Why is my cat's coat greasy, nails brittle, and paws dry/callused?

Sometimes cats don't groom as well with age because they have some arthritis pain that makes it harder to reach around and groom. Sometimes they just aren't as concerned or interested in grooming when they get older. Use a bathing wipe and gently brush her every few days to help her out. Cosequin is a supplement that may help her if she has some arthritis and may also help her skin and coat. https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/cat/cat-health-and-wellness/cat-vitamins-and-supplements/cosequin-joint-health-plus-boswellia-cat-supplement Thanks for asking PetCoach!

HI, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! A lot of times older cats have harder times grooming themselves, whether it be from arthritis, obesity, or underlying medical problems. I think it is important to be sure she isn't suffering from fleas, ringworm, mites or a skin infection. Since she is almost 15 years old I recommend having some blood work done. Be sure she isn't pulling her own hair out which can be a sign of allergies or behavioral issues. I think scheduling an exam with your Vet is the best thing since this is a new medical problem. If all things check out normal then you can try an Omega 3 fish oil supplement to see if that improves her coat. I hope this helps and I wish Lilabit the best!

Thank you for your post! Smokey's skin does not look too happy. Not sure what type of shampoo you are using but this almost looks a bit like a skin infection Or dermatitis. Insect bites can sometimes look like this as well. I would suggest starting him on omega 3 fish oil (such as welactin for cats) and use a shampoo such as duoxo chlorhexidine PS combination. It could also be a part of a condition known as eosinophilic granuloma complex. If it does not improve I would see you vet for a further workup as different treatment may be required. Feel free to contact me with further questions or concerns

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is possibly due to allergies though it could certainly be something else and it is hard to know without an exam. It really comes down to figuring out what is causing his allergies so that they can be treated or the specific allergen avoided. A secondary infection is likely and also needs to be addressed. Fish oil works great for dry skin and you may get this online or at your local pet store. There are many things that can cause allergies though in most cases they can be broken down into 3 big categories: flea, food and environmental allergies. Allergies are usually worked up in a stepwise fashion starting with flea allergies as this is the easiest and cheapest to take care of. If not on a flea preventative, then it would be a good idea to get started on one. If already on one then it would be a good idea to change to something else (there are many new products out in the market). If not improved in 1-3 months then it is time to move on and check for food allergies by switching to a novel diet (new protein and new carbohydrate). If that does not seem to be the issue then you are left out having to check for environmental allergies which require blood and/or skin tests. Allergies can be very frustrating to deal with at first but so rewarding at the end when we are able to treat them effectively!

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. From your description, it sounds as though he is dealing with a condition called seborrheic dermatitis. In this condition, there is excessive sebum (the greasy stuff) that accumulates on the skin and hair, leading to inflammation / hair loss. I would recommend having a veterinarian take a look at him so that the most appropriate diagnostic testing and treatment recommendations can be made. I would recommend using a shampoo that contains Benzoyl Peroxide (such as Dermabenz) and bathe him twice weekly until this resolves. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further!

Those spots on your kitty could be just dry skin causing itching bad enough to lose hair (do know that dry skin alone should not cause hair loss) but there are several things including fleas, allergies, skin mites, bacterial infection or endocrine disease which could also look the same way. There are a couple things you can do at home and they can help but they may not address the underlying cause. That's great that you are using an omega 3 fatty acid supplement this can help improve the skin health. Make sure it is a formula for pets (better absorption) and you may need to squirt it directly in his mouth. You may also try changing his diet to something like Royal Canin or Nutro as they are aimed at skin health. Also protect the area from trauma by having your kitty wear an elizabethan collar at all times. If the skin does not start improving within 2-3 weeks or if it is getting worse, have him examined by the veterinarian to look for other causes. Unfortunately, lotions and sprays don;t tend to moisturize as well as supplements and diet. There are some moisturizing sprays and your cat will need to wear an elizabethan collar at all times because otherwise he will lick the product. Moisturizing shampoos and conditions for pets are also an option but not all cats enjoy baths and may bite and scratch their owners. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Cat don't really like baths so I can suggest these things: 1. A [fish oil supplement](https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/wild-alaskan-salmon-oil-cat-food-supplement) that can be mixed into their food. 2. Use a [waterless shampoo](https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/tropiclean-waterless-cat-shampoo-deep-cleaning) product instead of traditional bathing. 3. Daily brushing. Brushing helps to stimulate the normal oils in the skin. Hope this help. Best wishes!