For owners of cats, one of the most pressing question of all is “How do you minimize your cat’s shedding?” One of the downsides to having a cat is obviously the “cat tumbleweeds” of hair that come rolling across your carpet or flooring. They are indeed one of the most hairy animals and in turn are one of the biggest shedders around. So let’s figure out a way to minimize the cat shedding since obviously it is almost impossible to completely prevent the shedding unless you have a hairless cat.
Shedding is a normal process that you can’t stop. This is the natural turn over of your cat’s coat. Some cats shed more often if they spend time outdoors since this is related to the light and dark cycle. The shedding in the spring occurs because of the cat’s need to lose their thick winter covering. Shedding in autumn occurs when to prepare for the winter coat. For an indoor cat, they do tend to shed year-round because in the home we typically do leave lights on until late in the evening. This makes the cycle irregular for your cat and their system is tricked into thinking the seasons are constantly changing. This is why indoor cats shed year round. ‘
The most important method for minimizing cat shedding is quite simply just to brush your cat’s hair on a regular basis. Quite a simple solution for creating less hairballs, that’s for sure. You will want to get a brush for your cat depending on their coat. Long coats typically have knots and tangles just like a human’s hair, and you would be best to use a wire brush or comb with wide teeth. Short coated breeds do well with soft brushes. A cat that does not respond well to your brushing may require a professional grooming every so often. Some groomers are very good at combing out any mats and knots that your cat may have.
Making sure your pet cat has a healthy diet will also help minimize shedding. Proper nutrition for your cat will include fish oil based vitamins, oils, and minerals for your cat. This is a well balanced diet for your cat. Also omega fatty acids help reduce skin irritations and thus the cat will be less likely to scratch. This of course results in less hair being shed.
There is also something that is sold in the pet care section of a store called Shed terminator. It is recommended to give this to your cat daily for an entire month. This formula is said to reduce the amount of shedding your cat has. There are also shed reducers that are sold in pet care stores and you rub it on your cat’s fur against the direction the fur is growing. You apply it for several weeks daily and then less often after those first few weeks. It is said to reduce shedding as well.
Honestly there really is no sure-fire way to stop your cat from shedding at all. Shedding is natural and it is one of those parts of owning a cat you must learn to deal with. All we as cat owners can do is try to minimize the shedding to make your cat’s hair less of a problem in your home.