Conference misery::feline_v1

Dry skin is a factor of diet or health.  Barring health problems (as in
having a checkup with the vet?) you should look into dietary changes.
Any change should be given a month's test - both to verify the skin
condition changing and to get the cat used to the different diet.
To change cat food, add a little of the new food to the old, increasing
the amount each day for a week to 10 days, until you are feeding all new
food.

Now, about brands - everyone has a favorite - I suggest you try IAMS
or Science Diet Feline Maintenance and see how you like it.  As the
cat's fur seems oily, you probably don't need an oil supplement, but
some different food - you may be having a mild allergy reaction to
something in the current brand of food.  Wheat germ oil can be
purchased at feed stores and administered by teaspoons full if it
is deemed necessary.

The skin condition can be a medically-treatable problem and you
should check with a vet.

    Hi--
    
    My Billie had yearly bouts with mats AND dry skin--so badly that
    each I would bring her in for grooming and treatment.  I now feed
    her ONLY the Science Diet Feline Maintenance, and her coat is beautful!
    Hardly any mats, and much less dry skin.  I occasionally give her
    Lactone (your vet will have it), a malt-base treatment the cat will
    lick up.  It really helps the dry skin.
    
    Good luck!
    
    Jane

    re.2
    yes, Mozie mats like crazy too despite all the brushing, I use
    to feed him and the gang the Science Diet but they seemed to
    get real hyper-active. Thinking back it may not have been the
    food, maybe just the time of the year. I forgot all about
    lactone! use to give them that too!
    will pick up a bag of the Science diet...should I mix this in
    with the old stuff until they get use to it again?
    Fran
    

>    will pick up a bag of the Science diet...should I mix this in
>    with the old stuff until they get use to it again?

Best way to avoid any tummy problems....take a week to rotate out the
current food and go totally to Science Diet again.    

    re.4
    wow! I couln't find any bag smaller than a ton of Science Diet
    at the store last night so I picked up a small bag of Iam's for
    now (one that .1 recommended as well) I put a bit down to see
    how the gang took to it and WHEW! what a group of gobblers!
    Mozie particulary went for it, he generally avoids dry food,but
    was munching out on this. Maybe this means that something was
    lacking in his diet and it's in this food. I haven't seen the
    gang do so much lip smacking after a meal until this morning!
    ;-)
    Fran
    

    Yup, there probably was something lacking - FAT!  Sorry, I
    don't mean to be sarcastic - my guys really love the stuff
    too.  But, there is more fat in IAMS - most kitties do
    like the stuff!  It's a good quality food - I just wish 
    they would lower the fat content.

    RE.6
    OH,WOW..thank you for telling me about the fat contents! My Jemma
    is a real chubby-puss already and she's been gobbling the stuff
    up right along with her side-kick Mozie. She's so chubby already
    she has trouble washing her tummy (yes, I've tried putting her
    on diet but I never could get her to eat separae from the other
    guys)
    Fran
    

    Yeah, I know.  My guys really love it - I do use it when I
    show for an overnighter (2-day show).  I have been using
    Blue Seal Kat Kare - low mg. low ash - low fat - with
    very good results - healthy cats, great coats, no dry
    skin - and old mother hubbard canned - seems to be
    working out ok.  Just tried Triumph - low ash - 
    they seem to like the o.m.h. better.  As i said, if
    we all call 800-BEST-CAT and ask for a low-cal dry,
    maybe they will respond someday!

    
    Is the symptom for dry skin like that of humans in that there
    would be little white flakes (sort of like dandruff) in the
    cats coat??  My sisters cat Corby has lots of white flakes in
    it...he's an orange tabby...He doesn't get combed much as he
    gets furious when you comb him anywhere but his back.  He does
    usually get bathed once in awhile tho...specially in the summer
    if they pick up fleas.  He also is on Science Diet cat food. 
    
    Suggestions?? 
    
    	Thanks. 
    
    		Myra   
    
    

    Don't touch my tummy, Mummy!
    
    You might try just combing his back.  Also, ask the vet in case
    s/he has suggestions.  I suppose there's always the chance its a
    correctable vitamin deficiency or some such.
    

    re:  .10
    
    >Don't touch my tummy, Mummy!
    
    	Yep!  That's Corby exactly!  He hates that!  
    
    	I'll mention checking with the vet to my sister, I think 
    she's planning on taking him this summer for his shots and
    check-up.....
    
    		Thanks, 
    
    			My 
    

    The original condition described in .0 was very similar to the one
    experienced by my Alex, which appears to have been cured by a fatty
    acid vitamin supplement with zinc.  I described it in another note
    I just entered (1467.1) and wanted to add the reference here.