Greasy fur

This is a long standing problem with Ginger. He has extremely thick fur (apart from the spot where he had an op last year, that has never grown as thick, prob cos his body no longer needs such thick fur). Because of how thick and greasy his fur gets, it clumps very very easily (at the mo, brushing him every 2 days isn't enough, clumps have already started in that short space), and he hates having them brushed out, he used to like being brushed, until my neighbour got clumps out by dragging them out, but I have found a way of doing it that he doesnt mind, I do very light strokes, and sort of brush his fur backwards to get the clumps out, he tolerates it anyway!! He also has really bad dandruff. I have just changed his food over to a high meat quality (26-60% depending on flavour) so I am hoping that will make a difference. He is at least 14, and no longer has any teeth. Any ideas or suggestions? He is an indoor/outdoor cat, can't keep him in for 2 long, he hates it.

does he groom himself? my Sparky's fur got greasy and clumpy when he got sick (he ate my beta) and stopped grooming himself for a for a few days. I'm sure that if he hadn't started feeling better, he would have developed a dandruff problem too. what i did was take a damp cloth and dry cat shampoo (you can get it at walmart) and rub him down a bit... it seemed to help him a little. he still looked pathetic, but he wasn't as greasy and it helped him feel better because he was clean.

Yeah, he grooms, I just wonder if having no teeth means he isn't as effective. I live in the UK, so we don't have a Walmart. I have tried wiping him with a damp cloth before grooming him, he enjoyed it the first couple of times but no longer likes it!!! He has no health issues that I am aware of, but I am going to book his 6 monthly check up for sometime this month and get them to do a full blood test.

oh, i'm sure you can pick up the dry shampoo anywhere that they carry pet supplies, it's usually located with the toy and flea/tick medications. and if you can't find the dry stuff, the stuff you need water for will work too, but you wont' be able to fool him into thinking that you're only petting him... the water will give you away.
good luck!

Well, I have changed his diet and put him on some supplements, and his fur is like a normal cats now, I can get away with brushing him once a week as he hasn't matted!! He even looks like he is getting a shine on his fur now. Just need to work on his weight.

A comb would be much better to use then a brush. Long/thick hair needs combing. Brushes don't work - they only work on a short hair cat (soft brush).

The change in food might help. At that age (14) it could be internal or medically related. What does your vet say about it?

We have a 14 yr old rex (who is used to bathes as he's a retired show cat). He doesn't keep himself clean as well as he used to so he gets a bath once a month or whenever he looks dirty.

It is actually a metal comb I use on him, just easier to say brush! I do have a brush, but it isn't good enough to get through his fur.

Vet didnt' really say much, she just got the worst ones out for me at his checkup, and his blood tests came back showing he is perfectly healthy for his age. There is no way I would even attempt to give him a bath, the only thing I could guarantee is I wouldn't get bit, but only cos he has no teeth!! Whether he has just stopped moulting, or if it is the change in diet, I am pleased that he finally feels like a normal cat, his fur doesn't seem greasy anymore.

has he had any blood work to see if he might have a hyper active thryroid gland? greasy fur is one of the signs but often there are few or no signs at all
it is *very* common in cats his age
good luck!

Greasy fur is common in older cats. As long as he is in good health according to the vet and recent bloodwork, it is not anything to be too concerned about.

I found our long haired cat Ebony would get terrible clumps and it looked like dandruff. As soon as I stopped using clay clumping litter he didn't get as matted.

I have a greasy kitty. He's not old though. Just his chest and back of legs get greasy. I have to bathe him once a month. First using Goop and then dawn, then his regular shampoo. Sounds like a lot but it really doesn't take that long. What kind of supplements do you have him on?