kitty itch

Question
My cat is 5 years old and a little on the overweight side. She has recently developed dandruff in her lower back region.  The problem is that that area is so sensitive that i am unable to touch her without her vigorously chewing on her front thumbs. I  thought maybe change in diet would help but she refuses to eat any other type of food. She is currently eating Purina indoor cat formula and even when I mix other types of food in to slowly ween her off of it, she eats around the new food. Any thoughts as to how i can solve her skin issue?
Thank you.

Answer
Hi!

Do you bathe her regularly? This can sometimes do more damage than good, as it strips a cat of natural oils, and can cause dried out, flakey skin(dandruff).

Cats that are overweight often develop greasy, flaky skin - because they don't groom themselves properly(because of their size/inflexibility). Maybe involving her in a more active lifestyle, and putting her on a weight controlled food, could benefit the actual dandruff problem, as well!

What's the humidity in your area? If you feel like
the air is dry in your home and your skin feels dry and tight as a result, you
can bet your cat is experiencing the same thing. Humidifying your home will not only lick
the dry skin problem, it will cut down on static electricity in your cat's coat
and reduce the likelihood of winter colds.

Also, check your cat  for parasites. Bites from fleas, lice, and mites can all cause allergic
dermatitis. Chyletiella mites have been called "walking dandruff" since they're
large enough to see with the naked eye but too small to distinguish detail. All
skin parasites can be treated fairly easily.

A cat's coat protects the sensitive skin underneath from the burning rays of the sun. But  cats that spend a lot of time outdoors can still get sunburn, especially on the
tips of their ears, eyelids, nose, or lips. Any place the hair is sparse -- the
area on the head above the eye and below the ear or wherever the cat has scars
or bald patches -- is particularly sensitive. Sunburn kills the top layer of
skin, which dries up and flakes off. Repeated sunburn can cause skin cancer .

Persistent or worsening itching and flaking or the presence of parasites
calls for professional veterinary care. Over-the-counter pet shampoos and
parasite treatments usually aren't potent enough to do the trick

Most causes of dandruff  are not dangerous. But, if left untreated, some causes may be so uncomfortable that the cat scratches herself raw, running a mildly dangerous risk of
infection. Diarrhea is a problem that most might now want to talk about, but it can be
even more serious for cats than for humans.
You should contact a vet if your cat is experiencing any of these symptoms.

I'm concerned that she's sensitive to touch in this part of her body.
Can you examine the area more thoroughly, maybe when she's napping?
There may be some kind of infection on the actual skin that you're missing because of the dandruff...and if there is some type of infection, you want to deal with it asap.

Good luck with your kitty... if the problems worsen or don't go away, or you are noticing other symptoms of infection(like fever, vomiting, lethargy, etc) contact a vet...and write a follow up :)

Lionel