Why Does My Cat Have Black Dandruff?

Cats devote a large portion of their day to hygiene maintenance, even engaging in social grooming for various purposes. It's not a bad idea to groom your cat yourself, especially if they don't have another cat with which they can groom socially. The cats coat provides vital functions to the overall health of the cat. It regulates their body temperature, protects them from injury when hit as well as protecting them from the sun.

This is why it is so important for their coat to be kept in good condition. Brushing will help remove dead hair which is especially good for long haired cats as well as those who are prone to hairballs.

There are other benefits to grooming your cat. It helps to strengthen the bond between human and animal, mimicking the social grooming they have between each other. Brushing can help relax your cat as well, keeping them purring during times of stress. Importantly, it gives you the opportunity to take a look at the quality of the cat's coat and inspect them for any signs of illness.

You should keep an eye out for any bald patches of skin, wounds hidden underneath the coat or even dandruff. It is not only specific wounds or marks which might cause us concern. The overall quality of the coat can help signal problems. If it looks dank and has lost color or has a lot of dandruff, it implies there may be something wrong internally such as poor intestinal absorption. If you see black dandruff on your cat, it may be due to one of the following problems:

• External parasites
• Feline acne
• Hygiene

Below we go into detail about the main reason you can see black dandruff on your cat's skin and fur.

If your cat has dandruff which looks black, it is possible there is the presence of fleas. These external parasites are hematophagous which means they feed on the blood of their host, often causing severe irritation in the process. As our cats are scrupulous in their hygiene, if they have external fleas, it is common for them top ingest these parasites as they fulfil their grooming ritual. Therefore, even if we don't observe the fleas at first sight, it is possible we might find black dandruff or what look like pieces of grit in the fur or the skin underneath.

We can take a sample of these black specks on the cat's skin and set them on some white paper. Add a drop of water and see if it fragments like dried blood. If it does so, it is likely the excrement of fleas which is made up digested blood. If your cat has what looks like black dandruff on any part of its fur, it is more likely than not signalling the presence of fleas.

To combat these unpleasant insects, we must contact our vet to prescribe the most appropriate antiparasitic for the individual cat. There is a wide range of products available, but the vet can take into consideration any other symptoms as well as the overall health of the feline. Prevention of fleas is important to all cats, even if they are house cats. Fleas could come in from the outside via many different methods, especially if the house is shared with a dog which does go outside.

If we discover our cat has an acute infestation, we can find products which will rid your cat of fleas in a matter hours. It's important to know, however, that these fleas are perhaps only the visible part of a larger infestation. There may also be eggs and pupae present which will not move in the same way. For this reason, we don't simply need to treat the cat, but any part of their environment with which they may have interacted. Vacuum the floors, the sofas and anywhere they may have passed through. Wash any sheets, pillows or blankets they have been using.

Once we get rid of this burst of parasites from our cat, we need to ensure they don't come back. The best way to do this is to implement a deworming schedule. This will help keep fleas at bay. Fleas can cause irritation thanks to the saliva they impart during a bite. They can also carry disease which is why a suitable vaccination schedule also needs to be carried out.

Just because their skin is covered in fur, doesn't mean it is impossible for them to develop spots. There are other reasons for black specks on cat skin which aren't fleas. When these spots are predominantly located underneath the cat's chin, it is likely a case of acne. This is a dermatological condition which can occur in cats of all ages, but it usually does not present in other symptoms other than these little black spots.

The black specks caused by feline acne can be difficult to distinguish from flea excrement, but their localization under the chin will suggest acne. It is an inflammatory disorder which affects the hair follicles and is often complicated by secondary infection. It can also appear on their lips. As this part of the chin rubs against the water or food bowl, sometimes it can be prevented by using a bowl made from different material in case they are allergic to the one they use.

The black spots of feline acne will turn into papules and pustules if they develop far enough. We should visit a vet so they can provide an accurate diagnosis and prescribe the most suitable treatment. This is likely to be a topical medication.

In severe cases, the affected area may appear edematized (i.e. fill with fluid) and pruritis is also produced. In these cases, the black specks on the cat's skin may be dried blood. This can be very uncomfortable for our cat. It is one of the most common skin conditions treated by vets^[1] and is relatively treatable, depending on the severity of the case.

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While some of the time flea excrement, acne or any type of black colored dandruff might look like dirt, sometimes this is exactly what it is. It might not happen as much with housecats, but cats which go outside can get into lots of scrapes. Maybe they looked into a car exhaust pipe or was unable to hide during a shower.

Whatever it is, you should be able to away the black specks and it will not look like black dandruff afterwards. It should be relatively easy to discern if it is dirt compared to a parasitical infestation or disease.

While the black specks on your cat's skin and fur may not be fleas, if you see them, you will need to be careful. While sleeping next to your cat is great most of the time, there are reasons to be careful which we detail below:

This article is purely informative. AnimalWised does not have the authority to prescribe any veterinary treatment or create a diagnosis. We invite you to take your pet to the veterinarian if they are suffering from any condition or pain.

If you want to read similar articles to Why Does My Cat Have Black Dandruff?, we recommend you visit our Skin problems category.