Expert: Tomay - 1/15/2005

Question
i have a 6 year old cat and he has never been outside i keep him in the house at all times so he is a large cat but the other day i took him on the porch to brush him and he had really bad dandruff and also around the house he sheds really bad and he has big clumps of hair falling out i want to know if there is something i can get to soften his skin and prevent the clumps of hair from falling out  

Answer
Hello Toni,
The dandruff may be caused by the drier air during the winter, with heat and low humidity.  It may also be that your cat is simply shedding his older coat and making way for the newer one.  You may try making an appointment with a groomer in your area who does cats (not all groomers do) and see if a good bath and brushout by a professional will help.  If the coat is still coming out in clumps, then a visit to the vet may be in order.  Sometimes this kind of coat problem is a medical one (such as thyroid malfunctions) and can be easily diagnosed and treated.  The other option is to examine what diet you are feeding your kitty...I would recommend a premium food (found at your local pet shop) such as Precise or Innova.  While these foods may be pricey, the cat will absorb more nutrients and minerals and less will go to the litter box.  You will also find that he will eat less of a more concentrated food.  Precise, in particular, is formulated toward skin and coat care, and is what I feed my own little crew.  It is very palitable, and within three weeks of starting this diet, my short haired black and white male had no more dandruff or flakyness.  
Hope this has been helpful.
Thank you for your inquiry.
Tomay