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Natural Remedies for Cats With Dandruff
Like humans, cats may also suffer from dandruff. Dandruff manifests itself as little white specks on the cat's coat. It develops when loose dead skin cells from the outer layer of the skin flake off and get caught in the cat's fur. Dandruff can cause an cat's coat to appear unsightly and unhealthy. Fortunately there are many natural remedies for cats with dandruff to cure the condition.
Causes
Dandruff may be caused by a variety of factors such as sensitivity to a fungus present on the scalp, other fungal infections or over-active oil glands or clogged oil glands in the skin. Stress or a weakened immune system may also be the cause. Dandruff can also be triggered by environmental conditions like cold weather or a dry environment. It may also result from food allergies or intolerances or excessive washing of your cat creates flaky, dry skin.
Treatment
Treatment will depend on the cause of the dandruff. Conventional treatment often involve topical creams. Be aware though that these treatments may have side effects. If you use them, one word of advice - never use human moisturising lotions on your cat's skin as they contain chemicals that can irritate your cat's skin.
Diet
A balanced diet is one of the most effective natural remedies for cats with dandruff. As dandruff may be the result of food allergies or intolerances, feed your cat fresh, raw food without artificial additives rather than processed food. However, make sure you do not change the diet suddenly as this may cause an imbalance of natural oils and consequently a dry, flaky skin.
Adding a tablespoon of olive oil to the food a few times a week or supplementing your cat's diet with omega-3 oils helps the skin and improves the condition of the fur by stimulating natural oils in the skin. Vitamin A also helps to maintain healthy skin. Carrots, squash and sweet potatoes are excellent vitamin A sources and can be grated into your cat's food.
Herbal remedies
Natural herbal remedies for cats will help keep your cat's skin healthy and nourished as they support the natural oil production of the skin. Herbs such as horsetail and dandelion act as an effective tissue tonic and keep the skin hydrated. Together with bladderwrack, a sea vegetable used in supplements, they can be found in natural remedies for cats with dandruff you can buy.
Hygiene
One of the easiest natural remedies for cats with dandruff is regular combing. It will not cure the condition but will remove flaky skin cells from the coat and stimulate blodd circulation in the skin. Brush your cat regularly, but gently.
If you wash or bathe your cat regularly, reduce the frequency. Bathing removes skin oils and can make the skin scaly. This is because the production of natural skin oils is disrupted to counteract the dry skin caused by frequent washes and oil glands start producing too much oil. Dry your cat thoroughly after washing, as shampoo residue can dry on the skin and cause flaky skin and dandruff.
Environment
If your cat is prone to dandruff, avoid keeping it in very cold and dry environments. Humidity in a room caneasily be controlled by a humidifier.
These natural remedies for cats with dandruff will rid your cat of dandruff in an effective manner.
Monika Ruthe is a complementary therapist and has developed an online information resource on natural and home remedies for cats. To discover the best home remedies for cats for a variety of common ailments visit http://www.homeremediesforcats.com
Article submitted Saturday, September 10, 2011 & read 12 times.
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