TheCatSite.com › Forums › Our Feline Companions › Care & Grooming › Greasy fur.
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Greasy fur.

post #1 of 10
5/28/09 at 9:17pm
Thread Starter 
I'm new to long furred cats. I just adopted Zelda on Saturday. Today I noticed the fur on the base of her tail was greasy, and kind of stuck together, almost matted. I gently combed it out and there was dandruff mixed in. I got the fur declumped but it is still greasy. Her neck seems a little greasy too, but not as much buildup as her tail. Could this be related to diet? She was on a Eagle Pack (lots of corn), and I've gotten her switched over to California Natural. Are there any specific grooming tools I should get for her? She has a vet appointment on Monday, so I will also discuss this with the vet.
Reply
post #2 of 10
5/29/09 at 8:16pm
Yes diet can definitely have an impact, it could also be a lack of protein.

Are you feeding her canned or dry? If you're feeding her dry and want to switch Zelda to canned, you must do it very ... very slowly... so that her digestive system can adapt to the canned. And even if you do switch her over to the canned, you should still let her enjoy a little of the kibbles daily, at least, in my opinion.

As far as grooming tools go, I use a furminator in the summer. But I am very careful with it not to press down too hard on the skin and not to go over and over the same spot. But for the rest of the time, I use an ordinary plastic comb. One that has both a wide tooth side and a small tooth side. The wider tooth side for detangling. I always keep a pair of little scissors handy to cut out any knots and I use this *fantastic* detangling spray that I got at PetSmart. It's called Veterinarian's Best Moisture Mist Conditioner ... Detangles Hair and Relieves dry itch skin. You can spray it on directly or spray it on your comb.

Congrats on your new fur baby!!!
Reply
post #3 of 10
5/30/09 at 9:20am
Thread Starter 
Right now she is only eating dry. I put a teaspoon of canned everyday, but she hasn't tried to eat any of it yet.

I actually used a regular comb to get the buildup out of her tail. I used the wide toothed part and luckily it wasn't too tangled and the buildup came right out.
Reply
post #4 of 10
5/30/09 at 11:07am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Washu View Post
Right now she is only eating dry. I put a teaspoon of canned everyday, but she hasn't tried to eat any of it yet.

I actually used a regular comb to get the buildup out of her tail. I used the wide toothed part and luckily it wasn't too tangled and the buildup came right out.
Regular combs is what I like best too. As far as the canned goes, eventually she will get used to the smell and try it. When she does, just keep giving her only that teaspoon daily for a couple of weeks, then slowly start increasing the quantity.

Cats can get "addicted" to dry food and often they don't recognize canned as being real food. The smell, texture and taste is very different and when used to the dry, they generally turn their noses up at it.

And even if the cat did immediately like the canned, it's still best to proceed very slowly so their systems can get used to it.
Reply
post #5 of 10
5/30/09 at 11:57am
Is the cat spayed? If not, that is propably the reason for the greasy fur. My longhaired male used to have a greasy tail before he was neutered. I washed it with a mild dish washing soap, the one you use when you hand wash dishes. (Obviously it was non-toxic and has to be rinsed off very well). They also make a real kitty shampoo for that purpose, Groomers Goop is one of them.
Reply
post #6 of 10
5/30/09 at 12:35pm
Sophie's fur has been like this, but i've been advised to put some drops of salmon oil in her food. What i've also found is that a regular brushing each night has made it less greasy and more softer
Reply
post #7 of 10
6/3/09 at 3:55am
I used to have a cat that was greasey. But it wasn't just his tail. He was greasey on his belly and legs. Some cats are just like that and I had to give him a pretty involved bath every month. Your cats sounds more like stud tail. But I thought only males got that, so....

Hopefully some of the other sugestions can help you.

Susan, Did the Salmon oil help?
Reply
post #8 of 10
6/3/09 at 5:46am
"Stud tail" can be found on either sex and in altered cats as well as whole cats. Its a build up of oils. Entire cats tend to produce more.

I would wash the base of the tail with a little Goop or Dawn dish detergent first and dry. Then sprinkle some cornstarch baby powder on the base of the tail to absorb the oils. Comb thru. Put plenty of cornstarch powder on the tail.

Keep the tail combed and clean. You might have to do this every few weeks or months depending on how quickly it builds up.
Reply
post #9 of 10
6/3/09 at 6:56am
I noticed with all my cats but especially Rocko that when I first got them they were in bad shape. Over the course of a few months of regular brushings and possibly their food played a part also, they all looked much better. But it took time and Rocko especially gets real ugly and matted easily. He is the one that hates getting groomed too.
Reply
post #10 of 10
6/3/09 at 7:27am
Quote:
Originally Posted by mzjazz2u View Post
Susan, Did the Salmon oil help?
I havent tried it yet, because at the moment they can't have any wet food with Jack vomiting because of the fur balls. So far since dry only Sophies fur seems a lot softer with just being on the kibbles.

Can salmon oil be put on the kibbles i wonder???
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Care & Grooming
TheCatSite.com › Forums › Our Feline Companions › Care & Grooming › Greasy fur.