How to Care for Your Cat’s Coat

Your cat’s coat is important to their daily life. And how their coat looks and feels is a ket indicator in their overall health. While cats groom their coats often, they still may need help from their pet parents to get a shiny and smooth coat.

This article will discuss the important functions of a cat’s coat, how a healthy cat coat should look like, common reasons why your cat’s coat is not healthy, and ways you can properly maintain your cat’s coat health.

The Coat’s Functions

A cat’s coat serves several purposes. It protects your cat from cold or heat. It can be used to communicate emotions to other cats (such as when hairs rise when they’re frightened). And according to PetMD, the coat also protects the skin from injuries, provides sensory input, and helps keep cats dry.

The condition of your cat's coat and skin is a good indicator of their overall health. A healthy cat coat is smooth and shiny. It won’t be dull, rough, or brittle. And it won’t easily fall off or become knotted or tangled.

What Causes an Unhealthy Cat Coat?

There are many possible reasons why your furbaby’s coat appears unhealthy. Here are some of the most common causes.

Poor Nutrition

The VCA Animal Hospital states that protein and energy are required for proper skin and coat development. If your cat’s food doesn’t have sufficient fat and protein in it, then they may exhibit hair loss or hair discoloration. A diet that’s nutrient deficient will cause a poor-quality coat.

Obesity

When your cat is obese, they may be unable to reach some body parts when they’re grooming. This may lead to a dirty or unhealthy coat.

Age and Joint Issues

When your furbaby gets old or if they suffer from joint issues, they may be unable to turn their bodies easily when grooming. Or they may groom themselves less often, which results in a their coat dulling, matting, and other issues.

Taking Care of Your Cat’s Coat

Here are some suggestions for how to maintain the health of your cat’s coat.

Proper Diet

A poor diet will greatly affect your cat’s coat health. The diet and nutrition you provide your cat should be appropriate for their age, activity levels, and health. Provide them with a diet that includes digestible proteins and nutrients like omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids, which help maintain good coat health.

Prevent Obesity

Obesity affects your cat’s ability to properly groom themselves. To help prevent obesity in your cat, make sure to provide them with a healthy diet, control how much you feed them, regularly monitor their weight, and provide exercise opportunities.

Ticks and Flea Prevention

Many cats are allergic to these parasites’ saliva. Tick and flea bites will cause your furbaby to itch, resulting in wounds, patches, dry skin, and a dull coat. Give your cat regular flea prevention if needed.

Brush Them

Though cats groom themselves on a daily basis, brushing their coat will help remove dirt and dead hair, and prevent mats. It also gives you them opportunity to look for any redness, bumps, flakes, fleas, ticks, and other skin disorders.

How Can Pet Parents® Help?

Did you know cat skin is thinner and more sensitive than dog skin? Pet WiPees™ Cat All Purpose provides a safe, gentle clean with bio-based LickSafe™ ingredients that keep your kitty comfy and clean – without the harsh chemicals. Mild cleansers and rich moisturizers like vegetable glycerin, decyl glucoside, and colloidal oatmeal help to wipe away environmental allergens & irritants, and the enzyme and probiotic blends protect the skin from future irritations. Anti-dander ingredients like essential omega oils promote healthy skin cells, which can help reduce excess shedding and dander in your home.

 

Caring for your cat’s coat is important. Both internal and external things can affect their coat health. Caring for your cat’s overall health will help them maintain a beautiful coat.