Coat 'separating' or 'clumping' – should I be worried?

B
Babouchette Icon representing the flag French
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Hi everyone and Happy New Year!

The fur on one of my cats is 'separating' (see the photo, it's hard to explain). Basically, it doesn't lie flat against his body; it stands up a bit in regular lines.

Coat 'separating' or 'clumping' – should I be worried?

I didn't think much of it until a few people mentioned that it makes him look a bit unwell.

Just to clarify:

- It's not that he's raising his hackles; it's like this even when he's relaxed or sleeping.

- His coat is very soft and doesn't smell bad, though it does look a bit greasy.

- He hasn't got any dandruff, isn't shedding, and the skin underneath looks healthy.

- I think his coat has always been a bit like this, but it's become much more noticeable over the last year or two.

- My cat has IBD (Inflammatory Bowel Disease) and has been on steroids for three months, but his coat was already like this before he started them.

What do you think? Could it just be his natural coat type? Or should I be worried about another health issue on top of the IBD?

Thanks a lot for your help!

Babouchette 😁

Translated from French
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7 answers
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    • QuizzicalRhinoceros5345
    Quizzicalrhinoceros5345 Icon representing the flag German
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    Yes, it could definitely just be down to his individual coat texture – some cats naturally have slightly greasy or 'stringy' fur, especially those with a thick undercoat or certain breeds/crosses. BUT: Since you’ve only really noticed it more over the last 1–2 years and your cat https://wunderwins.org/ has IBD (inflammatory bowel disease) and is on cortisone, you should also consider indirect causes (e.g. nutrient absorption, skin metabolism, stress, medication).

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    ProvetoJuniorConseil
    Provetojuniorconseil Icon representing the flag French
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    Hi,

    The coat you're showing here looks perfectly normal. It's clean, and there are no bald patches or scabs that might suggest any skin issues. I don't think there's any need to worry, especially if they seem fine in themselves (no weight loss, no dehydration, no lethargy...).

    Jules

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    K
    Kikounette Icon representing the flag French
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    Hi everyone, for a few weeks now, my 12-year-old girl’s coat hasn’t been looking quite right. I’ve attached a photo. Thanks in advance for any advice or thoughts.

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    B
    Babouchette Icon representing the flag French
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    Thanks everyone for your replies! Schtroumpfy: yes, his coat is like that all the time, no matter what position he's in. Basically, when you stroke him, it goes all nice and smooth, but as soon as he moves, it gets that 'clumpy' look again. Bluecat: he does groom himself regularly, though maybe a bit less than usual. Ulalie: I've never heard of those PetPhos supplements before, I'll have a look into them. Anyway, he's being properly treated for his IBD and the vet is keeping a very close eye on him. Since starting the treatment, he hasn't had any more symptoms, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that he stays healthy. Thanks again for your help! Babouchette
    Translated from French
    Schtroumphy
    Schtroumphy Icon representing the flag French
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    Hi,

    Am I... am I the only one who thinks this fur looks 100% normal? Our cat’s coat does something similar depending on the way he’s sitting, usually when he’s got his back arched, for example. It’s just a bit more pronounced here. Does his fur always look like that, or is it just depending on his position?

    I’ve just grabbed a random photo from Google; this cat has the same thing—admittedly less pronounced—but in my opinion, it’s just a normal effect of the fur depending on the pose, the thickness of the coat, etc.

    Translated from French
    ?
    Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French
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    Give him a brush every day with a slicker brush and, perhaps with your vet's okay given his health issues, give him a course of a skin and coat supplement twice a year. I think his fur looks quite dull and his coat looks like that of an unwell cat, which you've already mentioned yourself.
    Translated from French
    Blue_Cat
    Blue_cat Icon representing the flag French
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    Hi there, Your cat’s coat doesn't look like anything to worry about; it seems perfectly healthy to me. He just has very thick fur and is probably smoothing it down a bit less with his saliva because of his illness. It’s not a problem with the fur itself, but rather that your cat isn't grooming as often. There’s no reason to worry about his coat, but do keep a close eye on how his IBD is progressing.
    Translated from French

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