Little white dots falling off of cat's fur?

[my4llma]

My mother went to visit a friend yesterday. She said they have a cat that was all over her. She said the cat had little white dots falling out of her fur. I wasn't there, so I didn't see it and can't describe it any further than the way she described it. I made her put those clothes in a bag & she didn't touch Luna or Midnight until after the clothes were in a bag. Does anyone know what the little white dots might have been? If it's something serious, or if it was maybe just something the cat had rolled around in and got stuck to her fur. Thanks.

 

[vball91]

Did they look like little grains of white rice? If so, the cat may have tapeworms although you normally see them in the cat's feces, not all over them. It could also be something as mild as dandruff. Without more info, it's hard to say really. Your mom did the right thing by changing and hopefully washing before contact with your cats.

 

[my4llma]

No it didn't look like rice. Luna had a tape worm when we 1st got her. My mother knows what that looks like, she made that very clear to me when I kept asking. She just kept repeating little white dots.

 

[segelkatt]

Might be flea eggs or just dandruff, or some other substance your cat rolled around in. I would check for fleas. Usually you will find their feces and not the fleas themselves which crawl around pretty fast. Their feces look like like dirty black bits next to the skin, hard to see if your cat has dark skin. The eggs are dirty white and roundish, tend to stick to the fur. You can also comb your cat with a fine-toothed comb, the feces, eggs and some fleas will be visible on the comb. Black light should also show them up. If none of these are visible and you are still concerned take your cat to the vet for further evaluation.

My black short-haired cat shows up with dandruff every once in a while. He also manages to get litter on his back. A good brushing gets rid of that. 

 

[catwoman707]

Very likely it was cat dander (dandruff) due to dry skin.

Commonly seen in darker/black cats too.

 

[goholistic]

Cats can get lice.

http://www.petmd.com/cat/conditions/skin-hair/c_ct_lice_feline_pediculosis

Diagnosis is easily made by visually observing lice or their nits (eggs) in the hair. Adult lice are flat, six-legged insects with no wings. Nits can be seen attached to the individual hair shafts and appear as small white dots.

Emphasis in bold.

 

[catwoman707]

They most certainly can!! I am currently treating one now.

You would see white dots falling off too.

However, lice is quite rare in cats, as it may catch lice from contact with another cat who has it, but in normal healthy cats, lice will not stay long at all.

They are found on sickly, malnourished unhealthy cats.

I have had only 4 total in all my years of rescue, each were stray/abandoned and very, very emaciated and sick.

 

[feralvr]

However, lice is quite rare in cats, as it may catch lice from contact with another cat who has it, but in normal healthy cats, lice will not stay long at all.
They are found on sickly, malnourished unhealthy cats.

I have had only 4 total in all my years of rescue, each were stray/abandoned and very, very emaciated and sick.

Absolutely agree on this. :nod: It would be extremely rare that an indoor kitty would have lice and usually they are extremely sick, malnourished and unwell.

More than likely, it was kitty dandruff and plain old dry skin. My Wendall, even though he eats a raw/wet diet and gets oil, still has flaky skin. BUT, he also has allergies/asthma too and allergies will make the skin dry. I think your mom's friends kitty needs some Omega 3 fatty oils added to her food. Not to worry about it, hun. I would have done the same with mom's clothes anyway. :lol3:

 

[bigperm20]

I see white dots/flakes on my blue colored kitty when I brush her. I've always thought it was dandruff since she doesn't go out. I recently noticed some flakes on my red tabby colored girl as well.

It's not fleas as I inspected both of them and there is no "dirt" or signs of fleas.

I figured maybe it was dry skin from this very cold winter. Heaven knows my skin has been very dry. It also seems to only be located on their lower back/britches.

 

[goholistic]

I'm SURE you are all right that it is not lice. It was just a thought.

Sebastian has a tendency to get under my feet while I am cooking. One time I found all these little off-white/tannish colored dots on his fur and I was freaking. Turns out it was cornmeal. 

  I must have spilled a little.

 

[my4llma]

Most likely it was probably just dandruff. But just to be safe, I made my poor mother throw those clothes away.

 

[feralvr]

Most likely it was probably just dandruff. But just to be safe, I made my poor mother throw those clothes away.

And, I bet mom obeyed. :lol3:

 

[lunybear]

I too am wondering what the little white dots are. My cat Luna has them but not Bear. Every where Luna lays there are these dots. Seems noone knows what they are.

 

[segelkatt]

most likely dandruff. If you are really concerned take Luna to the vet for an analysis. My black cat Panthera gets cat litter dust on is back, don't ask me how, which freaked me out the first time I saw it, now I just dust him off.

 

[theresa meow009]

My Maine Coone..Sir George....also has white specks/dots.....I just had him shaved in August...and his fur is coming back.....I groom him very well...brush everyday as he has a lot of fast growing fur...no fleas.....I suspect dandruff...I am a hairstylist and know what lice looks like...he is an indoor cat...no contact with other kitties....?......your moms friend should take her to the ve just to be on the safe side.....plus my buddy has been sneezing allergies

 

[catwoman707]

My Maine Coone..Sir George....also has white specks/dots.....I just had him shaved in August...and his fur is coming back.....I groom him very well...brush everyday as he has a lot of fast growing fur...no fleas.....I suspect dandruff...I am a hairstylist and know what lice looks like...he is an indoor cat...no contact with other kitties....?......your moms friend should take her to the ve just to be on the safe side.....plus my buddy has been sneezing allergies

Dandruff/dry skin is extremely common in adult cats, usually/almost always it is seen between halfway down the spine to the base of the tail.

Cats tend to groom this area less than all others, causing dandruff, also chubby cats get this, same reason, lack of grooming.

It really comes to the surface when brushing.

It can also be caused by diet. 

As I said, white can only be dandruff or lice, which is quite rare, to be sure it is not lice for your own peace of mind, one, dandruff is white where lice is off white/tan, and lay eggs on the hair shaft itself that will not fall off, it's attached and have to be pulled off between your fingernails.

Loose is just dandruff.

 

[barbara brandt]

My coon CAT has white things stuck onto her back and I comb her to get them and her fur is coming with them.  They progressed up her back and spread to my other tiger cat.  My three black cats do not have them.  I have tried cider vinegar bath and now I am trying diatamaceous earth  on her fur.  I have delt with fleas before and these are not what I have seen at any time.  I am going to try detergent with vinegar on the coon cat as a shampoo

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[mani]

 
My coon CAT has white things stuck onto her back and I comb her to get them and her fur is coming with them.  They progressed up her back and spread to my other tiger cat.  My three black cats do not have them.  I have tried cider vinegar bath and now I am trying diatamaceous earth  on her fur.  I have delt with fleas before and these are not what I have seen at any time.  I am going to try detergent with vinegar on the coon cat as a shampoo

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 Hi @Barbara Brandt.  How do you feel about the information that @catwoman707 gave in the post before yours:

 
Dandruff/dry skin is extremely common in adult cats, usually/almost always it is seen between halfway down the spine to the base of the tail.

Cats tend to groom this area less than all others, causing dandruff, also chubby cats get this, same reason, lack of grooming.

It really comes to the surface when brushing.

It can also be caused by diet. 

As I said, white can only be dandruff or lice, which is quite rare, to be sure it is not lice for your own peace of mind, one, dandruff is white where lice is off white/tan, and lay eggs on the hair shaft itself that will not fall off, it's attached and have to be pulled off between your fingernails.

Loose is just dandruff.

Does it sound like either of these things?

 

[di and bob]

Can you get and post a picture with your phone? I know it is a pain, but it would really help with identifying what is wrong. 

 

[msmamakat1]

I'm thinking dandruff.