My 18-year-old cat's fur is rough. Is a dull coat normal for seniors?

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!

Hello, thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. From the photo there does not appear to be any bald spots, however, it is not a very close up view. Honestly, unless there are bald spots and/or she is scratching the area I would not be too concerned. If the problem persists though (like for a few months) then you should take her to your vet for an exam. Some reasons there could be changes in the hair coat: 1. Diet - the special diet she is eating may be causing some nutrient imbalance. You should talk to your vet about putting her on a supplement for her coat (like fish oils) as this may help. 2. Skin Allergies - even if she has never had any symptoms of allergies before, they can develop over time. If this was the case though, I would expect hair loss and/or scratching, redness of the skin, etc. If you are not seeing any of that then this is not as likely to be the problem. 3. Fleas - again, I would expect hair loss and scratching. If you are not noticing that, then this is also not very likely to be the problem. 4. Stress - even if you don't think your cat is stressed, she could be. Try to see if you could think of anything that could be causing stress like visiting family, stray cats hanging around outside, you got a new pet, new furniture, etc.... 5. Thyroid disease- either a low or high thyroid can cause problems with the hair coat. Your vet can do a blood test to check for this. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

Hello, thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. So sorry your cat is having this issue. I suggest you get him to your vet for a check up and some blood testing. Thyroid disease is very common in older cats as is kidney disease and diabetes. All of these things can cause similar symptoms and all are easily diagnosed with simple blood testing. You need to realize that at 17 years old he is about 85 in human years. At this age, things start to fail and go wrong. You need to find out what is wrong so you know how to best treat him. Some things are very easily treated with daily medications. I don't think this is something you are going to be able treat at home without knowing what the underlying cause is. Hope this helps. Best wishes!

Hi Niki. 18 is a great old age for a cat but it is likely that she is starting to have some age related illnesses. Older cats may be prone to hyperthyroid which can make them lose weight, have skin issues and other problems. Renal (kidney) disease can also affect our older kitties. I would suggest that your dad's kitty see a veterinarian for a senior checkup and some bloodwork. Many of these conditions can be diagnosed on a bloodwork screen and there are multiple medical options to treat to give her the best quality of life in her golden years.

This could be due to Kitty's age. When cats are older, they can groom themselves less effectively than younger cats, sometimes resulting in hair matting, skin odor, and inflammation. It could also be that she has arthritis, making it painful for her to reach around to groom her backside and sides. I would make an appointment for her with a groomer. They can brush out her matts (they may need to be shaved), and get her coat back into a better condition. Then you should brush her daily to prevent further matts from occurring. It's very important to get those matts removed asap, as they will be pulling on her skin and it will be painful for her. I'd also make an appointment with her vet for a health check, geriatric blood panel, and urinalysis just to see if everything is ok health wise for her. The vet can also examine her to see if she has arthritis, and can prescribe pain medications as needed. Please do not give her any human pain medications, many are toxic to cats and are fatal if given. Give a groomer and her vet a call today. I hope this helps!

If he seems to be losing weight, I would make sure her thyroid level was tested. If so, the skin could be due to an allergy or other skin condition. Thyroid level being high can cause skin and hair changes so I would first get this level checked out. As for the skin, you can use Douxo PS calm shampoo and mousse, both of which can be found online quite easily. 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.