older cat with greasy fur (kidney, blood, smells, coons)
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I have a long-haired Norwegian Forest cat, and over the past few years, I've noticed he is getting greasier and greasier (his fur). He is 15 1/2.
I've read that older cats start to get greasier faster. Have any of you encountered that? What did you do about it.
I used to be able to take him to the groomers 2x a year, now, he is greasy and smells after just 4-6 weeks.
Thankfully, he is so docile that I can wash him myself. yesterday, I put him in the tub and used a shower sprayer and he just stood there while I lathered him up and then rinsed.
I can't afford the $80 trip to the groomers every other month.
I am sure he hates getting a bath, but I don't think I'm going to have a choice anymore.
What he really needs is a check up and blood work. Poor coat condition is an indication of several diseases, kidney disease and hyperthyroid to mention two. It also could be arthritis, a cat in pain is unwilling to wash much.
Do please get him a good thorough check up with blood work (including thyroid) to find out what's going on.
thanks cats mom - he had a check up a few months back and everything is fine. He has a heart murmur though.
Honestly, his coat has gotten greasier now that I have him on a raw diet. It was already prone to oiliness, but has been markedly worse in the past year or so.
His fur under his chin and chest area is the worst.
I am going to get some pet wipes to clean that area after he eats and then I will just bathe him once a month. Thankfully he is so docile when getting bathed.
This may sound like harping, but at 15 1/2 "a check up a few months ago" doesn't mean much. When you see a sudden change, of any kind, new blood work is really the first thing to be done.
At that age, a cat's health can change very quickly. The sooner any issue is caught, the better the chances for kitty.
I have a long-haired Norwegian Forest cat, and over the past few years, I've noticed he is getting greasier and greasier (his fur). He is 15 1/2.
n't afford the $80 trip to the groomers every other month.
I am sure he hates getting a bath, but I don't think I'm going to have a choice anymore.
I think a trip to the vet is in order to see if he's developing a skin condition of some kind. Is he still grooming himself? Sometimes old cats don't spend much time grooming and sometimes they're ill and the owner is not aware of it. They get that unkempt look.
my first thought was thyroid also. Older cats can get a greasy coat as they age and don't feel like grooming, or are stressed. but thyroid and kidney are prime concerns. when he had the checkup a few months ago, did they do a full blood panel, or just a routine checkup? and was he as greasy then as now? Something may have changed.
BTW, if you are going to try washing him, you will want to use Dawn dish soap to help with the de-greasing. I have 2 Wegies that I've shown a little, and Dawn is the usual 'shampoo' used with Coons & Wegies. If he's clumping badly, you may need to let the Dawn works it way in a bit ahead of time.
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