A dull, flaky coat is often the first visible sign that something in the diet is short, and the marine omega-3s, EPA and DHA, are the pair most often missing from an otherwise decent cat food. They are built into the skin's barrier layer, the part that holds moisture in and irritants out, which is why the change from supplementing them shows in coat feel and dandruff rather than anywhere dramatic. It is a slow improvement, measured over weeks.

This is Kriath's liquid version in a 60ml bottle with a dropper, and the format is doing most of the work for cat owners specifically. Cats are exceptionally good at detecting and rejecting a capsule buried in wet food, and a chew has to be palatable enough to eat as a treat. A liquid can be stirred into a meal or added to the water bowl, disperses rather than sitting in a lump, and lets you build the dose up gradually so a suspicious cat does not notice the change all at once.

• Omega-3 supplying EPA and DHA
• 60ml bottle, roughly 2 fl oz
• Dropper for measured dosing
• Mixes into wet food, dry food or water
• No capsule to hide and no chew to coax down
• Supports the skin barrier and coat condition

Two things worth knowing. Fish oils oxidise, so keep the bottle closed, cool and out of sunlight, and go by the smell: if it turns sharp, it has gone off and should be replaced. And omega-3 supports a healthy coat, it does not treat a skin problem. Persistent itching, bald patches, scabs along the back or over-grooming point to fleas, allergies or something else a vet needs to look at, and no supplement will resolve any of those.

Who it's for: Owners of a cat with a dry, dull coat and no diagnosed skin condition, who need a form a fussy cat will accept.