It’s summertime, and for cat owners, that means a lot of cat hair! Few things are worse than pet hair coating everything from the furniture and the floors to your own clothing. And at some point, that lint roller just won’t cut it. If you’re new to owning or grooming your furry feline, the summer shed can be daunting. But have no fear; you came to the right place! East Valley Animal Hospital in Gilbert, AZ (where we enjoy 100+ temperatures most of the summer!) has a few tricks up our sleeve when it comes to cat hair shedding solutions.
1. Know Your Cat’s Coat!
There are breeds that shed and breeds that don’t shed. For our Hypoallergenic friends, we hope you choose a furry friend who won’t aggravate your allergies. But if you have a cat that sheds, it’s important to understand how many layers of fur they have. As simple math would have it, cats with three layers shed far more than cats with one layer. Knowing this will inform how much grooming your cat will require during their summertime shed. If you’re unsure how many layers of fur your four-legged friend has, give your local vet a call and ask their advice! And that leads us to our next cat shedding solution…
2. Groom, Groom, Groom.
So alright, you need to groom your cat. Hopefully, that’s not news to you. Some cats purr for a good grooming session, while others aren’t so fond of the idea. The good news: there is an ample supply of great grooming products on the market, so if your cat hates her brush, you could try a grooming glove.
How often your cat needs grooming may be a question on your mind. For long and medium-haired cats, we recommend daily brushing. This grooming session needn’t be a torturous amount of time. A few minutes a day will suffice to keep most of the hair under control. If you have a short-haired cat, brushing once a week should be sufficient, unless fluffy loves her grooming time. In that case, feel free to brush her more often.
3. Bathtime
Yes, we know most cats hate the water. But hear us out; baths can significantly reduce the amount of hair your cat sheds. And you never know, your cat may surprise you with how well they tolerate water. If your cat refuses a bath, a wet washcloth is a good alternative. You may want to give your feline a quick brushing before and after their washdown, to trap as much hair as possible. However, it’s always important to gently brush, especially after getting their fur wet, since tangles can occur. How often should you bathe your cat during shedding season? The answer depends somewhat on the cat, but we recommend once a month for most cats.
4. Visit the Vet
One solution we never recommend is cutting or shaving your cat’s hair. While it may seem like an easy fix, cutting your cat’s hair can be very stressful for her, and it doesn’t actually solve the problem. Although the hair she sheds will be shorter, she will still shed.
Shedding is a normal and healthy process of rejuvenation for your cat. But if you’ve stayed on top of your cat’s grooming and she’s still shedding profusely, there may be an underlying health condition at play. Among the health issues that can lead to excessive shedding or hair loss are poor nutrition, fungus, allergies, hypothyroidism, and hormonal issues. If you suspect your cat may be losing more fur than is normal or healthy, bring her in to see your local vet. If you have remaining questions about grooming or bathing your cat or about how to properly handle their shedding season, give us a call, we’d be happy to answer your questions!
Image by Capri23auto from Pixabay (6/24/2019)