Controlling Cat Shedding

Healthy shedding is a normal process for your kitty. It occurs every day and varies in degree due to factors like your cat's age, her diet, and the season. However, it can also be a nuisance! It can leave a mess on your clothes, furniture, and throughout your entire home. It could also be the cause of hairballs for long-haired breeds and other consequent problems as well. By controlling shedding, and dealing with its fallout, you can keep your cat healthier and your home cleaner. 

Excessive shedding in felines can be caused by  a variety of medical, dietary and stress-related issues. Your cat may be suffering from cat skin problems, allergies, ringworm, bacterial infection, fleas, poor diet, pregnancy or lactation, sunburn, hyperthyroidism, stress or other cat diseases. So if your cat obsessively licks, scratches or bites, if he’s losing patches of hair or stops to scratch or bite the same few spots persistently, then it’s important you take him in for a veterinary exam.

If your cat sheds a lot and your veterinarian has determined that there is no underlying medical cause,  here are some effective control techniques:

• Feed him premium cat food. Your pet's coat is a reflection of what she eats. You'll be surprised what a difference you'll see if you insist on feeding your cat a premium brand food. Feed him cat food that provide optimal nutrition rich in Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids that help soften skin and reduce excess shedding. 
• Add probiotics to their diet. Adding probiotics for cats, improves hair skin health (hot spots), strength and shine from greater nutrient absorption. Products like the OmNutra  Pet Probiotics reduce and eliminate a variety of pet health issues. It contains 3 billion CFU per scoop compared to others with just 1 billion or less.
• Use the right tools for grooming. With the right tools, daily or weekly brushing can detangle mats, remove dead undercoat, lift away excess dander, and add shine.
• Bathe your cat. Bathing your cat regularly helps remove loose hair, excess oils, and it reduces odor. If your cat is water-fussy, you may want to use disposable pads or waterless cleaners which you spritz on, massage in, and towel off.  
• Throw in some cat furniture. Placing cat beds, trees, or play furniture around your home can not only afford your cat a comfortable place of her own to hang out but also save your own furniture from all that excess hair.
•  Examine your cat’s skin and coat during your grooming sessions. Checking for hair loss, redness, bumps, cuts, fleas, ticks or other parasites will be a fast way to determine whether you need to go the vet to solve your pet’s shedding.

If your cat is experiencing normal shedding,  you may just end up with hairy furniture and wardrobe and never ending hairballs. But if her shedding is due to an underlying medical cause, including allergies, parasites, infections or disease, her health may continue to worsen if you don’t seek veterinary care.