A he althy, shiny, soft and silky coat is synonymous with good he alth, which is why cat keepers can worry when our partner presents us with rough, unkempt or dirty-looking hair. In this article on our site we are going to explain why a cat has ugly or rough hair, what are the possible causes that have caused it and how we can act to ensure that our cat always maintains a perfect, he althy and well-groomed coat.
Wondering why my cat has rough hair? Do you want your fur to look smooth and clean? Take note of the causes and solutions to give your coat the natural shine it should have and start solving this problem today. Keep reading!
The cat's hair
When we talk about fur we are not only referring to a "simple" question of beauty, since our cat's fur will also tell us about its state of he alth and for a double reason since, on the one hand, he althy hair is a reflection of good he alth but, at the same time, taking care of the coat helps to maintain the perfect state of our cat, because the hair fulfills several important functions, such as the following:
- Thermal protection: the fur will protect our cat both from the cold and from excessive exposure to the sun's rays and the heat.
- Physical insulation: the hair will also serve as protection for our cat's skin, defending it from injuries such as wounds, scratches, abrasions, burns, etc., but also from stings or bites from insects and even other animals.
- Communication function: Cats, like other animals, also use their fur as a form of communication. For example, the ability to bristle the hair makes us understand that our cat is very angry and is going to make it look bigger in front of another cat that it wants to impress and put to flight. In addition, hair is involved in the sense of touch.
If a cat has coarse hair it can indicate a he alth problem and, at the same time, deficiencies in the coat can lead to cat trouble. To prevent it, we will explain in the following sections what are the most common causes that can result in rough hair and what measures we can take to avoid it.
The causes of coarse hair
When a cat has rough hair, we can mainly think of the following aspects:
- Feeding: This is perhaps the most common cause of coat disorders. An inadequate diet, in the sense that it does not provide the quantity or quality of the nutrients necessary for our cat, will manifest itself in ugly, rough and dull hair. Sometimes, the nutrients that we give our cat are adequate but there is a problem of bad absorption This aspect, of course, should be explored by our veterinarian.
- Pathologies: dermatological problems can also affect the appearance of our cat's hair, so any change we notice in the coat, not only roughness, but also dandruff, alopecia (absence of hair), excess fat, wounds, etc. It has to be reason for veterinary consultation. In addition, some systemic diseases can also make our cat's hair rough or ugly, such as intestinal disorders or chronic diseases such as kidney failure or immunodeficiency.
- Stress: although we always have to first rule out a physical cause by going to the vet, as we have said, sometimes the problem in the coat It can be caused by a stressful situation such as the one that can cause a move, a change in the house, the introduction of other animals, the arrival of a child, etc. Stress affects the cat's immune system, with the consequent lowering of defenses that can begin to manifest in the fur.
- Lack of care and/or hygiene: It is true that cats groom themselves, but at least those with longer hair They will need frequent brushing, especially in the areas with the highest risk of knots and tangles, such as under the tail and neck, on the legs or on the belly. Short-haired cats will also need our help, for example, with age, as they may have problems grooming themselves, since they will not reach all areas with the same ease. This can lead to unsightly patches of fur.
Having seen the factors that can intervene in a cat with rough hair, we are going to look at the possible solutions below.
Hair care
To prevent our cat from having ugly or rough hair, we must pay attention to the following recommendations:
- Food: the food we supply our cat must be of the highest quality possible. It is recommended to offer it feed, since today the wide variety of this product on the market guarantees that our cat's needs are met at any time in its life. And this is an important aspect, since the feed that we acquire must be adapted to the phase in which our cat is. For example, a kitten under one year old must eat a specific feed, just like a pregnant female or a cat that is sick. Proteins, fatty acids and minerals are going to be very important in the appearance of the hair.
- Deworming: the presence of some parasites, such as fleas, can also have an effect on the coat, taking away its shine. It is therefore important to keep our cat dewormed, with the most suitable product for its circumstances, as recommended by our veterinarian, from among the wide range found on the market. At this point it should be noted that some cats have dermatitis due to flea bite allergy, which we will see manifest with alopecia, sparse hair, scales or lesions. For them it is essential to maintain the deworming protocol, because only a bite can trigger dermatitis.
- Hygiene: long-haired cats should be brushed frequently. Short-haired ones also benefit from this coat care, as it helps remove dead hair and, in addition, this habit allows any damage to the coat or skin to be detected immediately. As our cat gets older or if it has any illness, we must be more scrupulous with this care.
- Stress: to avoid our cat's stress we must introduce any modification or change in its routine with special care, even contacting a ethologist (specialist in animal behavior) or veterinarian with knowledge in feline psychology. In addition, we must keep him in what is known as the " enriched environment", that is, the one with all the distractions that will prevent him from getting bored or frustrated, since that this is another cause of stress.
