A few white flakes in a cat's coat can be normal. Cats shed old skin cells all the time and usually groom them away. Lots of flakes usually mean something else is going on, and the dandruff rarely clears until that cause is found.
The usual reasons are simple ones: a cat that can't reach to groom (because of extra weight, stiff joints or pain), dry indoor air, or a coat that needs more brushing. Parasites, allergies, ringworm and illnesses such as hyperthyroidism or diabetes are on the list too. Brushing and a humidifier are safe places to start, and your vet works out the cause.
Dandruff, dander or something else?
Make sure you are looking at dandruff first.
- Dander is the microscopic skin and saliva particles every cat sheds. You can't see it, and it carries the protein that people with cat allergies react to.
- Dandruff is bigger flakes of skin you can see in the fur and on the skin. The skin underneath can be dry or greasy.
- Flea eggs are pearly white, oval and tiny, about the size of a grain of salt. Unlike dandruff, they fall out of the fur easily and end up in bedding.
- Flea dirt looks like black or reddish-black specks. Put a few on a damp white paper towel: if they dissolve into reddish-brown smudges, it is flea dirt. Our post on flea dirt explains what to do next.
- "Walking dandruff" looks like ordinary flakes until some of them move. Those are Cheyletiella mites, tiny parasites that live on the skin surface.
Where the flakes are tells you a lot
Part your cat's fur in a few places and look at where the flakes collect. Your vet will use the same clue.
- Lower back and base of the tail. The most common spot, and the hardest place for a cat to reach. A cat that is overweight, stiff or sore often stops grooming here first, and the fur may look greasy or matted.
- Along the middle of the back, with itching. Think parasites. Walking dandruff shows up as scaling along the back, and some cats also get small crusty bumps there, called miliary dermatitis.
- Round, scaly, bald patches with broken hairs on the face, ear tips, tail or feet. This is a common look for ringworm.
- All over, with a greasy, matted or unkempt coat. More likely to be an underlying illness, especially if your cat is also losing weight or drinking more.
Common causes of cat dandruff
Vets treat dandruff as a symptom. Extra scaling is usually secondary, meaning something else is driving it.
Your cat can't groom properly
Grooming spreads skin oils and clears away dead skin. Anything that gets in the way leaves flakes behind:
- Extra weight: a heavy cat can't twist around to clean its lower back.
- Arthritis in the spine and hips, which makes twisting uncomfortable, so the hind end goes ungroomed and can mat. It is easy to miss in older cats.
- Dental disease or other pain.
- Illness: cats with kidney disease, diabetes or pancreatitis may simply groom less.
- A thick undercoat that traps dead skin, loose hair and dirt if it isn't brushed out.
Dry air
Dry climates and winter heating can dry out a cat's skin the same way they dry out ours. Expect mild flaking in an otherwise healthy, itch-free cat.
Diet
Cats can't make essential fatty acids, so these have to come from food, and they help keep the skin barrier healthy. Most complete commercial cat foods contain enough. If you are thinking about a new food or a supplement, ask your vet first.
Fleas, mites and other parasites
Fleas, lice, ticks and several kinds of mites can all cause itching and flaking. A very flea-allergic cat may groom so thoroughly that you never see a flea, so do the paper towel test above.
Walking dandruff (Cheyletiella) mites cause scaling along the back. Some cats itch badly, others not at all, and some carry mites without any signs. The mites are very contagious between pets, especially in multi-cat homes. They can also cause a skin rash in people who handle an infested cat, though sources differ on how often: the Merck Veterinary Manual says people are frequently infested, while the Companion Animal Parasite Council calls human infestations unlikely. Regular flea control often keeps these mites away; see external parasite prevention for cats. Our post on mange in cats covers the other mites.
Ringworm
Ringworm is a fungal skin infection, not a worm. It causes bald, scaly, crusted patches with broken hairs, most often on the face, ear tips, tail and feet, and is most common in kittens. It spreads to other pets and often infects people, including through shared grooming tools. More in our guide to ringworm in cats.
Allergies
Flea allergy, food allergy and environmental allergies (pollen and other airborne allergens) all cause itchy, inflamed skin, and scaling often comes with it. See our overview of allergies in pets.
Underlying disease
Hyperthyroidism can leave a cat with an unkempt, matted or greasy coat, usually along with weight loss, a big appetite and more thirst. Bacterial or yeast skin infections often sit on top of another skin problem.
Rare causes include pemphigus (an autoimmune skin disease), primary seborrhea described in Persian cats, and skin cancer such as cutaneous lymphoma. That last one is why vets take new, heavy scaling seriously in middle-aged and older cats.
Stress and the wrong products
Stress is listed as a possible trigger, and some stressed cats over-groom. Human shampoos can irritate a cat's skin.
Who else in the house is itchy?
If another pet is scratching, or someone in the family has an itchy rash or round red patches, that points toward something contagious, such as walking dandruff or ringworm. Tell your vet, and if a person has a new rash, mention the cat to their doctor. Every pet in contact usually needs treatment at the same time, and your vet will explain any cleaning the home needs.
What you can safely do at home
These steps help most flaky cats while you wait for the vet visit.
- Brush regularly. It spreads skin oils, lifts out flakes and loose undercoat, and lets you spot fleas or bald patches early. Short-haired cats may need a weekly session; long-haired cats often need daily brushing. Ask your vet which routine suits your cat.
- Help with the hard-to-reach spots. Give the lower back and the base of the tail extra attention. Go gently: an arthritic cat may flinch when you brush over the hips, and that is worth mentioning to your vet.
- Leave tight mats to your vet or a groomer. For a cat that still struggles to groom once pain is managed, a short "lion cut" can help.
- Run a plain humidifier in dry weather, not an essential oil diffuser.
- Feed a complete diet made for cats. Plan diet changes, supplements and allergy food trials with your vet.
- Work on weight with your vet if extra weight is stopping your cat from grooming. More play helps too.
- Keep parasite control up to date for every pet in the home, with products your vet recommends for each species.
Skip the home remedies
Cats lick off almost everything that goes on their coat, so skin "fixes" end up in the stomach too. Please skip these:
- Essential oils, including tea tree oil. The Merck Veterinary Manual says concentrated essential oils should never be applied to pets. Cats are more sensitive to them than dogs, and oil from active diffusers can settle on the fur.
- Human dandruff shampoo. It isn't safe for pets, so use only what your vet prescribes.
- Flea or mite products your vet hasn't approved, including dog products. Some insecticides are poisonous to cats.
- Oils, lotions, sprays or spot-ons you picked yourself. Your vet chooses any skin product or fatty acid supplement.
- Baths to "wash out" dandruff. A bath can make flaking worse while the cause goes untreated, and frequent bathing makes mites harder for your vet to find. If a medicated bath would help, your vet will say so.
What your vet will check
Your vet starts with the history (when the flakes started, where they are, itching, diet, other pets, anyone at home with a rash) and a full exam, including weight, joints and mouth. Common next steps:
- Flea combing for fleas, flea dirt and mites
- A tape test (clear tape pressed on the coat) and skin scrapings, looked at under the microscope for mites and eggs
- Cytology of skin samples for bacteria and yeast
- An ultraviolet lamp and a fungal culture for ringworm; the culture is the most accurate test and can take up to 3 weeks
- Bloodwork and a urine test if an underlying disease is suspected, for example thyroid function or blood sugar
- A strict elimination diet if food allergy is possible, the only reliable way to diagnose it (blood and skin tests aren't)
- A skin biopsy if the cause still isn't clear
Treatment follows the cause, from parasite control for every pet in contact to pain relief and a weight plan for a cat that can't groom. Your vet chooses the products and doses. Once the cause is under control, the dandruff usually settles.
When to call your vet
Most dandruff isn't an emergency, but the cause still needs a vet's look.
Call now if your cat is drooling, vomiting, wobbly or trembling after an essential oil, an unapproved flea or mite product, or any dog product touched its coat or was licked off. Call your vet or an animal poison control service.
Call your vet today if your cat has stopped eating. Cats shouldn't go without food: a long spell of poor appetite can lead to serious liver damage.
See your vet soon if your cat has dandruff and:
- is losing weight, eating less, vomiting, drinking or peeing more, or seems "not right"
- has more than a light dusting of flakes, or they keep coming back
- is itchy, or has hair loss, sores, crusty bumps or round scaly patches
- has fleas, flea dirt or flakes that move
- has a greasy or matted coat, has stopped grooming, or is stiff and no longer jumping up
- lives with a pet or person who has itchy skin or a new rash
Mention it at your next visit if your cat has a few flakes, is otherwise well, eats normally, is brushed regularly and is on parasite control. Book sooner if the flakes increase or any sign above appears.
Quick answers
Is cat dandruff contagious to people? Ordinary dandruff isn't. Two causes can be: ringworm often infects people, and walking dandruff mites can cause a skin rash in people too, though sources differ on how often.
Is cat dandruff serious? Usually not. Dr. Lori Teller of Texas A&M's veterinary college calls it "a benign problem" most of the time. The vet visit is there to rule out the less common causes that do need treatment.
Originally written by Diana Wells. Updated by the I Love Veterinary editorial team.
Sources
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Mite Infestation (Mange, Acariasis, Scabies) of Cats
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Mange in Dogs and Cats
- Companion Animal Parasite Council: Cheyletiella spp.
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Ringworm (Dermatophytosis) in Cats
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Fleas of Cats
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Allergies of Cats
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Seborrhea in Animals
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Dermatitis and Dermatologic Problems in Cats
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Diagnosis of Skin Diseases in Small Animals
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Essential Fatty Acids for Integumentary Disease in Animals
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Toxicoses From Essential Oils in Animals
- Cornell Feline Health Center: Hyperthyroidism in Cats
- Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine: Don't Brush Off Feline Dandruff
- VCA Animal Hospitals: Behavior Changes and Pain in Aging Cats
- Vetster: What to Do if Your Cat Has Dandruff or Dry Skin
- Cats Protection: Can Cats Get Dandruff?
This article is for general information and is not a substitute for advice from your veterinarian.
