If one of your family members is a small, four-legged little guy who says “meow,” you may have noticed that his skin seems irritated from time to time. If your cat has problems that make her itchy, or you notice her skin is flaky and dry, she may have sensitive skin. Cats can have sensitive skin just like humans, although we don’t think about it all the time because all we see on our cats is fur. However, there are many reasons that can cause your cat to have irritated and dry skin. Before you rush off to the vet for an expensive trip, know that there are a few things you can do to help your cat feel more comfortable and have healthier skin.
If you bathe your cat regularly, be careful not to bathe her with a harsh shampoo. Some pet owners use flea shampoo every time they bathe their cats to keep fleas away. However, there are some pretty harsh ingredients in these types of shampoos. Instead of bathing your cat in a flea shampoo, try using a flea collar or repellent. Replace the flea shampoo with baby shampoo or a cat shampoo designed for sensitive skin. Kitten shampoo is usually gentler and more soothing than other types.
Another thing you can do is switch foods and see if it makes a difference. There is always a chance that your cat has a food allergy that will dry out, irritate or make your cat’s skin itchy. If you try a different food for a week and find that your cat is fine as far as her skin is concerned, you may want to switch permanently. Sometimes this is all your cat needs to get back to normal and relieve the skin issues that are causing your cat to become itchy and irritated. However, sometimes it has nothing to do with the food and your cat simply has sensitive skin. In this case, you want to find something that will help heal the skin and make your cat more comfortable.
Shea butter is ideal for cats with itchy and dry skin. It is full of healthy vitamins and minerals that help protect and heal a cat’s skin. It keeps your cat’s skin moisturized and relieves itching and irritation. It’s very easy to use shea butter on your cat. Simply rub it between your hands to warm it up and melt it a bit, then rub it into your cat’s fur and skin. Be sure to apply a generous amount to the skin to allow the shea butter to work against skin irritation. It will help get rid of the cause of your cat’s itchy skin and will help keep your cat more comfortable while the skin heals.
We love our cats and hate seeing them unhappy. Using the tips and ideas above will really help your cat get back to normal soon. That makes for a happy cat. When the cat is happy and content, so is its owner!