Cat dry skin: why it happens and 5 ways to help
It’s cold & wet-but your cat’s skin & coat are dry & flaky. Why is winter bad for your cat's skin & how can you help?
Dry, flaky skin in cats is usually down to dry indoor air, cold weather, low water intake, or a diet short on essential fatty acids. It is most common in winter, when heating dries the air out, and most cases improve with more humidity, more water and more grooming. Flaking that lasts beyond two or three weeks, or comes with hair loss, scabs or constant scratching, needs a vet.
Why do cats get dry skin in winter?
The cold weather, heating and a lack of outdoor time take their toll on our cat’s skin and coat. Here are the main reasons your fabulous feline might have dry, flaky skin this winter.
Cold weather
It’s horrible out there. Cold, rainy and windy. And let’s not even start on the snow! Agh! Repeated exposure to wet, cold weather means your cat’s skin struggles to retain moisture, leading to dry, flaky skin—which is exactly the same as us. We get chapped lips and dry hands when the temperatures drop (but we don’t recommend whipping out the lip balm for your cat!).
Dry air
We tend to whack up the heating when the temperature drops, and that change in temperature from the chilly outside air to the cosy, dry air of the central heating can play havoc with your cat's skin and coat.
Diet and hydration
Skin needs essential fatty acids to hold moisture, and it needs water. A cat eating mainly dry food and drinking little is short of both. Cats evolved to take most of their water from prey, so plenty of them are poor drinkers and rely on what is in their bowl of food rather than their bowl of water.
Age and grooming
Older cats groom less, particularly if stiff joints make twisting uncomfortable, so the natural oils in the coat are spread less evenly. Flakes build up along the spine and at the base of the tail, the two places hardest for a cat to reach. Overweight cats show the same pattern for the same reason.
Indoor allergens
If your cat is the sensitive type, with skin or food allergies, the reduced time outdoors means they’re exposed to more indoor allergens, which could be causing skin issues. Dust mites, cleaning chemical residues, air fresheners and smelly candles can all irritate your cat’s skin and may even result in allergy flare-ups.
So, how can we help our cat’s skin during the colder months? Can we avoid them feeling dry and uncomfortable?
Dry skin in kittens
A kitten's skin barrier is still developing, so light flaking in the first few months is common and usually settles on its own. What is not routine is flaking alongside bald patches, scabbing or constant scratching. In a kitten that combination points to parasites, ringworm or a food sensitivity rather than dry air, and it needs a vet rather than a humidifier. Check the ears and the base of the tail first, as mites tend to show there before anywhere else.
There are a few things you can do to support your cat’s skin health this winter…
1. Keep your cat hydrated
Make sure they have access to plenty of fresh water, as dehydration can exacerbate the symptoms of dry skin. If they’re not a big drinker, think about adding a little water to their dinner, incorporating wet food into their diet or getting a cat water fountain.
2. Increase the humidity in your home
Dry air from your heating causes your cat's skin to dry out, leading to dry skin and a dull-looking coat. Add a humidifier to your home to see improved skin hydration for you and your cat! Or, add some pet-safe houseplants for less drying air.
3. Give your cat a high-quality skin, joint and wellness supplement
Nourish your cat’s skin from the inside with a high-quality wellness supplement containing omega 3 and 6 fatty acids, as well as other essential fatty acids. Antinol® Joint Care Pro for cats is built on PCSO-524®, a green lipped mussel oil rich in omega 3 fatty acids, and supports your cat's natural skin and coat health from the inside.
4. Increase grooming
In the autumn, your cat will naturally shed their summer coat to make way for their warmer winter coat. So you may find your cat is grooming themselves more frequently (all over your black trousers, probably.) This increased grooming could cause havoc with hairballs, especially in the case of longer-haired breeds. To help them out and disperse their oils more evenly through their coat, brush their coat more regularly to remove dead fur.
5. Check their toe beans
If your cat is allowed outside, it is a good idea to check and wipe their paws if they have been out on their travels, especially if you live in a more suburban than rural area. Rock salt used for gritting can be sore if left on their feet and harmful if ingested.
Cat skin and coat care through the year
Winter gets the attention, but skin and coat problems turn up in every season for different reasons.
In spring and autumn your cat moults, grooming goes up and so do hairballs. Brushing more often through those weeks takes out the dead undercoat before your cat swallows it.
In summer the risk is sunburn rather than dryness, on noses and ear tips, and white cats burn fastest.
In winter it is the heating. Dry air pulls moisture out of skin whatever the season, so a house heated hard in October has the same effect as one heated hard in January.
The constants are water, essential fatty acids in the diet and regular brushing. A cat whose skin is well supported year round tends not to have a bad winter.
When to see a vet about your cat's dry skin
Most dry skin settles once the air is less dry and the diet is right. Book an appointment if you see any of the following:
- Flaking that has not improved after two to three weeks of the changes above.
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Bald patches, thinning fur, scabs, sores or broken skin.
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Scratching or over-grooming to the point of interrupting sleep or eating.
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Black specks in the coat that look like grit, which usually means fleas.
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Greasy flakes rather than dry ones, or a strong smell from the coat.
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Dry skin alongside weight loss, drinking more than usual, or a drop in appetite.
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Dry skin in cats can be a symptom of something else, from parasites to thyroid or kidney conditions, so persistent flaking is worth a check rather than a wait.
Wondering whether the flakes are the only thing changing? Older cats often slow down at the same time. Read what temperature is too hot for cats for the other end of the year.
And above all, look forward to the weather warming up and chilling in your garden with your favourite furry feline on your lap…Ahhhh 😎
Frequently asked questions
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Why does my cat have dry, flaky skin?
Most often this is from dry indoor air from heating, cold weather, not drinking enough, or a diet low in essential fatty acids. Older and overweight cats also flake more because they groom less thoroughly, so the coat's natural oils spread unevenly.
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Is dandruff in cats normal?
A few flakes now and then are normal, especially in winter. Visible dandruff across the back or at the base of the tail, or flaking that keeps returning, is worth investigating.
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How can I treat my cat's dry skin at home?
Raise the humidity indoors, get more water into your cat with wet food or a fountain, brush more often to spread the coat's oils, and make sure the diet supplies omega 3 and 6 fatty acids.
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Can dry food cause dry skin in cats?
Not on its own, but a cat on dry food alone that drinks little is taking in less water overall, and dehydration makes flaking worse. Adding wet food or a splash of water to meals is an easy change.
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Why does my cat have dandruff near their tail?
The base of the tail and the spine are the hardest places for a cat to reach. Flakes there usually mean grooming has become difficult, which is common in older, stiff or overweight cats. Brushing those areas for them helps.
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Does my kitten's flaky skin need treating?
Light flaking in a young kitten is common and usually passes. Flaking with bald patches, scabs or persistent scratching does not, and should be seen by a vet.
