flea pick on her to brush her, and she is one of the few cats I have met who is not very happy about being brushed. What could help her dandruff?

Now please keep in mind that this cat has never had a bath in a tub or sink(by a person). She is an indoor cat and I have heard so many different opinions about cats getting baths that I just went with the fact that she never goes out and she cleans herself. She does not mind to sit in a sink and get wet. Infact she begs for the water to be turned on so she can drink it and her big bootie blocks the drain so she ends up sitting in a puddle of water. I am thinking that some of you are going to tell me the only way to get rid of the dandruff is a shampoo. Boy this isn't going to be easy if that is the case. She gets quite testy and she is not afraid to bite me just when i try to brush her. Imagine if I try to submerse her in shampoo and water.

I have also used those kitty bath wipes. They do no good in cleaning a cat in my opinion.

 

[Renee750il]

Weeeellllll - I've always given my cats baths. It never was that big a deal, really, I just always made sure the bathroom door was shut tightly so that if there was a desperate escape attempt it would be thwarted.

A mild shampoo, maybe with an oatmeal base, would probably be the best thing. You just have to be careful with using shampoos on cats - don't use dog shampoo; it's entirely too harsh. Baby shampoo is okay, but it's always safer with a shampoo formulated for cats. And you've got to rinse very, very thoroughly. Leftover shampoo can cause more itch.

A good dose of catnip prior to the bath can be helpful sometimes, too.

One word of warning, though: never, EVER, EVER laugh at your cat while he or she is wet. You will never be forgiven and you will pay for your offensive behaviour.

 

[bogolove]

I take it that the no laughing while wet advice is being given to me by someone who has lived through the wrath of a cat who has been laughed at? May I ask how you had to pay for you offensive behavior, or should I leave this one be so your kitty does not try to hunt ME down too?

You see my cat is VERY moody. She can be very witchy. I love her very much but she either will come to you for attention or you better leave her alone or she is going to get you when you least expect it. Her thought is her way is THE way, and if you don't agree you might as well leave her house. Oh yeah, HER house. She thinks she owns it. She thinks the fact that she is the only one inside all day, lying around, getting fat, and basking in the sun is enough work to qualify her to be the owner and the QUEEN of the entire house. She even has her own room that Brady can't get into with her own full size bed. Now granted this is all in HER mind, not mine.

But back to the subject is the bath. You see, I didn't want to admit it, but I am scared of her. Not really, but I know she will get me back. You even bathed your inside cats, or are yours all inside cats? I may try, but if you hear I am going to give her one and then you don't hear from me for a few days, call the police to come check on me and make sure she has had her revenge on me.

 

[Saje]

I've never bathed my cats and I never would. Unless, they got sprayed by a skunk or something where they needed it. I know a girl who used to bath her cats all the time. She was a great cat lover. And she took a lot of care while bathing them (kept them warm, dried them thoroughly...) but one of her cats still caught a chill and got a bad chest infection. She nearly died and had forever been prone to them. I just don't think it's natural.

Personally, I don't think bathing would help because dandruff is dry, dead skin and shampoo, no matter how gentle, always strips the oils off the skin.

I had a cat with hair/skin problem and our vet gave us a "special" fine-toothed, metal, cat-sized comb to brush him with. It was meant to help distribute the natural oil throughout his hair. Help keep him shiny.

I have you tried analyzing his diet? I always believe in finding the source... I think you might want to add a bit of oil to his diet. http://cats.about.com/cs/healthissues/f/catdandruff.htm

I did a search for you and found that excessive dandruff in cats can be linked to diabetes http://www.felinediabetes.com/cat-dandruff.htm

As for your troubles grooming her. Cats are ... well cats. Most of my cats actually groom themselves. By that I mean that I hold out the brush and they rub up against it. They really like how it feels. Especially when they're shedding.

I don't know if that helps at all.
How excessive is it?
All cats have dandruff. It's called dander and it's what people with allergies react to.

Saje

 

[bogolove]

It is not excessive, it is just a little flaky in her fur. As for her diet, she has to be on a special food that is for cats prone to bladder stones because she had one last year and had to have surgery to have it removed. I do use that fine tooth comb and it helps when she lets us use it on her. She will only tolerate it for about 1 minute literally and then she is done with it. I am not worried about the dandruff because I don't think it is bad, my husband just asked and I thought I would throw it out there and see what everyone thought. She is due for a check up in February so I may ask the vet to take a look at it while I am there too.

 

[Barb04]

I have my 2 maine coons bathed and combed out when their hairs gets matted and they don't let me untangle it. They love their baths and love being combed out by the groomer, but if I try it, I would look like I just got attacked. They behave so much better for others.

 

[Renee750il]

LOL! Bogolove, all my cats have been inside cats for years. There are just too many dangers for cats out there, from diseases to crazies who have torture fetishes, to dogs that just like to chase. Gonzo, in particular, had to have a weekly bath as he was a therapy cat and went on therapy visits with Bear. I used to get the biggest kick out of watching that humongous blue cat do "laps" around a room full of abused women and kids.

I always knew better than to laugh at a wet cat! I warned a friend of mine, but she didn't heed the caution and not only laughed, she took pictures! That cat left her 'packages' on her pillow and in her shoes for several weeks - until she apologized profusely and made an offering of fresh orange roughie.

Really, if your cat likes catnip and is one of those who turns somewhat mellow when indulging it can really be a help. And a nice, well prepared fish dinner afterward makes a very effective peace offering. Much has been forgiven in the way of trespass against a feline over a cooling filet of orange roughie, especially if it's been lightly microwaved in a touch of butter - no lemon.

 

[bogolove]

This brings me to another question. My cat will not eat any fish. She likes fresh turkey, but I have tried to give her tuna and she sill not touch it. I have bought some dried out shrimp for cats (freeze dried) and she will not eat that either. Nor will she eat wet cat food. She will not touch it, she turns her nose up at it. I have always had dogs and she is my first cat, but I have had her for three years. I guess she is just picky, maybe?

 

[becca_4321]

How true that is of a cat seeking revenge. My Buddy was for years my best pal until his death 2 years ago. But when he was young I accidently closed a window on his tail. I felt so bad and tried to tell him how sorry I was, and thought he had forgiven me until the next morning I found a "package" on the dinningroom table. The next morning on the tv, then came the coffee table....I learned my lesson quickly with him.
I rarely gave him a bath and as for the cat we just adopted, I did give her one after her paw heeled simply because she had been living on the streets and in dumpster and really didnt smell very nice at all!

 

[Renee750il]

Gomez won't touch the freeze-dried shrimp either. He loves poultry, and white-fleshed fish. He loves tuna also, but tuna processed for humans is not supposed to be good for cats, something about destroying the amino acid, taurine, which is essential for cats.

I had another cat, sweet Tessa, a long haired grey beauty with an elfin face, who loved her dry food, but would only eat one brand of canned food that came in little square tins and was actual pieces of fish in aspic. She loved to roll herself up like a burrito in my wool Aubusson-style living room rug!

Having a cat is something I really miss out here.

 

[Denaluvscorgis]

Yes...thats what works good on my Siamese, is a good brushing daily when she is dry like that. I've never given her a bath either, and don't know if I ever will. We got her when she was two years old, and was a real fraidy cat. She hid under the bed for two weeks!!! I try not to do anything like that to her. My other cat has been bathed.

 

[smkie]

I have to wash my dogs every other day..i had heard before that it would ruin their coats and nothing could be further from the truth. Mary is as shiny as a black marble and the vet said "what ever I was feeding her don't stop" I think it is the bath that does it. I am able to loosen the hair as well with a good all over rub so we have little shedding on the floor and bed. I use my shampoo and even though her hair is short I rub my conditioner in real good..especially on Victor cause his skin is so soft and he is tender when it comes to grass reactions. We never have dander, skin sores, or fleas.

 

[Ash47]

I bathe my cat all the time. She is exceptional about it. All you do is gently scruff them, and wet beginning at the neck. Rub the water in thoroughly, especially if they have "water-proof" fur. Get the shampoo you wish to use, oatmeal based if the skin has any irritation at all, and lather in beginning at the neck. Work you way down, and allow it to sit for up to 5minutes, or however long you can control them without hurting them. When you are ready, rinse the cat off thoroughly. Have a towel already waiting for you, as you will want to immediately wrap the cat up tightly. Dry him/her off as much as you are able. Let them go as soon as they start to try and wriggle away. They will probably go into hiding for the rest of the day, licking the excess water off, but the next day, it's like it never even happened.

As Renee said, NEVER laugh at your cat, dog, or animal of any kind while bathing them. This makes them feel stupid and idiotic. It's ok to laugh at them when they are playing, they sense that as a good thing. But never laugh when you are forcing them to do something.