How do I stop my cat from shedding? Constantly having to lint roll your clothes and bedding can be quite annoying as a cat owner. Unless you have a hairless cat, then you will have to deal with shedding. But there are ways to lessen the impact of your cat’s shedding hair.
In this article, we go over the breeds of cats that shed the most, the time of year that shedding is more likely to happen, and also what you can do to reduce the amount of cat hair that you have in your home.
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How to Reduce Cat Hair in the Home
The best way to reduce the amount of cat hair in your home is by maintaining a daily schedule of brushing your cat’s fur coat. At first your cat may not like being brushed, but after some time, they will get accustomed to it. Just make sure you are being gentle while brushing them.
Also, using a deshedding tool is a great way to reduce the amount of hair your cat sheds. In my opinion, these work even better than regular cat brushes. Don’t use this tool every day though, because it could take too much hair off your cat and that isn’t good either. I use a deshedding tool on my cats about twice a week in addition to daily brushing.
If excessive shedding still seems to be a problem after you’ve stuck to a consistent brushing routine for a few weeks, then you might consider giving your cat a bath.
Most cats really do not need to be given baths, and honestly, I would not recommend using water. Instead, use a waterless shampoo. It’s definitely a lot easier than trying to give your cat a bath in a sink full of water, because as you may know, most cats absolutely hate water.
To find a waterless shampoo, I recommend visiting your veterinarian. The reason I say this is because I’ve found that too many waterless cat shampoos have questionable ingredients in them. What’s good for one cat may be toxic to another cat because of the different types of allergies that are common in cats. And the last thing we want to do is bring our feline companion to an emergency visit to the vet because a pet shampoo made them sick.
For removing cat hair from your clothing, the best method is obviously going to be your standard lint roller. You can use lint roller tools or the disposable type. I’ve personally found the disposable lint roller type to be the best at keeping cat hair off my clothes.
Another neat trick I learned is adding white vinegar to your washing machine. Vinegar helps loosen up cat hair and I’ve found that it works quite well.
When it comes to removing cat hair from your carpet and furniture, having a reliable, high quality vacuum cleaner is key. The best type of vacuum to have around if you have a cat is one that is specially made to remove pet hair. And it should definitely be the bagless kind like the Bissell Cleanview Swivel Pet Vacuum. Not only does it do a wonderful job of sucking up all the excess cat hair, but it is also very affordable.
If you’re looking for more of a handheld vacuum cleaner, then the best one for picking up cat hair by far is the Shark Pet-Perfect handheld vac. This little vacuum cleaner is bagless, cordless, and it also comes with a few attachments so that you can vacuum the little crevices on your couch or recliner that are also prone to hiding cat hair. I use my handheld on my office chair and book shelves where my cats like to lay.
Diet also plays a huge part in the health of your cat’s fur coat. You want a good quality food that is grain free and high in protein. Food that is low in quality not only hurts your cat’s fur coat, but it can also cause other health problems with their fur such as dandruff.
Best Cat Food for Shedding
The best type of food to give your cat in regards to the shedding of cat hair is food that is of high quality and formulated for your cat’s coat health. Foods that are high in Omega-3 fatty acids are really great for your cat’s coat health. The healthier their coat of fur, the less they will shed.
I recommend feeding your cat the American Journey brand of cat food. Not only does it come in a variety of flavors that your cat will be sure to love, but it is also high in amino acids which are great for your cat’s health. Another great thing about the American Journey brand is that it’s grain free, which means it has no soy, wheat, or corn in it.
Another great option is the Blue Buffalo Wilderness hairball control varieties. They come in flavors like salmon and chicken, and they are also grain free. Blue Buffalo Wilderness is also chock full of protein, which is what your cat thrives on.
Which Cat Breeds Shed the Most?
Not all cats shed equally. Some cats shed more than others. If you’re looking for a cat breed that won’t wreak too much havoc on your allergies, then it helps to adopt a cat that won’t shed enormous amounts of cat hair.
Cat breeds that are known for shedding the most include the Chartreux, Ragamuffin, Russian Blue, American Bobtail, and the Maine Coone breeds just to name a few. These cats tend to have longer or bushier hair than other breeds and that is why they shed more.
If you’re looking for a breed of cat that doesn’t shed as much as the cats listed above, then you definitely should look for the Sphynx, Bengal, Siamese, and Bombay cat breeds.
How Long Do Cats Shed For?
Cats usually shed year-round, but there are certain times of the year that a cat will shed more than usual. Because cats grow extra fur in the winter to keep warm, springtime is the worst time of the year for shedding. They’re simply shedding to get rid of all the excess fur they have accumulated during the colder weather. This is something that is biological and cannot be helped.
Do Cats Shed More When Stressed?
Yes, cats do tend to shed more when stressed out. You may have witnessed this yourself if you’ve ever brought your cat to the veterinarian or on a long car ride while moving.
Shedding when scared or stressed out is a normal physiological response from your cat and is no cause for alarm. This is true only if the stress does not last too long. Prolonged stress over a long period, however, will result in other ill health affects besides shedding.
The hairs that are shed from your cat’s coat while they are under stress are called Telogen hairs. What this essentially means is that the hairs are in a resting position of their growth phase, thus how easily they fall out of your cat.
Do Cats Shed More Than Dogs?
On average, dogs actually shed more than our feline companions. The main reason for this is because of how much larger dogs are than cats. So it makes perfect sense that a dog would shed much more than a cat.
Simply put, the longer the animal’s hair and the more coats your pet has, the more they will shed.
Final Thoughts
So, how do you stop your cat from shedding? Well, the simple answer is that you really can’t stop it from happening. It’s a natural biological function of your cat just like everything else your cat does.
However, you can help lessen the amount of hair that is shed in your home by improving your cat’s diet, developing the habit of grooming your cat, and by having the right cleaning tools at your disposal.
