4 ways to keep your cat’s coat shiny and healthy

Cats are obsessive self groomers. They spend hours together grooming themselves. Still like dogs their coats can get dull, flaky and sparse. This could be for a couple of reasons.

Poor nutrition, presence of parasites or underlying medical conditions such as kidney disease, diabetes or skin diseases. This problem is commonly seen in older and obese cats due to the fact that they find it difficult to groom themselves. So, a visit to the vet is a must along with making changes in their diet by including more more protein, vitamin, minerals, healthy fats and carbohydrates.

Once your vet gives your pet a clean bill of health you need to make changes in their diet and grooming them yourself.

Here is what you need to do:

• Include Omega 3 fatty acids supplements in their diet. Tuna, sardines and salmon are a rich source of Omega. So, include this in their diet. You can also add fish oil to their food and ask your vet about other supplements that your pet can take.
• Once your pet gets older they may need your help in grooming them. Brushing your cat regularly stimulates their hair follicles and release essential oils that are needed for a shiny coat.
• Cats rarely need bath as they are essentially clean creatures. They do not require bath unless they are very dirty, greasy, smelly or are unable to clean themselves. If so you need to use a mild cat shampoo and a gentle conditioner, the type recommended by your vet to suit your cat’s skin.
• You can include coconut oil in your cat’s food. It contains healthy fat that is essential for their skin and hair. A teaspoon of it can be added to their food. You can also massage your cat’s hair and skin with coconut oil.

You can always contact your vet for their professional advice and guidance.

Happy parenting!