Shedding hair in cats. Everything you need to know

Yes, cats also shed their fur. It’s their way of preparing for the changing seasons and adapting to temperature changes: in autumn they grow a thicker coat to cope with the cold, and in spring they change that thicker coat for a thinner one to help them cope better with the summer heat.

“But… my cat always leaves hair everywhere,” you may think. It’s true, shedding in cats is a constant throughout the year (hair renewal is common in dogs and cats) but it’s in autumn and spring that the process is most intense, and you may find more hair at home.

What to do when a cat sheds its fur?

Shedding in cats usually lasts between 4 and 6 weeks and first takes place when the cat is still a puppy, at 8 months old.

It is a completely natural process, but what can we do to prevent hairballs from being a problem for our cat, and at the same time prevent our house from becoming (more than usual) full of hair? Basically, two things:

1. Promote hygiene and grooming of the cat

As we told you in our post ¿Cómo y cuándo bañar a un gato?, it is not recommended to bathe a cat unless it is absolutely necessary, and in any case, never at intervals of less than 4 weeks.

But when your cat is moulting, a bath can help to remove a lot of hair in one go, speeding up the process without causing a problem for your cat. However, we must use a suitable shampoo, especially for cats, which takes care of both their fur and their skin.

It is also highly recommended, during the moulting process, to brush the cat daily, with a special cat brush, to remove all the dead hair that would otherwise end up on the floor or in the cat’s stomach.

2. Pay special attention to the feline’s diet.

Cats are very clean animals and wash themselves with their own tongues. This completely natural habit can be a problem if hairballs are generated and the cat is not able to eliminate them, as they could obstruct the cat’s intestine.

The problem of hairballs is exacerbated when the cat is moulting, as it sheds much more than usual, and one of the most advisable options is to offer it a food that helps it to eliminate hairballs. Picart SELECT Extra Care range contains pea fibre, which promotes the animal’s intestinal transit and therefore the elimination of hairballs through the faeces.

You’ll find more information about cats and hairballs in our post Cats and fur balls.

As always, if you have any doubts about the change of coat (for example, if you detect that it lasts more than 4 weeks, or that your cat suffers a change of attitude or loss of appetite), the best thing to do is to consult a vet.

If you were interested in this article, you will also be interested in these articles Consejos para que tu gato sea feliz.