Why does my cat have a dry nose?

Our question this week was:

Dr. Debra – my cats cute little nose seems very dry? Why does do you think she has a dry nose? Should I worry? Her skin and everything else seems okay – she is playful and seems to be healthy.

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John B.

Answer

Hi – thanks for your email. You wrote asking, “why does your cat have a dry nose”.

Dry noses in cats are not that common – it is more common in dogs. However some cats can have moist noses and others dry but not abnormal.

There are several “old wives tales” about the temperature and dryness of a dog or cats nose and they are just that – tales. A cat’s health is not reflected by his nose dryness or temperature.

If you think about it – some people have dryer skin than others – it may be a reflection of the weather, humidity, exposure to sun or just our genetic make-up. If your cat is otherwise healthy – I would not worry if his nose is dry.

If you want to put something on your cat’s dry nose – you can use a little bit of Vaseline. But most likely – they won’t like and will lick it off immediately.

A dry nose that changes pigmentation, is dry, cracked or scabbed should be examined by your veterinarian and could indicate some underlying skin disorder. An article that might be helpful to you is Dry Skin in Cats.

Best of luck!

Dr. Debra

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