Question:
Do all Siamese cats shed? My 5-year-old keeps shedding and shedding, no matter how much I brush her. She has numerous white flakes on her back. She also vomits now and then, but it seems less often since I've been brushing her daily.
The other day after brushing and seeing all the dandruff, I bathed her with Vet Solutions Aloe & Oatmeal Shampoo
and used Tropiclean Oxy Med Medicated Oatmeal Treatment Rinse. Afterward, the hair came to the surface of her back in clumps and there was more dandruff. Later that night, I brushed her again and used pramoxine HCI spray and rubbed it into her scalp. Handfuls of hair came out again, and yet she has no bald patches.
This has been going on all her life, but it seems much worse now. I rarely resort to all that bathing and rinsing. I use the FURminator
or the wire brush, and she loves it. She eats well and drinks lots of water. Her food is Nutro Natural Choice Indoor Active Health Adult, ocean-fish flavor, and I usually put a few drops of olive oil on top. I've tried Halo, Science Diet, Wellness and many others.
I would appreciate any suggestions you may have. The vet says she's healthy, and the girls at work say their cats shed and lick a lot, too.
J.D., North Palm Beach, FL May 23, 2011
Answer:
Olive, flaxseed and other vegetable oils are good for dogs' coats and skin but lack some of the essential fatty acids that cats need. Cats require oils and fats of animal origin such as wild salmon or cod-liver oil. Organic butter is also an excellent source for cats in particular.
I find it best to groom my cats once a week with the FURminator and daily with a medium-hard bristle brush. The more deeply and vigorously you groom a cat, the more fur you will remove and the more they will produce -- so all things in moderation! Stress can make cats suddenly shed; and chronic shedding and constant licking/scratching in both dogs and cats could mean there is an underlying nutritional or other health issue that calls for a thorough veterinary checkup.
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