Fur Everywhere? 5 Pro Tips to Manage Your Cat’s Shedding.

Cat Shedding Too Much? Here's How to Manage It -- What Every Cat Owner Should Know

One problem cat owners regularly face is fur shedding everywhere -- on the floor, on the bed, or all over the furniture -- forcing owners to clean their homes far more often than usual. Some owners have even given up on cleaning altogether and simply handed the job over to a robot vacuum. Today, we've got some great tips to help reduce your cat's shedding, along with ways to keep them healthy so they shed less.

What Causes Excessive Shedding in Cats?

Normally, cats shed fur regularly -- every day, they lose some fur, just like human hair. But if you notice your cat shedding an abnormally large amount, you may need to bring them to see a veterinarian for a physical exam to determine the cause. Abnormal shedding can be recognized by patchy hair loss, or shedding so severe that the skin becomes visible. This abnormal shedding can result from a skin infection, stress, or hormonal changes -- such as in a pregnant cat -- or from a lack of adequate protein. In addition, long-haired cats may shed more than short-haired cats, since their fur tends to tangle more.

Want Your Cat to Shed Less? Here's What to Do

If you've observed your cat and found they're shedding more than usual, you can start helping them shed less safely, with these simple methods:

Choose Cat Food Formulated for Coat and Skin Health

Reducing your cat's shedding starts from the ground up, with good health -- choose a cat food formula that supports coat and skin health. This type of food is often marketed toward long-haired cats, but in reality, cats of any breed can benefit from a coat-support formula, since it typically contains higher-than-normal protein content, helping the body use that protein to build cells and maintain healthy skin. When the skin is healthy, it produces a healthy coat, which in turn reduces shedding.

Brushing Your Cat Regularly Helps Reduce Fur on the Floor

One reason cat fur ends up all over the floor and furniture is that owners don't brush their cat regularly, so shed fur ends up on the floor and needs constant sweeping. Besides removing loose fur before it falls to the floor, brushing your cat also has another benefit: it helps reduce the risk of hairballs blocking the intestines. Since cats regularly groom themselves by licking, if there's a lot of loose fur clinging to their body, more of it will end up in their digestive system. So cat owners shouldn't forget to find a good brush and groom their cat regularly -- it helps a great deal.

Choose a Shampoo or Body Wash Formulated Specifically for Cat Skin Care

Choosing a body wash formulated specifically to care for your cat's skin also has good effects, since it helps nourish the skin and keep the coat clean and healthy. Bathing itself also directly affects shedding -- the best approach is for cat owners not to bathe their cat too often, but if you do bathe them, be sure to dry them thoroughly and blow-dry their coat completely, which helps reduce the chance of skin conditions or abnormal shedding.

If Your Cat Is Shedding Abnormally Heavily, Don't Forget to See a Vet

Finally, if you're unsure whether your cat's shedding is abnormal, we recommend bringing them to see a veterinarian for a thorough examination. At Thonglor Pet Hospital, we have a team of specialist veterinarians and an examination room dedicated specifically to cats. For more information, please call: 02-079-9999