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Why Nutrition in Cat Food Is Key for Shiny Coat
Why Nutrition in Cat Food Is Key for Shiny Coat

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Comprehensive Guide to Maintain a Shiny Cat Coat

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What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear the word ‘cat’? It's probably a cat covered in smooth and shiny fur, right? Not only does it look majestic, but every time we pet a cat, it also feels like we are running our fingers through silk. A shiny coat is no less than a divine blessing. However, this heaven-sent beauty can lose its shine if you stop taking care of it. While grooming plays a vital role in maintaining healthy cat fur, there are multiple other factors that influence its look and feel. If you are not aware of how to care for shiny cat fur, continue reading. This article covers everything around cat fur health.
 

Why isn’t your cat’s coat shiny?

If your cat’s fur looks dull, instead of directly jumping on to quick fixes, try understanding its cause. Here are a few common reasons why cat fur loses its shine:
 

  1. Poor diet

    When it comes to maintaining a cat’s lustrous fur, diet is key. In fact, along with keeping your cat's coat shiny, a balanced and complete diet will also ensure its overall well-being. So, make sure that you go for cat foods that are loaded with proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, and fats.
  2. Frequent bathing

    We have all seen our hair get damaged due to excessive washing. But did you know? Cats' fur too loses its charm after frequent bathing. That's because overbathing leads to the loss of natural skin oils that keep your feline friend's coat shiny.
  3. Age

    Cats are pretty self sufficient when it comes to grooming. As a caretaker, you do not have to bathe your purrfect pal regularly to follow basic hygiene. However, old-age affects their flexibility, which hinders cats' grooming sessions. So next time your cat chooses to put its natural grooming equipment to use, make sure you assist it. However, lack of flexibility isn't always a sign of old-age. Overweight cats too cannot reach every area of their body. If your cat is obese, create a healthy weight loss plan with your vet.
  4. Medical issues

    If none of the aforementioned factors have caused lacklustre to your cat's coat, the next plausible reason would be a medical condition. Cats lose their coat's shine due to serious health issues like diabetes, parasites, infections, and allergies. In case you suspect that your cat's dull coat is a sign of illness, consult a vet immediately.

How to make a cat’s fur shiny again?

Now that you know the causes of dull cat coats, you can work towards bringing its shine back. Here are a few ways to make cat fur shiny:

  • Brush the coat regularly: Brushing gets rid of dead strands and stimulates hair follicles. Moreover, it also helps spread natural skin oils to the coat, giving you a shiny cat fur.
  • Use the right shampoo: Picking the right shampoo is imperative, especially because the wrong ones can strip off a cat’s natural skin oil and damage the fur.

  • Avoid excessive bathing: Frequent bathing can lead to dry and flaky skin. Hence, do not make your cat take a dip unnecessarily.

  • Follow a healthy diet: We all know that hair strands are 90% protein. Hence, providing protein-rich meals becomes vital for maintaining a shiny cat coat. 
     

How and why nutrition is important for a cat’s coat and skin?

Skin is the largest organ. And with cats, this organ is generally fully covered with fur. They shed and regrow hair strands multiple times in their entire lifetime. However, a poor diet can slow down the regrowth process. Basically, lack of nutrition can eventually lead to bald spots. A diet that not only includes high-quality protein but also vitamins, minerals, good fats, and other nutrients will fast-track the hair growth process, maintain a shiny coat, and strengthen the immune system.

IAMS™ Proactive Health™ Indoor Weight & Hairball Care cat food is loaded with omega-3 and 6 fatty acids to give your cat a shiny and healthy coat. Other essential nutrients like proteins, vitamins, and minerals in this premium cat food support your feline friend’s overall health.

Frequently asked questions

  1. Why is my cat’s fur not shiny?
  2. Cats can lose their coat’s shine due to multiple factors. Here are a few common reasons why your cat’s coat is not shiny:

    • Excessive grooming and bathing
    • Poor diet
    • Wrong shampoo
    • Old age
    • Sudden weight gain
    • Diabetes
    • Allergies
    • Infection

  3. How can I improve my cat’s coat?
  4. Maintaining a healthy and shiny cat coat boils down to two things – hygiene and nutrition. As a cat parent, you must ensure that your feline friend doesn’t groom itself too frequently. However, you cannot neglect hygiene either. Based on its lifestyle and vet recommendation, make sure that your cat doesn’t over or under groom. Moreover, follow a nourishing diet that is packed with proteins, vitamins, minerals, and omega-3 fatty acids. Not only will it maintain your cat's shiny fur but it will also boost healthy hair regrowth.

  5. Can I put oil on my cat’s fur?
  6. Although applying oil on your cat’s fur might not do any harm, it is best to consult your veterinarian regarding the same.

  7. What food helps a cat's coat?
  8. Cats’ fur can say a lot about their overall health. If your feline friend is nourished and healthy from within, it will be reflected through its skin and coat. So make sure that your cat receives nutrients like proteins, vitamins, minerals, and omega-3 fatty acids in the right quantities to help maintain a cat's coat.

  • Understanding Your Cat's Eating Habits
    Understanding Your Cat's Eating Habits
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    Tips on How To Feed Your Cat

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    Compared to humans, your cat needs a high-fat, high-protein diet along with other important nutrients. Cats usually eat many small meals throughout the day, so they easily adopt a free choice feeding schedule to maintain their normal body weight. Dry foods, such as IAMS™ PROACTIVE HEALTH™ Healthy Adult with Chicken, are best suited for free choice feeding because they stay fresh for a longer period.

    Tips on How To Feed Your Cat

    Here are few tips on how to feed a cat: 

    Nutritional Building Blocks

    Wondering what do cats eat ? Cats need nutrients from animal-based protein sources. Providing the vitamins, minerals, proteins, and other components found in a portion of complete and balanced pet food can help your cat live a long and healthy life. It is important to avoid supplementing your cat's diet, as doing so may lead to a variety of health problems. 
    When selecting cat food, refer to a cat nutrition chart that offers the following nutrients:

    • Animal protein from meat, poultry, fish, or egg sources to maintain strong muscular structure, vital organs, antibodies, and more.
    • Taurine, an amino acid, found in meat sources such as chicken and fish, but not in plant proteins, to maintain healthy eyes, prevent heart disease. It also promotes healthy reproduction, fetal growth, and development.
    • Essential vitamins and minerals such as vitamin A, which can be found pre-formed only in animal tissues, and vitamin E to help support the immune system.
    • A precise balance of fatty acids to help promote excellent skin and coat health.
    • A fiber source, such as beet pulp, that will help maintain your cat's digestive system health.

    Tips on How To Feed Your Cat

    Special Dietary Needs

    • Pregnant or Lactating Cats

      If you’re wondering how much should I feed my cat, then know that a cat's energy intake should be increased gradually by up to 50% over her maintenance intake throughout its pregnancy. You can feed your pregnant cat wholesome kitten food to provide the needed nutritional support during the last few weeks of gestation.

      After birth, the mother cat's energy increases by 50% to 75% over normal in the first week to twice the normal in the second week, and up to three times during the third week. The third and fourth weeks are the most demanding because kittens are still feeding on the lactating cat’s milk and have not begun eating dry or canned food. Once kittens begin weaning, the mother cat should be fed normal food portions to avoid unnecessary weight gain.

    Tips on How To Feed Your Cat

    • Avoiding Obesity

      ‘What do cats eat that result in them developing obesity’ is a commonly asked question by cat parents. Several factors are responsible for causing an unhealthy weight gain in your cat. Food and nutritional requirements of a cat are quite different than that of a kitten or even a senior cat. Simply increasing the amount of food your cat eats to satisfy its nutritional need could lead to cat obesity. And this is a health problem that should not be taken lightly. In general, indoor cats are at a higher risk of developing obesity because they do not engage in many physical activities. But as a cat parent, you must pay attention to your cat’s food intake and make sure it remains active. You may also introduce a new kind of diet that may help your cat to maintain its weight. Read further ahead for some useful cat feeding tips that can help you.

    what shape

    Same time, we recommend you control the amount of food you feed your cat. Even if it is a weight loss-based cat food, the quantity should be checked properly.

    • Preventing Hairballs

      Cats spend a considerable amount of time grooming themselves. In the process, they end up swallowing their body hair. This leads to a hair build-up in the stomach. If the hairball doesn’t pass into the intestines, a cat may try to cough it up. A special cat diet plan can help decrease the likelihood of hairballs, but you may decrease its effectiveness if you combine it with other foods.

    Comparison Of Eating Habits For Underweight V/S Overweight Cat

    • Underweight Cats:

      One of the most asked questions by cat owners is what can cats eat if they are underweight? Underweight cats need more nourishment, which will help them increase their body mass, eventually increasing their weight. For underweight cats, an intake of extra calories is also essential. These extra calories will help your cat gain healthy weight. You may contact your vet who can devise a proper weight gain chart for your cat.
    • Overweight Cats:

      Overweight cats need a calorie-restricted diet for them to come down to their healthy weight. In fact, the food you feed your overweight or obese cat should ideally have high protein and low calories.

    How Much Food Should Your Cat Eat Daily?

    The amount to feed your cat depends on its age, size, and activity level. Feeding guidelines that recommend the daily amount of food you may feed your cat are included on all IAMS packages. Start feeding your cat the mentioned amount and adjust according to its needs. Remember to divide the portion accordingly if you feed more than once a day. With that said now, take a look at this chart on how much to feed a cat:

    Weight of cat (kg)G/day
    345
    455
    560
    670
    780
    890

    How IAMS Products Help To Solve Over-Eating/Under-Eating Issues?

    IAMS offers a high protein diet food for cats that are either underweight or overweight. The IAMS Indoor Weight and Hairball Care food is made with a formula that is suitable for cats who are either in need of increasing weight or decreasing it. The benefits of this cat diet plan are as follows:

    • 1st Ingredient is Chicken.
    • This formula includes L-Carnitine that helps get your cat achieve its ideal weight and has balanced nutrition.
    • This food is recommended by Veterinarians as well.
    • This cat diet plan also helps maintain your cat’s urinary tract health.

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