Nutrition and Skin Disorders in Cats
Often, skin problems in cats are caused by food allergies.
Cats are very sensitive to many substances, and their systems often react negatively.
Many cats have allergies to additives in commercial cat food, unbeknownst to their owners.
These allergies can cause skin and hair problems that owners often attribute to environment or other sources.
A dry, lusterless coat, dandruff, scratching and excessive shedding are signs of nutritional problems, particularly if the cat is young and generally healthy.
Pet food manufacturers put a long and varied list of additives in cat food to make it more acceptable both to cats and their owners.
Artificial flavorings and colorants, emulsifiers, preservatives and stabilizers as well as large doses of vitamins and minerals can all cause allergic reactions in your cat.
When you also consider the poor sources of protein used in these foods (especially dry food), you can see where it is only a matter of time until problems develop.
To avoid these negative effects, try changing your cat's diet.
Take him off of dry food, entirely.
Feed a premium canned diet, supplementing with food that you have cooked, such as chicken or turkey, veggies and brown rice.
You might consider a natural pet (or one-tenth of a human) vitamin tablet daily.
A bit of kelp powder and a 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of good-quality olive oil added to the food each day will help make your cat's coat shine.
You will definitely see a big change in your cat's skin and coat within six weeks! Healthy skin is more resistant to injury, infection and, of course, flea infestation.
Keeping your cat indoors will prevent him coming into contact with parasites as well as prevent injuries from such hazards as cat fights.
If your cat has fleas now, give him a bath in a natural shampoo (yours is fine), since insecticides are not necessary to drown fleas.
Make him an indoor cat from now on, and use a fine-toothed comb to groom him until you are sure there are no more fleas.
By feeding him a more natural diet and keeping him out of harm's way, you will improve your cat's coat, health and appearance permanently.
Cats are very sensitive to many substances, and their systems often react negatively.
Many cats have allergies to additives in commercial cat food, unbeknownst to their owners.
These allergies can cause skin and hair problems that owners often attribute to environment or other sources.
A dry, lusterless coat, dandruff, scratching and excessive shedding are signs of nutritional problems, particularly if the cat is young and generally healthy.
Pet food manufacturers put a long and varied list of additives in cat food to make it more acceptable both to cats and their owners.
Artificial flavorings and colorants, emulsifiers, preservatives and stabilizers as well as large doses of vitamins and minerals can all cause allergic reactions in your cat.
When you also consider the poor sources of protein used in these foods (especially dry food), you can see where it is only a matter of time until problems develop.
To avoid these negative effects, try changing your cat's diet.
Take him off of dry food, entirely.
Feed a premium canned diet, supplementing with food that you have cooked, such as chicken or turkey, veggies and brown rice.
You might consider a natural pet (or one-tenth of a human) vitamin tablet daily.
A bit of kelp powder and a 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of good-quality olive oil added to the food each day will help make your cat's coat shine.
You will definitely see a big change in your cat's skin and coat within six weeks! Healthy skin is more resistant to injury, infection and, of course, flea infestation.
Keeping your cat indoors will prevent him coming into contact with parasites as well as prevent injuries from such hazards as cat fights.
If your cat has fleas now, give him a bath in a natural shampoo (yours is fine), since insecticides are not necessary to drown fleas.
Make him an indoor cat from now on, and use a fine-toothed comb to groom him until you are sure there are no more fleas.
By feeding him a more natural diet and keeping him out of harm's way, you will improve your cat's coat, health and appearance permanently.
