Cat hair has a way of sneaking its way into my eyes, nose, mouth, never mind the fact that I end up covered in hair some days. It can floatithrough the air and adhere to things it shouldn’t like nothing else. It ends up on furniture, floors, and even in the refrigerator and freezer. Even the sincerest of cat lover can find this gross, if not annoying. So, how to reduce this? Here are some ideas.
1. Accept that cats shed, and it is perfectly normal for hair to grow and be replaced.
It happens to us, and dogs, but what is different with cats is that their hair grows to a fixed length, dies, and falls out as it’s replaced by new hair. This explains why cats do not need regular haircuts. Those cats that go outdoors shed more seasonally, as in the spring, and new hair growth accelerates in the fall and winter. Yet, 80% of cats are estimated to be completely indoors, and thus their hair follicles are not as aware of the change in seasons, making them all year, equal opportunity shedders.
2. If your cat seems to be shedding too much, take note.
Stress, parasites such as fleas, a poor diet, and certain diseases can cause abnormal amounts of shedding. If you are noticing more, contact your veterinarian. Diabetes, hyperthyroidism, and kidney failure can cause excessive hair loss.
3. Go ahead and pet your cat.
Normal petting will help you remove some loose, dead hair. But did you know that there are 3 types of cat hair?
Guard hairs are the topcoat that protects cats from rain or snow. Wet hand petting will help remove guard hairs . They are found on Oriental Shorthairs, domestic shorthairs, Tonkinese, and Abyssinians.
Awn hairs are soft, fuzzy hairs found on the belly, keeping cats warm and providing insulation. Persians, and other long-haired cats, have an abundance of awn hairs,and not just on their bellies.They need to be brushed daily.
Down hair is the dense, very short hair that is close to the skin, protecting it from abrasion. Only triple-coated cats, such as Siberians and Norwegian Forests Cats have this type of hair.
4. Feed a healthy diet
Malnourished or dehydrated cats will show it in a dull coat, excessive hair loss, matted hair, dandruff, or an excessively oily coat. Skin, being the body’s largest organ, will reflect good health and hydration with shine and thickness, and shed less.. Cats need a high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet. Some cats benefit from fatty acid supplements as well, because they are anti-inflammatory and can help with skin and hair coat problems.
5.Brush your cat
As cats groom themselves for about 10 hours a day, you can help remove hair that they would be ingesting by brushing. This will minimize hairballs.
It is a good idea to get your cat used to being brushed early on. Select an appropriate brush. A good stainless-steel, long-tooth comb that reaches the skin is good for long-haired cats, like Persians, with an abundance of awn hairs. The very fine, soft belly hair can be groomed with a slicker brush. If not groomed enough, long-haired cats can mat, especially in the front armpits and belly hare.
Flea combs remove loose hair, not to mention fleas. Slicker brushes help to untangle mats, and Furminator-type brushes remove dead undercoat hairs. Never attempt to cut our your cat’s mats if they can be combed. Leave that to a professional.
6. Vacuum cleaners are your friends.
Pick one with a HEPA filter, to reduce allergens, and select one that is good at picking up pet hair. The more frequent the better.
7. Also
Go over wood, laminate or tile flooring with an electrostatic or microfiber dry mop. This will help you reach corners where cat hair collects. StickySheets taken to your furniture will help between vacuuming.
8. Save it for the birds…
If you are so inclined, you can save the cat hair in net-type onion bags, and tie it on a tree. Birds will remove the hair for their spring nests. It is a real thing!
9. Lint rollers
Use on your clothing before you go out, and prior to laundering. This will prevent the hair sticking to your washing machine. If your clothes are literally covered in hair, first stick them in the dryer for 10 minutes with a dryer sheet, then wash them. Then clear out the lint catcher.
Hope you found this helpful.
Dr. Dawn
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