“Dandruff is a visible flaking of skin which often results from irritated or very dry skin,” explains Carl Winch, DVM at Banfield Pet Hospital. “It is relatively common and is often in response to the skin glands overproducing their oils. Generally, small amounts of dandruff aren’t worrisome, but it can become a very irritating problem for a cat if left untreated.”

“Dander occurs from the normal, healthy dead skin that your cat sheds and should not cause your cat to be itchy or uncomfortable,” explains Dr. Chad Dodd, veterinarian for YuMOVE. “Conversely, dandruff is an abnormal shedding of dead skin cells which, unlike dander, is accompanied by signs of extremely dry, irritated skin or, at times, very oily and itchy skin which could be an indicator of an underlying health problem.”

Most cats experience a dandruff problem at some point in their life.

Cat dandruff is fairly common and can often go unnoticed in light-colored cats.

If you observe that your cat is shedding more than usual, and you notice white flakes on your cat or on their bedding materials, it could be a sign of dandruff.

Determine the Cause 

There are several potential causes of dandruff in cats, including obesity, food allergies or nutritional deficiencies, climate or environmental changes, metabolic issues, or even an underlying skin condition, like seborrhea or ringworm.

 

Overweight cats are more susceptible to dandruff due to decreased mobility, so it’s important to help your cat maintain a healthy weight by feeding your pet a balanced diet, with constant access to fresh water.

It’s also important to partner with your veterinarian who can diagnose and create a treatment plan appropriate for your pet.