Cat Tree Furniture

The same factors that affect your skin and hair also affects the skin and hair of your cat.  Cracking and flaking skin, dryness, itching, a dull thin coat are all signs of an underlying problem that if not treated could lead to more expensive trouble.

The first line of defense in preventing skin and coat problems is a proper diet.  That diet needs to include essential fatty acids from the omega-3 and omega-6 fats that are found in chicken, fish oil and eggs.  These fatty acids help the skin maintain a water barrier to prevent dryness.  Vitamins A, E and B, along with zinc are also essential for healthy skin and hair.  According to veterinarian sources, vitamins A and B prevent hair loss and scaling skin; Zinc is important for healthy skin because it helps keep rapidly dividing skin cells healthy; and vitamin E is an antioxidant which protects your cats’ body cells from the damaging effects of oxidation.

So check the ingredient label on your cats’ food packaging to make sure it contains the right fatty acids, vitamins and minerals to help maintain healthy skin and hair.  Also check for the AAFCO label to assure what the label says is true.

(Picture courtesy of Heavnzsent Cattery, LLC)