My cat has flaky skin on her tail. What causes it and how to treat?
Updated On September 23rd, 2025
Pet's info: Cat | American Shorthair | Female | spayed | 7 years and 11 months old | 14 lbs
My cat has flaky skin at the base of her tail. What is it and is their something I can buy over the counter for her?
3 Answers
Most Helpful Answer
Published on August 24th, 2017
Flaky skin could be a sign of allergies, some hormonal diseases like hyperthyroidism, poor nutrition or even fleas. If there is no hair loss and her skin appears normal otherwise you could ask your veterinarian about using an oral fish oil supplement to see if that helps. If there is any hair loss, red skin or scabs I would recommend having her examined by your veterinarian. Unfortunately cats tend to lick most topical products so I do not typically recommend using them. There are some 'mousses' that absorb quickly that you could try, I like this brand: https://www.amazon.com/Douxo-Seborrhea-Mousse-Dogs-Cats/dp/B009TXE0KU
5Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Related Answers from Veterinarians
-
Published on April 17th, 2017
I'm wondering if you mean when humans get dry skin and it flakes off. If that is what you mean, then yes cats can get dry skin as well. You can try adding some Vitamin E supplements to her food to see if that helps with it :-)
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
-
Published on January 3rd, 2021
It may be dry skin, or it may be that there is an infection or change in her skin leading to this change. You can try a skin and coat support supplement such as this: https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/wild-alaskan-salmon-oil-cat-food-supplement. You can use grooming wipes such as these: https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/gnc-pets-vitamin-enriched-hypoallergenic-grooming-cat-wipes. This will lift off the flakes and also be moisturizing for the skin. If the problem persists, have her evaluated by your vet, as there may be an underlying medical issue that needs to be addressed. Thanks for asking PetCoach!
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
I have a cat she's a ragdoll , she's been scratching by her ears and body and i seen white flakes in her fur ... she doesn't have fleas or ear mites i check her ears almost everyday ...i think she has dry skin i want to kno the best shampoo to use f
Hello, my cat’s fur is flaky. Like they have dandruff. What do you suggest I do?
Does my cat have dry skin?
My cat has 2 places on her body and tail, that looks dark brown and flaky. She's a white cat so it's noticeable. Her skin looks sore but isn't bleeding. What could this be?
My cat has developed flaking skin in two localized areas on the right side of her body. Do you recognize this condition or is there anything I can try at home before making a vet appointment?
Cat has crusty areas on back from shoulders to tail. Wondering what this is .
My cat has (what I believe to be) dandruff. In the photos below, I show a sample of his fur from the brush and the presumed dandruff centering on his lower back. What can I do to treat this condition?
My cat is ~7/8 yrs old. Has dandruff but he now has patch where hair is thinning and saw him biting it. I'm trying fish oil in food again. It works but if he smells it he won't it his food. It's a battle, but I'm trying it again. Is there somet
I have a semi feral cat who is having sores on her tail. See attached pic. The sores weep a little, and she does lick then, but they don’t seem to bother her that much. Is there a common cause for this? It’s only on yer tail. Been there a few weeks.
My four year old cat has always been a shedder, but recently I've noticed that she's shedding much more and has a ton of dandruff. She hates being brushed and I don't give her baths. I was wondering if you could recommend something like a better food
Book an appointment with the pros – our expert vets are here to help.
