4 Tips For Cat Skin Care
Taking care of a cat’s fur is just as important as taking care of the rest of its body. Like any other organ, the skin can be diseased and needs specific nutrients to stay healthy, as it is a tissue that is constantly exposed to various environmental stressors.
Information and advice on skin care for cats can be contradictory in Internet searches. So here you’ll find a series of general tips based on reliable sources to keep the skin of any feline breed healthy.
Cats Skin Characteristics
Skin is the largest organ in the body and cats are no exception. The skin thickness of cats is 0.4 millimeters, although it is thicker on the extremities and on the back, and thinner on the belly. Among its basic functions, it is possible to mention the following:
- Protects the body from pathogens and external bodies.
- It works as a thermoregulator against changes in ambient temperature.
- It has a sensitive function that allows you to perceive the environment.
- Sends communicative signals: for example, when the cat ruffles its fur, it sends a message of threat.
The skin as an indicator of general health
The condition of the skin and fur sends very reliable signals about your cat’s health. There are several reasons why cats’ fur can have problems:
- Poor diet: the lack of essential nutrients for capillary health quickly manifests itself in the feline’s appearance.
- Overweight: If the cat gets too fat, it won’t be able to reach certain parts of the body to clean itself.
- Old age: the loss of elasticity or the pains of old age can cause the animal to clean itself less than when it was young.
- Excessive bathing: when the cat cleans itself, in addition to eliminating dirt, it distributes essential oils that are important for the health of its skin. Therefore, very frequent baths can eliminate this layer of fat needed to protect the dermis.
- Illness: Pain or illness can prevent the cat from cleaning itself. On the other hand, conditions such as allergies or dermatitis also affect the appearance of a cat’s fur and fur.
4 tips for caring for cats’ skin
As you have already seen, the skin of cats is just as important as the rest of the organs, so it cannot be neglected, especially in the case of hairless breeds such as the sphynx . If you want to know how to keep it healthy and glowing, here are some tips.
1. Offer quality food
Providing a balanced and specific feed is essential to keep your feline’s fur in good condition. Every diet should contain healthy proteins and high levels of omega 3 and 6 fatty acids. Extra foods, such as snacks or moist rations, should be dosed so as not to unbalance the diet.
As documents from professional sources indicate, ideally 50% of the feline’s energy should come from protein sources. 30% of the rest should be natural fats, such as the fatty tissue found in meat and fish. Carbohydrates, in turn, should account for less than 10% of caloric intake, but feed makers sometimes use grains to cut costs.
2. Veterinary Skin Care for Cats
Regular deworming of your feline, especially if it can get out of the house, is necessary for good skin maintenance. In any case, periodic veterinary examinations are helpful for both dermatological and other aspects of the cat’s health.
3. Bathe only when necessary
In general, cats are very clean animals and are autonomous in maintaining body cleanliness. However, there may be times when you need to bathe your pussy.
When this happens, it is very important to minimize stress to the animal as much as possible. Bathing can be done in a bathtub or large sink, with a mat to prevent the animal from slipping. You should use warm water and smooth movements.
Cleaning products must be exclusively for felines. Only then will you ensure that the skin or pH of the cat’s epidermis will not be altered. Depending on the animal’s habits, the frequency of bathing can vary between once a year and twice a month.
4. Brush regularly
Dead hair that does not fall out prevents the skin from breathing properly, increasing the risk of illnesses such as dermatitis or the proliferation of mites. Use a brush suitable for your feline’s fur so as not to damage the fur in the process. If he has short fur, for example, do not use combs with very long bristles.
Taking care of your cat’s fur and skin will not only give your cat a healthy and shiny appearance, but it will also prevent problems in all aspects: allergies, parasites, seborrhea and many others. You will also prevent your cat from vomiting fur balls frequently. Your feline’s appearance, far from being mere esthetics, will be the best indicator you will have for taking care of your health.
