There are many reasons why you want to get best food for your cat’s skin and coat. The feline hair protects it from wind/rain/heat/cold, provides sensory data, and manufactures essential nutrients like vitamin D. Not to forget, shiny coat makes your cat look majestic and well groomed.
There are around 130,000 hairs per sq/in on a cat’s coat. There are over six types of cat coats, including bi-color, tabby, colorpoint, tricolor, solid, and tortoise. There’s a lot to go wrong.
Cats tend to care a lot about their coat. Still, their fur may lose its shine and skin problems occur. There can be many reasons behind the sudden change in quality of cat’s coat. Sometimes nutrition can help, so find best cat food for skin and coat below.
Best Cat Food For Healthy Skin and Coat
Description | Cat Food | Check Price |
---|---|---|
#1 Best Cat Food for Shiny Fur | Avoderm Healthy Skin & Coat | Check Price |
#2 Best Wet Cat Food For Healthy Coats | Royal Canin Intense Beauty | Check Price |
#3 Best Dry Cat Food for Healthy Skin and Coat | Royal Canin Hair & Skin Care | Check Price |
#4 Best Cat Food for Sensitive Skin | Purina Sensitive Skin & Stomach | Check Price |
#5 Best Cat Food for Skin and Coat Under Budget | Purina Indoor Advantage | Check Price |
Causes of Dry Flaky Skin and Coat:
Many factors can cause the cat’s coat to become dull and skin to be flaky and dry. Some of the most common causes of skin problems include:
- Poor diet – Diet and food play a key role in keeping the feline friends’s skin, hair, and body healthy. If your cat isn’t receiving balanced nutrition, the results will be apparent on her whole body. The first signs of a poor diet will be visible on its skin and coat. Best cat food can change this.
- Weight issues – around 57% of cats in the US are estimated to be obese or overweight. When cats get fat, they find it difficult to reach their entire body for cleaning. The unkempt coat becomes dull and may attract worms and parasites. Cat food for weight loss might be a priority then.
- Age – With age, cats become arthritic. They cannot twist and turn as flexibly as they used to. They also start experiencing pain in different parts of their body. So, due to age or pain, the feline may develop an unkempt coat.
- Too much bathing: Pet owners try to control dandruff or ward off fleas by frequently bathing their cats. This isn’t a healthy practice as too much bathing affects the texture of the coat.
- Internal health issues: Apart from these lifestyle factors, there many some underlying health conditions that could cause the skin and coat to get dry, dull, and flaky—for instance, diabetes, allergies (find best hypoallergenic cat food), skin infections, or autoimmune diseases.
Common signs of skin problems in cats include:
If your cat has developed a skin problem or infection, it may be easier to detect if you can determine its symptoms correctly. The following are the most common signs of skin diseases in cats.
- Red or swollen skin
- Loss of hair/fur
- Excessive licking and scratching
- Cat starts chewing the fur.
- Flaky, scabby, or scaly skin
- Bumps on the skin
Fo all serious and chronic issues make sure to contact a veterinarian. Many skin conditions can also be serious or signal some other underlying cause. Cat dermatitis can be especially ugly (no better word here really) condition. There are many types and many causes which cannot be fixed just with diet.
How to Keep a Cat’s Coat Soft and Shiny?
In comparison to dogs, cats required proteins, and healthy fats to remain healthy. It is important to feed the cat with a balanced diet to keep their coat shiny and luscious. If you think that the cat’s fur is becoming greasy, try replacing its diet with high-quality cat food for sensitive cat skin.
It is possible to gain healthy fur through dietary changes. You need to ensure that your pet’s food contains a rich amount of animal protein, vitamins A, B vitamins, E, and D, iron, iodine, amino acids and calcium. These are the key nutrients that not just help reduce shedding but also keeps the coat shiny. Also, try to boost the feline’s omega-3s intake through food, especially if the cat is old. Omega-3s improve the condition of the coat and skin. Never forget to pick quality animal protein.
Which Cat Food is Best for Healthy Skin and Coat?
A cat’s skin and hair play a defining role in maintaining its optimal health. These block heat and water from leaving the body and bacteria and viruses from entering it. The coat hair is composed entirely of protein. Therefore, if the cat doesn’t get enough good quality protein, its hair may fall out or become weak, dry, and brittle.
Several essential nutrients like protein, vitamins, fat, and minerals are responsible for keeping the skin and coat of the cat healthy. The only way to ensure your feline receives these essential nutrients is to feed it a balanced and nutritional diet rather than relying on artificial supplements. Cats require animal-based proteins, which are responsible for their health and wellbeing.
Fats are found in plant-based and animal-based ingredients and incorporated into skin cells in the form of fatty acids. The two essential fatty acids that aid a cat’s skin and coat include linoleic acid and arachidonic acid. Linoleic acid maintains the cat’s skin and coat condition, and lack of it can make the coat dry and skin greasy. To prevent inflammation, which is usually linked to fatty acids, always balance omega-6s with omega-3s in the cat’s food. IAMS™ suggests that to combine fat sources in a cat’s diet, keep a five or ten ratio to one. That is 5-10 omega-6s to 1 omega-3 fatty acid.
Remember that cat food that works for one cat may not work for another. But, switching to grain-free or high-quality cat food will produce a shiny and soft coat for sure. You can incorporate fish oil, coconut oil, or olive oil in your cat’s food to treat dry and flaky skin. Or else, try feeding it foods loaded with fatty acids, such as salmon. Whichever dietary changes you implement, give it at least 2 to 4 weeks. If it doesn’t work, switch to another option.
How to Choose Cat Food for Dandruff
When the sebaceous glands in the cat’s skin, which perform the all-important function of oil production that keep its skin nourished, start overproducing oils, it starts irritating the cat. Resultantly, the cat begins shedding more than normal, and the skin gets flaky. This causes dandruff.
However, dandruff can occur due to other factors, too, such as it can be because of ringworm. It is a fungal infection where spores enter the cat’s skin’s outermost layer through a scratch or bite. Or else, it can be because of the diet. If the cat’s diet lacks essential nutrients, their skin gets affected.
Seems that it’s not best idea to try to brush off dandruff.
Let’s not forget that the cat’s skin cell renewal takes up to 30% of their daily protein intake. Therefore, the feline must be fed high-quality, digestible proteins so that their system absorbs them quickly.
The best cat food for dry, flaky skin contains a sufficient quantity of omega-6s and omega-3s fatty acids. That’s because your cat’s body cannot naturally synthesize them. That’s why they need it through their diet. Certain vitamins, including Vitamin A and C, also contribute to skin health by regulating oil production and cell growth. Additionally, you should pay attention to the surrounding environment and your cat’s lifestyle to support their wellbeing and maintain good skin health.
How to Choose Best Cat Food for Dry Skin?
Whether your cat’s skin is dry, it has dandruff, it is losing fur, or the coat isn’t shiny anymore, or even all of the above, diet could be the primary cause behind it. To deal with this issue, you must closely inspect your cat’s diet and serve it high-quality cat food.
What is The Best Cat Food for Healthy Coat?
High-quality cat food is the key to solving most skin and coat-related issues in cats. You must ensure your cat receives food that includes all essential nutrients, including certain minerals and vitamins. These can be found in limited ingredients or specially designed skin and coat cat foods. Some of the vital vitamins and minerals that support coat and skin health in cats include:
- Copper
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin E
- Biotin
- Zinc
- Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids
Do check the commercial cat food formulas for these ingredients. These are excellent in maintaining the fur’s color, softness, and shine and controlling skin health at the cellular level.
Best Cat Food for Shiny Fur
Avoderm Healthy Skin & Coat
Avoderm is the best cat food for sensitive, dry, and flaky skin. It is an excellent food to restore the coat’s lost shine. This is an incredibly effective, budget-friendly cat food that offers an optimal dose of the essential omega fatty acids 3 and 6. Avoderm promotes skin and fur health. It also includes avocados, which not many cat foods offer. Avocados provide your cat with important nutrients to maintain skin and coat health. It is a great option for cats with allergies, as it is free of most allergens, including corn, soy, and wheat. With 32% protein, Avoderm is the ideal food to keep your cat active and healthy inside out.
Pros
- Packed with the goodness of omega fatty acids
- Perfect for cats with allergies or sensitive skin
- It doesn’t contain allergens like wheat or soy
- Boost the feline’s immune system
- Affordable option
Cons
- Protein content could be higher.
Best Wet Cat Food For Healthy Coats
Royal Canin Intense Beauty
Royal Canin Intense Beauty is an amazing formula containing a rich proportion of omega fatty acids. It is specifically great for the cat’s healthy coat as it offers the most significant materials required to prevent skin rashes and make the coat stronger and shinier. Royal Canin is the ideal food for your feline because wet foods keep them hydrated. Cat’s water intake is generally low, so wet foods are important as they provide the necessary liquids. This formula is packed with a decent amount of protein, but it also has a few carbs. Therefore, for inactive cats, this may not be too good as they might gain weight.
Pros
- Ideal food to maintain coat and skin health
- Keeps the cat well-hydrated
- Tastes amazing
- Treats all kinds of skin issues
Cons
- Nothing to note
Best Dry Cat Food for Healthy Skin and Coat
Royal Canin Hair & Skin Care
Royal Canin Hair & Skin Care is a great cat food for treating excessive shedding. It is suitable for good fur and skin health as it contains nutrients that specifically help retain the cat’s hair. It is a great option for cats with any coat or skin problem such as dryness, dandruff, or flaky skin. If your cat has allergies, you can confidently feed it Royal Canin cat food because it fights off allergic reactions and prevents itchy sensations. You’ll notice a reduction in the cat’s scratching or self-licking, and fur will regrow in bald patches. This food also contains a good quantity of proteins, omegas, vitamins, and minerals.
Pros
- Helps in skin repair and fur regrowth
- Promotes super healthy, strong, and shiny coat
- Fixes shedding and prevent allergic reactions
- Great food to prevent self-licking
- It prevents dandruff and fills bald patches
Cons
- It is quite expensive. So, you may switch to it if nothing else works.
Best Cat Food for Sensitive Skin
Purina Sensitive Skin & Stomach
Purina Sensitive Skin & Stomach is incredibly beneficial to promote shiny and strong fur. It provides your cat with a healthy dose of omega-6 fatty acids, zinc, and Vitamin A. These ingredients keep your cat’s coat healthy. What impressed us the most is that it aids digestion and keeps the cat’s digestive system healthy since it includes easy-to-digest ingredients and probiotics. Hence, you may not have to deal with vomiting or diarrhea after feeding Purina’s cat food. However, it isn’t the ideal choice for hairballs. The food offers 40% protein source from prime meat ingredients, which is enough to help an overweight cat lose some extra pounds.
Pros
- It contains a healthy proportion of omega-6 essential fatty acids, zinc, and vitamin A
- Doesn’t cause digestion issues due to the presence of probiotics
- Excellent for cats with weight problems
Cons
- Price a bit high
Best Cat Food for Skin and Coat Under Budget
Purina Indoor Advantage
Purina’s Indoor Advantage is the best cat food under budget. It helps in maintaining healthy skin and a smooth coat. However, it doesn’t contain vitamin A, omega-3s, or zinc in sufficient quantity, so it isn’t as effective for coat and skin as other foods. Nevertheless, Purina’s formula is great to stop hairballs as it provides the cat plentiful dietary fiber, which prevents regurgitation as the digested hair comes out in the stool. It offers a whopping 38% protein, which is quite enough to meet your cat’s daily nutritional needs.
Pros
- Perfect for budget shoppers
- Maintains skin and coat health
- It stops hairballs by supplying a healthy dose of dietary fiber.
- Ideal for overactive or overweight cats
Cons
- less fatty acids than other products tested
Cat Food for Healthy Coat FAQs
To improve your cat’s coat, it is necessary to feed it a well-balanced, nutrient-rich diet. Keep an eye on the cat’s overall health condition and groom regularly.
To deal with skin dryness, it is important to provide your cat with high-quality protein because it helps repair the coat. Each serving must offer about 20% of share in protein, and the cat must receive at least two such servings in a day.
Proteins and fats are the two most significant ingredients that can help improve your cat’s fur. High protein cat food and freeze dried diet offer enough protein and fats as these nutrients are retained in their natural form. You may supplement the cat’s diet with foods rich in fatty acids or fish oils. Salmon, tuna, and sardines are a great option for the coat’s shine
Yes, you can add some olive and coconut oil to your cat’s diet, but better not to add it on the fur unless recommended so by the vet.
Our answer would be to avoid it really. Cats take good care of themselves. But another opinion, from the National Cat Groomers of America is that you should bathe your cat every four to six weeks to prevent coat matting and pelting.