How to Reduce Cat Shedding in Your House

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If you own a cat, shedding is part of sharing your house with your pet. Shedding is a natural, normal event in cats’ lives, irrespective of how long their hair is. Due to the feline fur growth cycle, each hair grows, rests, dies, and then falls out. A cat shedding season also exists. Fortunately, you can do many things to reduce shedding. According to Daily Paws, the cats with access to the outdoors usually shed two times per year. In the spring and fall, they shed the heavy winter undercoat to get ready for the growth in the following winter’s undercoat. The shedding of cats is influenced largely by the number of hours they remain exposed to sunlight daily, also referred to as a photoperiod. The cats that remain indoors, particularly when they are in homes with air and heat conditioning, can be in a continued shedding state since temperature controls confuse their biological system. To reduce your cat’s shedding in your home, you can do the following things:

1. Use appropriate grooming tools

The National Cat Groomers Institute advises cat owners to keep de-shedding tools at six- to eight-inch-long metal combs with fine to medium teeth. The comb eliminates the dead coat and catches all the mats and tangles, which lie underneath without irritating the delicate skin. You can also use a rubber curry cat shedding brush to lift loose hair.

2. Choose the right foods

According to an article on PetMD, cat owners can create a diet that can reduce shedding caused by some underlying health issues. The two main components are fat and protein. Since cats are carnivores and require more protein than many other animals, you should find food that contains at least forty-five percent protein in terms of dry matter. The protein should be animal-based. Minus the protein, a cat’s hair that is made of a coat and protein can suffer. With the right combination of fatty acids, your cat’s coat can be healthy. Search for cat food labels that list cold water fish oils, omega-3, and omega-6 acids. The entire fat content should lie between 25 to 35 percent based on dry matter. If you are concerned about weight gain, remain on the low end of that range. Lauren Brickman, a veterinarian, writes that it is possible to add fatty acid supplements to your cat’s food to minimize shedding.

3. Regular brushing

By brushing your cat regularly, there can be a huge difference in the amount of cat hair floating around. It can also help to reduce hairballs. Regular brushing also eliminates dead hair, dirt, and dander, which make the skin unhealthy. It also keeps cats from getting matted hair, which is unmanageable. At this point, it is essential to hire a professional groomer. Besides being practical, brushing your cat regularly is an excellent way to provide your cat with attention. A majority of cats enjoy excellent brushing. However, it would be best if you were careful that your pet does not become overstimulated. You should brush your cat daily, if possible, to keep mats away, minimize shedding and not overwhelm your cat. Petting your cat with a brush can be intensive for some cats, particularly in sensitive areas. Many options are available on the market when it comes to brushing tools, including self-cleaning brushes, special gloves, and items that appear like mini rakes.

4. Keep your cat hydrated

By keeping your cat hydrated, it can improve its overall coat quality and condition, in addition to its overall health. However, ensuring that your cat remains hydrated is not as easy as it sounds. Many cats do not drink enough water, and it could be related to their history of living in desert environments. The easy way to keep your cat hydrated is by introducing wet food to its diet. If your cat eats wet food, it can get between 3.85 to 4.4 ounces of water from a single can. That’s is half their daily water. Another option revolves around the water bowl, and there is more to feline water bowls than you might think. A common question is where you need to place the water bowl of your cat. While it will be different for every cat, the basic thing to consider is whether it feels secure and safe as it drinks from the water bowl.

5. Shave the cat

Getting rid of the hair is a great way to reduce shedding altogether. You have two options, which are doing it yourself or hiring a professional. A majority of pet-specific clippers do an excellent job. However, when using clippers, make sure you use them with a guard. The goal for shaving a cat is to trim its hair very short and utilize a guard on your clippers so that you do not have to risk cutting your pet. In addition, it is better to cut the hair in short bursts to give your pet a break and ensure that the clippers do not become too hot. If that sounds like too much, then you can pay a professional about 50 to 70 dollars to have your pet shaved down.

6. Lint roll and vacuum more

Vacuum your home regularly to eliminate cat hair that is just waiting to be unleashed. The hair may get stirred up and float around the house, making it feel like your pet is shedding much more hair than it actually is. Lint rollers are also ideal, particularly at laundry time. The washer and dryer cannot always remove stuck-on cat hair, but a great link roll on the black pants before hitting the wash will ensure that they come out clean. Furthermore, it means that you will remove the cat fur from circulation.

7. Minimize stress

The lives of many cats are stress-free. However, your cat can experience stress, and this can increase shedding. In addition, significant changes such as moving into a new home or adding a new cat or human can stress it out and increase shedding. Although you might not be able to make significant changes, such as buying a home, you can support your pet through the changes.