Scaliness of a cat’s skin, which can resemble dandruff, is often attributed to dry skin. However, there’s a myriad of potential causes, some of which can be quite serious. The following list, while extensive, underscores the complexity of diagnosing such conditions and the necessity for a range of diagnostic tests. The most prevalent causes are highlighted in gray for clarity.
| Condition | Description | Symptoms | Diagnosis | Treatment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cheyletiella (rabbit fur mite) mange | Infection with the Cheyletiella mite | Itching, scaliness; some hair loss, if severe | Skin scraping and microscopic examination | Pyrethrin |
| Cushing’s disease (hyperadrenocorticism) | Increase in corticosteroids in the body due to overproduction or prolonged steroid therapy | Hair loss, thinning of skin, hyperpigmentation, easy bruising, seborrhea, comedones; lethargy, increased thirst and urination, pot-bellied appearance | Adrenal gland function tests, urinalysis, chemistry panel, CBC | Treatment depends on the cause, may include selegiline, o,p-DDD (Mitotane), or surgical removal of tumor; steroid withdrawal if applicable |
| Demodectic mange | Infection may be localized or generalized, often associated with a deficient immune system | Hair loss, scaliness, redness, sometimes itching | Skin scraping and microscopic examination | No Steroids. Rotenone, dilute Amitraz (Mitaban) dips, lime sulfur dips, ivermectin (off-label use) |
| Epitheliotropic lymphoma (mycosis fungoides) | Rare cancer of T lymphocytes in older cats, may be associated with FeLV | Redness, itching, scales, ulcerated nodules | Needle or other biopsy | Poor response to treatments which include chemotherapy, surgical removal, retinoids, fatty acids |
| Flea allergy dermatitis (flea bite hypersensitivity) | Severe reaction to flea saliva | Intense itching, redness, hair loss, papules, crusts, and scales; sometimes infection or hot spots | Presence of fleas; reaction to intradermal testing | Flea Control in the environment and on the cat; steroids and antihistamines for itching |
| Hypothyroidism | Decreased production of thyroid hormone | Dry and brittle hair, seborrhea; secondary bacterial and yeast infections; lethargy, obesity, slow heart rate; changes in skin pigmentation | Thyroid gland function tests, chemistry panel, CBC | Lifetime thyroid supplementation |
*Off-label use: medication used to treat a condition for which it was not developed (or licensed). Research has almost always been performed to determine the effectiveness and safety of the product, but the manufacturer has not undertaken the lengthy process required for licensure.