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Shedding is a natural process of all mammals. It is a way of preparing for a change of season. Some animals go through very clear molting seasons where they lose and regrow their fur in a short period, mostly to adapt and prepare for environmental temperature changes.
Modern domestic cats have evolved from wild felines that needed to adapt to seasonal changes. Shedding is controlled by the number of daylight hours also known as photoperiod, through the stimulation of the pineal gland.
Nowadays, our house cats enjoy a protected and artificially controlled temperature and no longer rely on their fur to survive environmental changes. Air conditioners and house heaters have resulted in cats shedding a few hairs every day as a natural process of renovation of the hair cycle where hair grows, rests, dies, and falls. However, even modern house cats go through a heavier shedding season twice a year, usually around the time of spring, when they lose their heavy winter undercoat to prepare for warmer weather, and in fall when they prepare to grow a new undercoat for the next winter’s cold.
Is It Normal for My Cat to Shed a Lot?
It is completely normal for your cat to shed, and modern house cats that have access to natural light still go through two very clear shedding seasons in the year. It is a necessary biological process to regrow the fur to keep it healthy, even if they don’t need to prepare for seasonal changes. Both cats with long and short hair will regularly shed a few hairs every day; however, it is way more visually obvious in the case of long-haired cats.
In addition, hormonal changes, such as the ones experienced during pregnancy or lactation, can cause cats to shed more, which is normal.
Top 3 Ways to Prevent Your Cat From Shedding a Lot of Hair
It is impossible to prevent a cat from shedding, as this is a natural cycle of their fur. However, shedding can be managed to prevent more serious complications. The following are some general recommendations to help your cat have healthy fur and shedding.
1. Grooming
Cats spend a good amount of time grooming themselves, cleaning, and fixing their fur with the little scoop-shaped spines of their tongues called filiform papillae. However, an important part of a pet cat’s care is the maintenance of the fur and regular brushing. It is recommended to brush long-haired cats a couple of times per week, while most short-haired cats need to be brushed at least weekly. With this, you will be able to aid your cat in keeping healthy fur, and free of knots and mats.
- Helps stimulate circulation to the skin
- Helps to remove dirt
- Helps to remove unnecessary dead skin cells and dead hairs
- Most importantly, helps prevent the risk of your cat ingesting too much hair while self-grooming!
Hairballs are caused by the accumulation of ingested hair, and if they are not regurgitated, they are dangerous. Hairballs are a common cat case at veterinary clinics; ingested hair clumped in the stomach or further down the intestines can cause a series of medical problems in cats, including gastroenteritis and gastrointestinal obstructions.
More often than not, cats will regurgitate hairballs, and some remedies are used to help cats pass loose hair down their digestive tracts. However, if the hairball is too large or has caused an obstruction, the only remedy for this is an open-abdominal surgery to remove the hairball.
- No More Fur-niture!
Another great benefit of regularly brushing your cat’s fur is that there will be a dramatic decrease in hairs all over the house, sofas, your clothes, etc. It will be easier for you to keep your house and belongings free of cat hair.
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2. Keep It Clean
It is well known that most cats do not appreciate showers; however, some cats will need the occasional bath to help remove accumulated oils and dirt and keep the fur looking healthy and clean. The frequency of bathing will depend on the kind of fur your cat has. An interesting fact is that hairless breeds such as the Sphinx cats need more frequent baths to keep the oil away from their skin. When bathing your cat, use specialized cat or kitten shampoos; human shampoos can irritate their skin. Ask a veterinarian about the recommended bath frequency according to the kind of hair and environment your cat lives in.
3. Diet
A healthy-looking coat reflects your cat’s health. Hair is made of a protein called keratin, and for a cat to have healthy fur, the diet should provide the right amount of animal proteins and healthy fats with an appropriate ratio of omega acids 3 and 6. Each cat is different, so you should always consult a veterinarian regarding the kind of food and supplementation that is ideal for your cat.
Warning Signs: When “Shedding” Is Not Shedding
Like any other organ, the skin is prone to suffer or reflect medical issues.
- The fur looks dry or brittle
- The hair is dull or notably thinning
- There are areas of alopecia, where the hair is falling off but not growing back
- Skin looks reddish, inflamed, or irritated
- There are warm spots of skin under the fur
- You can see flakes or scabbing
- The cat is scratching a lot
- External parasites, fleas, ticks, or mites are all irritating to the skin
- Allergies
- Skin inflammation or irritation is caused by scratching, injuries, or even bacterial infections
- Ringworm or other fungal infections
- Stress or anxiety
- A poor diet or malnutrition
- Endocrine disorders
- Kidney disease
Conclusion
Shedding is normal in cats. They lose a few hairs every day and have two heavy shedding cycles in the year. If you have noticed your cat is shedding more than usual and you suspect it is due to a medical condition, please bring your cat to the veterinarian for a check-up and appropriate treatment.
Featured Image Credit: Doucefleur, Shutterstock
