Cat’s fur shedding is an unsightly thing and it definitely causes a lot of mess. This also is pretty unhealthy if someone inhales some of the hair which can cause problems, especially to people allergic to cats.
Fur shedding is a normal daily occurrence when it comes to cats and is impacted by different factors. One of them would be the variety of the cat. For example, Sphinx and Peterbald cats hardly do have any hair and don’t shed. There is also an alternation in shedding between indoor and outdoor cats: while indoor cats shed throughout the year, outdoor cats shed the most in spring and autumn.
We have to stress that shedding doesn’t depend on the temperature but on a number of daylight cats are exposed to. Normally, when there’s less daylight during autumn, cats automatically start growing thicker fur while the opposite happens in spring. In the following paragraphs, we’ll tell you how to deal with too much cat hair shedding once you notice it.
Change in nutrition causes less hair fall-out
You must have heard many times that the look of your cat’s fur reflects its health. If your cat’s coat is glossy, smooth, mat-free and without bald patches, you can be at peace because your cat is in a perfect condition. However, if you notice any deformities with cat’s fur shedding pattern, you should consider changing your cat’s diet.
Excessive fur shedding could be due to dehydration or omega-3 deficiency. In such cases, you should think about switching from dry to wet food. As for the increase of the healthy fats and acids your cat is given, you can add omega-3 supplements to its diet. This will not only prevent shedding but will also improve the quality of your cat’s coat.
Direct sources of omega-3 would be raw fish such as tuna, sardine or salmon. Vets recommend that you take a sardine per day, chop it and mix it with the regular food you’re giving to your cat or make a meal made only of sardines once a week.
If you’re using commercial cat food found in stores, read the labels and ensure they have high-quality ingredients. It is the best if you could buy premium foods. Avoid can cat foods with different sauces and buy only the ones in the water. The reason for this is that the sauces usually contain seasonings and vegetables (such as garlic) that cats don’t really like.
Regular grooming and bathing
Brushing will scoop the excess hair before it actually falls out. The frequency of brushing depends on the variety of the cat. If you have a short-haired cat, then brushing 3-4 times a week would be enough. However, if it is long-haired variety, you’ll need to take that brush more often.
The tools you’ll need for this are:
- mat removing brush (for untangling the mats)
- slicker brushes (for final brush-out) and de-shedding tools (for removing the loose hair).
Brushing will not only aid your cat to get rid of excess hair but will also spread the oils evenly and promote healthy and shiny coat.
Bathing your cat is also a part of its grooming and keeps the coat shedding at the minimum. Remember to use the shampoos specifically made for cats because the ones made for humans are too aggressive for cat’s sensitive skin and could cause shedding bigger than it used to be.
The choice of shampoo should be also approved by your vet. You’ll also have to prepare the environment well. Make sure it is not too cold or too hot in the room where you’re bathing your cat. Also, the water must not be too hot and don’t put the cat in the water too suddenly because cats sometimes react abruptly and angrily to water.
This means that bathing is often pretty stressful for cats, so insure you make them feel relaxed and secure. You can choose the time for bathing on your own but it is desirable that you do it when your cat is least active.
If you have too much trouble with your cat’s behavior during bathing, then you can use Cat Bath Wipes saturated with natural proteins and conditioner or waterless cleaners which you spritz on, massage in and towel off.
Using Furminator
Furminator is an electric tool for getting rid of your cat’s loose hair. It is especially effective with long-haired cats. It removes 90 per cent of loose hair with its stainless, steel edge that reaches deep beneath the coat safely, fast and easy.
Before using this gadget, ensure that your pet is completely dry. Also, remove all the tangles and mats because it will get painful for the cat if the Furminator stumbles upon them. Look carefully at your cat’s body for injuries and scars so you don’t go over them when you use the device.
When you brush the cat’s coat with Furminator, do it with the teeth angled in the direction in which the cat’s hair grows. Use long and gentle moves and be attentive when it comes to the areas around the animal’s ears, stomach, legs, and genitals. Furminators should be used once or twice a week.
You can choose a specific room for the times when you use this and don’t forget to vacuum regularly (or even more than it is optimal) and clean the teeth from the device so that too much cat hair doesn’t get stuck in it.
Make sure you rule out possible underlying medical conditions that can cause hair shedding
Hair-shedding in cats is not unusual. However, not all fur loss is normal, especially if you notice bald patches on your cat’s coat. There are a few medical problems that underlie excessive hair shedding. When it comes to older cats, cancer could cause the shedding. Also, in case of nervous disorders that cause overgrooming, alopecia is a common occurrence. Other medical issues that cause alopecia are parasites (cause manga), fungal diseases like ringwarm, allergies and hormonal misbalance.
