Why is my cat's fur greasy and clumping? Is it an oily skin issue?

It looks "unthrifty". This may need a simple brushing or grooming to correct. Sometimes, if a cat is ill or injured, he or she may not self groom as much. In these cases, it is best to have an exam with your veterinarian. A simple blood test can be done to screen for thyroid issues. If results are suspicious, a more comprehensive thyroid panel can be submittted. At Cloud's age, hyperthyroidism is not likely.

This sounds like a condition called "stud tail", quite common in cats and is believed to be an hormonal imbalance causing the skin to secrete oily substance that manifest itself as black dot, mainly in the tail but not only (the chin is also a common area). there is no effective treatment for this and the condition is not dangerous and usually does not bother the cat, some special shampoos can help in some cases (such as sebocalm for example).

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

You cat seems to have a large amount of dander in addition to the 'lines' in the hair. The lines in the hair may be due to a large amount of greasiness to the fur. The dander and greasiness may be secondary to infection (pyoderma), sterile inflammation, or a sign of metabolic problems such as kidney issues, diabetes, nutritional problems, or others. It would be reasonable to make an appointment with your family veterinarian for a physical examination. They may recommend some testing of the skin, bloodwork, or other things based on their consultation with you and their physical examination.

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!

This is probably caused by an allergic reaction. first of all make sure you de-flea Nuggey regularly every month with a high quality spot on (ex. Advantage) as fleas are by far the most common reason for these reactions. If the fleas are not the problem, it could be an allergic reaction to food or an environmental factor. this is more complicated to treat and will sometimes require medications such as Steroids, anti histamines or cyclosporin in order to stop the allergy.

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!