How Do Your Cat Get Rid of Cat Dandruff?

When you hold your cat, white flakes stick to your clothes. When you brush, dandruff shows up on the comb. Even when your cat licks its fur, you may see flakes falling. Many cat owners face this. Some people think “dandruff is no big deal,” but in fact, it can be an early sign of more serious skin problems. From dry skin to fungus, from poor diet to environment, many factors may cause dandruff. To help your cat, the key is to find the cause and fix it in the right way.

1. Find the Cause: Why Does Dandruff Happen?

The most common cause is dry skin. Heating in winter or air conditioning in summer lowers humidity, making the skin lose water and shed flakes. Frequent baths or using human shampoo damage the skin’s natural oils. This weakens the skin barrier, leading to dryness, itching, and dandruff. Older cats also have less oil and a slower metabolism, so their skin gets dry and flaky, and their fur turns dull.

An unbalanced diet is another reason. Cats require sufficient fatty acids, particularly Omega-3 and Omega-6, to maintain healthy skin and fur. Lack of them causes flakes, dry hair, and shedding. Too little protein slows down skin repair and exacerbates the problem. Food allergies (like to grains or certain meats) can cause dermatitis with dandruff, redness, itching, or rashes.

2. Daily Care: Keep Skin Moist

For dryness, daily care helps. The main point is to protect the skin and keep it hydrated.

Bathing: Cats don’t need frequent baths—every 2–3 months is enough. Too often makes the skin dry. Always use pet shampoo, choose “moisturising” or “soothing” types with ingredients like oatmeal or aloe. Avoid medicated shampoo unless a vet advises. Use warm water (around 38°C), neither too hot nor too cold. Keep bath time under 10 minutes. Dry with a towel first, then use a blow dryer on low heat and low speed, keeping at least 30 cm away.

Brushing: Regular brushing removes loose fur and flakes, improves blood flow, and helps oil spread on the skin. Short-hair cats: 1–2 times a week with a rubber or soft brush. Long-haired cats: 2–3 times a week with a slicker brush and a comb. You could spray a pet hair spray with moisturising ingredients before combing.

3. Diet: Add Skin-Friendly Nutrients

Balanced nutrition is key.

Fatty acids: Omega-3 reduces inflammation and itching. Omega-6 helps lock in moisture and strengthens the skin barrier. Give your cat pet-safe fish oil (dose by weight), cooked salmon (boneless, 1–2 times a week), or ground flaxseed. You can also choose cat food rich in Omega-3 and Omega-6 (check the label).

Protein: Protein repairs skin cells. Choose cat food with 28–35% protein, high in fresh meat like chicken or fish. Avoid low-quality food with lots of grain and meat powder. You can also add cooked chicken breast, beef, or egg yolk (2–3 per week).

Avoid harmful food: Don’t feed salty, oily, or sugary human food. These human foods may stress the kidneys and may worsen skin problems. If you suspect food allergies, try a single-protein diet (like only chicken) for 2–4 weeks. If dandruff gets better, avoid the trigger food in the future.

4. Health Check: When to See a Vet

If dandruff does not improve after care and diet, or if your cat has these signs, see a vet:

1. An allergy, parasites, or fungus may cause dandruff with strong itching, scratching, or skin wounds.
2. Bald spots with heavy flakes, red or swollen skin, or blisters—may be ringworm or folliculitis.
3. Tiredness, loss of appetite, or weight loss may be caused by hormone problems (like thyroid issues) or other illnesses.

The vet may do a skin test for fungus or mites, allergy tests, or blood tests for hormone or organ issues. Treatment depends on the cause: antifungal cream and medicated baths, parasite treatment, or allergy control. Always follow your veterinarian’s advice, use medication on time, and avoid self-medicating.