Ever gone to stroke your cat and been left with a mound of fur decorating your clothes? This removal of fur is called shedding or moulting. It's normal for cats to shed their fur day-to-day. However, you might notice that, sometimes, significantly more hair is shed than usual. Generally, this isn't a cause for concern and can be explained by things such as the seasonal weather. Yet, it is important to assess whether your cat's shedding is accompanied by any other physical or behavioural changes. Read on to find out why and when cats shed their fur.
Why do cats shed their fur?
Cats shed their fur naturally, but often speed up the process by grooming themselves: licking and preening their fur with their tongues to help remove old hairs. Regular moulting occurs for three main reasons:
- Temperature regulation - shed thicker coats during the spring to stay cool, and vice versa in the autumn.
- Coat health - preventing matting, removing dead or damaged hair so that more can grow in it's place
- Oil distribution - grooming and shedding helps spread natural oils over the skin and coat, keeping them moisturised and protected.
Seasonal Changes: for outdoor cats, their grooming patterns will act as a response to the temperature and climate changes outside. Come springtime, cats will shed an increased amount of fur to get rid of their thick winter coats in time for the warmer weather. Similarly, in autumn, cats go through another extensive moulting process. By removing old and damaged hair, their bodies make space for more hair to grow back, giving them an extra layer of warmth during the colder months.
Seeing an increased amount of loose fur around these seasonal changes is not a cause for alarm, and is part of a cyclical process. You can help your cat prepare for the new season by enacting regular grooming sessions - using cat grooming brushes and tools, you can help encourage your cat to groom themself and speed up the shedding process!
Year-round: it's important to note that indoor cats in general do not experience the same shedding cycles as outdoor cats. Since they live in climate-controlled spaces, indoor cats are much less exposed to light and temperature changes that are significant enough to cause any major moulting. Instead, indoor cats tend to shed lightly and consistently all year round - a good excuse to get the hoover out!
Why is my cat shedding so much hair?
Healthy/ natural shedding: identifying whether your cat's hair loss is natural is something all cat owners should keep in mind. Healthy and natural moulting is consistent around the body, meaning that your cat's coat remains full and even, regardless of loosing fur.
See a vet if: your cat is shedding an excessive amount of fur that is leading to bald patches, scabs, or red/ flaky patches of skin. Additionally, if your cat's hair loss is accompanied by increased scratching and irritation, there may be a wider cause for concern. Underlying issues that contribute to moulting include parasites such as fleas, fungal infections, allergies or stress that can lead to excessive grooming.
Lack of shedding: a lack of shedding can be perfectly normal if your cat is of a specific breed (e.g. Sphynx, Russian Blue, Cornish Rex). Otherwise it could mean that your cat is at the top of their game when it comes to grooming and is keeping up with removing loose hairs (in this instance, you may notice more hairballs!). However, if your cat is not moulting, their coat looks dull and they are acting withdrawn, their may be another issue at hand, such as stress or poor nutrition. In this case, it is always best to consult your vet to eliminate any underlying problems.
For the most part, your cat's loose hair and shedding is only a concern for your furniture, clothes and hoover! Moulting is a perfectly natural process, and ensures your cat's coat and skin remains healthy and regulated. The amount that is shed may increase seasonally, though it is always best to get things checked out by a vet if there are additional signs of physical or behavioural changes.
Helping your cat with their grooming is an important part of their routine, can strengthen your bond together and help your cat stay healthy and dazzling all at once!
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