Expert: Karen Craft - 10/31/2007

Question
QUESTION: I have a 6 year old white tabby,  he was born with microphalamus and has lost his sight in his good eye, not completely.  He has always been a very big, healthy cat, but now, his fur looks greasy.  I have 6 cats,  all are healthy, vet-cared for but no one can say why his fur is greasy looking.

ANSWER: Hi Pat,

I am not familiar with microphalamus. What exactly is it? If I know that I might be able to help you. Write back.

Ciao, Karen

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Birth defect,  causes redardation, significantly identified by one small eye, usually blind.  Gatito was in a shelter and when I adopted his cage mate, he cried and cried so what could I do??  The vets said he would probably die within a year but giving him a good life was o.k. with them.  He has all but lost his sight in his good eye but lives in a fully enclosed area and he is familiar with everything.   Until now, he has been a big, fat, healthy boy.  Now,  his fur is greasy looking and he has lost some weight....still eats and drinks, but suspect it is just that he doesn't have a long life span. All my cats are Mexican shelter cats and so history is not known.  Although I do have a Devon Rex that was just "dropped off" there, too.  What a lover he is. Thanks for your concern.

Answer
Hi Pat,

Thanks for the info. I would first get him checked by a vet. If there isn't anything medically wrong with him, I would figure he may have a nutritional dermatitis. Basically as he is getting older he may be having problems getting what he needs from what he eats. And this shows up in his skin and fur.
I would switch him over, (gradually), to a high meat, low grain complex type of food. EVO, Innova, Wellness, Nature's Variety all make great types of this food. Try him on one of these products. Give him a month and see how his fur is then. It takes 2-4 weeks for you to see changes like that. Good luck.

Ciao, Karen