Discussions

My 4 year old cat has developed dandruff this spring for the first time. She is also having issues with a few matted areas.  
I have changed her food after it started to a food that says it helps with the coat. We have never brushed her before but I am going to start doing that but I don’t know that will help with dandruff.  
Any suggestions?

Sounds like your cat needs some omega 3 fatty acids, like fish oil. I give my cat an oil called Medi Paws, a couple drops with his food. It's actually a cannabis sativa seed oil. If you buy fish oil, make sure it's for cats.  
 
Brushing would be good too as it helps distribute the oils on their skin.

Swiching the litter, I wonder if maybe kitty has developed an allergy to it.  
I find cat food from the grocery store causes dander more. We used to buy our food at the pet store however we found Costco carts food similar ingredients.

Definitely keep brushing.  
As for oils, when my dog had dry skin and dandruff, my vet recommended Allerderm Efa-Z Plus. It's Omega 3, 6, vitamins, and zinc. It worked well for my dog, and the cats always wanted to lick the bowl, so presuming it tasted good to them!

could also be causing problems. I've found that it actually pays to buy a LIMITED INGREDIENT / NO GRAIN food for both the cats & dogs. I had one barn cat that was getting scruffy looking & I narrowed it down to the cheap food I was buying. Once I went to a food with less fillers she picked up really well.  
 
Whenever I have canned salmon or tuna, I buy the low / no sodium & save the juice for the cats. Sardines also help every once in a while. I also feed feral cats at a local landfill & add mackerel (from the Dollar Store) to the food I give them & they are starting to have nice coats (even the ones that seemed a bit matted & full of dandruff after the winter).  
 
Someone also mentioned changing the type of litter. I have COPD & cannot tolerate the dust coming off the clay stuff so we use wood pellets (hardwood) with no additives. It helped ME & I noticed the cats weren't sneezing & trying to clean themselves after using the litter box. Not sure if it helps with the dandruff problem but the cats seem healthier overall. It also happens to not get stinky as quickly as that clay crap.  
 
Hope some of this helps - just what I've discovered over the years.

I found THE best brush for cats & dogs is a "Furminator" (available for long/medium/short haired cats and dogs). Cheaper to buy on Amazon than buying in a local pet store. I have had Huskies for decades & spring is always an adventure when they seem to shed all over the place. The Furminator gets at the under hair as well as the top hair. Cats seem to enjoy getting brushed with the Furminator for cats too.