Older Cat Grooming/Dry Skin

This could be placed in a few places, so mods if you feel like it should be moved, I won't be offended..


Missy has extremely dry skin on her back end. She was eating Whiskas for 16 years but I have now switched her to an senior dry food and a little bit wet Wellness or Friskies on the side. Will this help her dry skin? I know cats loose oils in their fur/skin when they are older, should I be brushing her every day? If she ends up getting along with the other two girls, if they groom her will that help?

If there are anything else you can think of let me know
Thanks in advance, Missy and I thank you

First of all put her back on a canned/wet diet. Senior cats especially should be eating canned food.

Add some omega fish oil to her food a few times a week, and yes, brush her daily.

Definitely put the kitty on a canned-only diet.

If you're not comfortable with adding a fish oil supplement, or if the cat doesn't take to it, you can also offer her a single sardine a week. Just make sure it's the canned (or frozen, then thawed), no-salt-added, packed-fresh-water (not oil) variety.

AC

Please see the vet ... at sixteen there is a need for bloodwork... dry skin can be a sign of something more...

I do agree try to give as much wet food as you can

Originally Posted by sassylemon

If she ends up getting along with the other two girls, if they groom her will that help?

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Definitely get her in for blood work. Make sure they check her thyroid levels.
As for all the girls getting along... IMO girls are fussy, so don't count on it. If they all learn to tolerate each other you'll be ahead. But then again, you may get lucky enough that they'll adjust to each other for a bit of grooming.
And no, other cats grooming her will not help her dry skin. Skin and fur health start from the inside, not the outside. Make sure she's healthy and if she is improving her diet (for the omega 3 & 6 fatty acids) should help a little.

Originally Posted by sharky

Please see the vet ... at sixteen there is a need for bloodwork... dry skin can be a sign of something more...

I do agree try to give as much wet food as you can

Click to expand...

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Thanks for the advice, I took her to the vet and she said her back end was just a mess and groomed it to death, she has lots of "rats nests" in her fur back there so the vet took care of it and said brushing will help as well as the wetfood too. It seems to be getting a little better with the help of the food