How To Stop Cat From Shedding?

Excessive shedding in cats is typically a symptom of a more severe underlying issue that requires the owner’s attention, be it stress, parasite infestation, mineral deficiency, or hormonal changes.

Unfortunately, there’s no magical home remedy for excessive cat shedding. Feline coat quality depends on many interrelated variables.

To effectively deal with cat shedding, you should first identify the root of the problem. If the shedding is getting out of hand, the best solution is to seek a veterinarian’s help.

Evaluate Your Cat’s Diet

A cat’s coat quality and shedding intensity largely depend on its diet. Feline nutrition should consist of at least 50% protein, primarily animal protein, 30% fats, and no more than 20% carbs.

However, the nutrient ratio depends on a particular cat’s age, weight, health condition, and other factors. If a cat’s diet lacks protein or fat, its coat may become dry and fragile, increasing the shedding intensity.

A common mistake of feline owners is thinking that if a cat eats kibble, it’s getting all the necessary nutrients. In most cases, this is true, but sometimes, kibble doesn’t meet a specific cat’s needs.

For example, pregnant felines need to eat kibble with higher fat and essential amino acid content. If they eat regular kibble, they may lose more hair than usual. However, slightly increased shedding intensity is normal for pregnant cats.

Often, owners of obese cats switch their pets to a diet containing 5%-10% fat. Too low fat content is a common cause of excessive shedding and fragile hair, so veterinarians recommend sticking with about 12% fat.

On the same note, cats often struggle with intense shedding if they eat fresh food because owners fail to create a diet with an appropriate nutrient ratio and feed their pets too many carbs.

If you suspect that your cat’s diet doesn’t meet its needs and negatively affects its coat quality, the best solution would be to consult with a veterinarian who will consider all variables to find a suitable diet for your pet.

Consult With a Vet About Supplements

Vitamins and minerals are essential for maintaining a cat’s health. Elements responsible for feline coat quality include vitamin A, biotin, riboflavin, zinc, copper, linolenic acid, and vitamin E.

These vitamins and minerals facilitate skin cell replication, assist tissue regeneration, and keep the feline coat shiny and strong. Their deficiency can lead to hair loss and the development of skin conditions such as eczema.

The problem is that cats can’t synthesize most of these elements like humans or dogs. Cat food manufacturers add extra nutrients to their products to meet feline dietary needs.

For this reason, cats fed kibble are less likely to experience coat problems than cats fed a fresh diet. If you suspect your cat has vitamin or mineral deficiency, consult your vet regarding supplements.

Don’t give your cat any supplements without consulting a professional first and conducting blood analysis because vitamin and mineral excess can be equally dangerous as a deficiency.

Keep Your Cat Hydrated

Even if a cat is getting enough nutrients from food, it may be suffering from intense shedding due to dehydration. Dehydration in cats occurs for different reasons, with the most common being a dry diet.

Kibble absorbs water in the stomach, so cats that only eat dry food may suffer from chronic constipation and have a dull and fragile coat. Sometimes, dehydration is caused by health conditions including diabetes, gastroenteric upset, and cognitive dysfunction disorder.

Some cats are reluctant to drink enough because of anxiety or stress. Others have odd preferences and only drink running water that isn’t constantly available, which causes dehydration.

Apart from poor coat quality and hair loss, symptoms of dehydration in cats include panting, loss of energy, dry gums, and decreased appetite.

Whatever the cause, ensure that your kitty stays hydrated to keep shedding at bay. You may switch your cat to wet food, buy it a better water bowl, or add a bit of tuna broth in the bowl to make water more appealing.

Brush, Brush, Brush – But Don’t Overbrush

Even with proper diet and hydration, cats shed. They shed non-stop, year-round, so owners must invest time in grooming. How often to brush a cat depends on its breed, lifestyle, and season.

Longhaired cats, such as Persian, Maine Coon, and Norwegian forest cats, need brushing every other day, whereas shorthair cats may suffice with weekly or fortnightly brushing. Some breeds, like Burmese, only need brushing once in several months.

Cats typically need more frequent brushing during seasonal shedding periods, in autumn and spring. Cats that walk outdoors may need more frequent grooming to detangle fur and timely spot parasites, which can also cause excessive shedding.

Each breed’s coat is different, so you should know how to pick the right brush for a cat to achieve the best results. For shorthaired cats, choose a slicker brush with soft bristles, ensuring it won’t scratch the skin.

Never use de-shedding tools like furminator on a cat with a short coat because you may accidentally brush out too much, leaving bold patches. However, such tools can be handy for longhaired cats with a double coat.

De-shedding brushes effectively remove dead hairs from the dense undercoat, preventing knot and mat formation. However, for daily brushing, a narrow-tooth comb is sufficient.

Regular brushing is also beneficial for cats suffering from hairballs because less hair ends up in the cat’s gastroenteric tract.

Consider a Bath

Everyone knows that cats aren’t fond of water. There are exceptions, of course, and some cats even love swimming, but most feline owners can’t imagine giving their pet a bath. However, that’s a great solution to shedding for longhaired cats.

Shorthaired cats don’t need to be bathed unless they get dirty, are getting ready for a show, or contracted fleas or ticks. In contrast, for longhaired cats, regular bathing can be a lifesaver.

Brushing can’t always remove all fur that gets stuck in the undercoat, and shampoo effectively gets rid of dead skin cells and hair. However, too frequent bathing can have the opposite effect, drying a cat’s skin and increasing shedding intensity.

As a rule of thumb, longhaired cats need to be bathed every four to six weeks, but the frequency may vary depending on a particular cat’s lifestyle and special needs.

If you decide to bathe your cat, choose a shampoo that addresses your pet’s unique hair needs and doesn’t contain chemicals that may cause skin irritation and worsen the situation.

Consider a Haircut

Contrary to a common belief, haircuts don’t reduce shedding in pets. But while hair continues to fall out at its regular speed, it becomes significantly less noticeable on the furniture, carpets, bedding, and clothes.

A haircut can also be helpful for cats with tangly hair that often forms mats and for kitties walking outdoors because fleas and ticks will be less likely to hide deep in the fur.

The best cat haircut is a breed-appropriate one, so consult with a professional groomer regarding options for your furry friend. Some cats can be shaved, whereas others only need simple trimming.

At the end of the day, grooming is fun – you can transform your cat into a dragon or lion, for example.

Reduce Stress

Stress can trigger excessive shedding and dandruff in cats. If you’ve recently had an unpleasant visit to a vet, brought home a new pet, have moved houses, or your cat got lost, you may start noticing more fur around the house.

Other signs a cat is stressed include excessive grooming, low tail position, reluctance to eat or play, hiding, rapid breathing, and aggression towards the owner. Some cats meow excessively.

To get control over shedding in this case, you should first ensure your cat’s emotional well-being. Reduce exposure to triggers, feed it a balanced diet, provide it with a comfortable resting place, and pay it enough attention.

How To Understand Shedding Is Excessive

All cats shed, but how to understand a cat sheds too much? If your cat is shedding like crazy, pay attention to its overall health condition and behavior. If you notice any other abnormalities, you may want to consult with a vet.

If your cat is shedding fur in clumps, you definitely need to start worrying. Healthy cats lose hairs one by one, like humans. Cat fur falling out in clumps may be a result of alopecia, fungi, parasites, allergy, and numerous other conditions.

Excess grooming, scratching, and nibbling are other signs that cat shedding is too much. If a cat feels itchiness or another sort of discomfort, it will try to relieve it by licking the affected area.

At the end of the day, you know your cat best. If your cat began shedding suddenly without a visible reason or the shedding is too intense for the season, bring your furry friend to a vet.

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