How to Keep on Top of a Cat's Shedding

Sharing a home with a pet is extremely rewarding even if there are certain things you need to put up with which includes a little hair being left around the home. This is a small price to pay for all the pleasure a cat brings into your life. The good news is there are things you can do to keep on top of a cat's shedding so your house is as pet hair free as possible.

The majority of cats shed and it's a very natural process that helps them get rid of dead hair so a new coat gets to grow through normally. Cats shed in the spring when the weather starts to warm up and they moult again in the autumn in preparation for their winter coats to grow through providing them with more protection from the cold.

This natural shedding process makes sure your cat's fur and skin stay in great condition and it's something you just have to put up with. However, indoor cats have a different and less obvious shedding pattern to that of a cat that gets to explore the great outdoors!

Indoor Cats Shed All Year Round

Indoor cats live in a warm environment the whole time which means they tend to shed their coats all through the year although the amount of hair shed is a lot less than that of an outdoor cat. However, if you don't brush an indoor cat's coat on a regular basis the amount of hair left around the house can still add up if you don't keep on top of things.

What About Less Hairy Cats

It would be a mistake to think that because your cat boasts a short coat they leave less hair on furniture, carpets and anywhere else they are allowed to go. Both long haired and short haired cats shed the same amount of hair. With this said, there are certain breeds that shed a lot less than others which include the following:

• The Cornish Rex – they boast short, curly coats which lie very close to their bodies
• The Devon Rex – these lovely cats have curly, thin coats that are very fine which means the hair they shed is far less noticeable
• The Sphynx Cat – these adorable felines don't have any hair at all, but rather a very fine down-like coat instead

Keeping on Top of Shedding

Cats spend a good part of their day grooming themselves and although this means less hair might be left around the house, it could lead to a lot of problems with fur balls. Long-haired cats being more at risk of developing a serious blockage which could even be life threatening. This is why regular grooming is so important for both indoor and outdoor cats. Other ways of staying on top of things include the following:

• It's important to check your cat's diet to make sure it contains a higher level of Omega 3 and 6 oils. These valuable oils help keep a cat's coat and skin soft and in great condition which in turn helps reduce the amount of hair they shed
• Daily grooming is a must because not only does it mean you get to bond with your feline friend on a one-to-one basis, but you help reduce the risk of them developing a fur ball and it keeps a lot of shed hair off your furniture too!
• If you share your home with several cats, think about using throws on your furniture. These will protect them and throws are much easier to put in a washing machine on a regular basis to keep them looking good and pet hair-free
• Daily vacuuming helps keep your home pet hair-free. If anyone in the household suffers any sort of allergy, vacuuming carpets, curtains and soft furnishings when you share your home with a cat is essential

Useful Tools Worth Investing In

There are lots of tools around these days which help get rid of and control pet hairs and you don't have to spend a fortune adding them to a house cleaning kit. These include the following:

• A good quality lint brush – these are ideal for cleaning soft furnishings, curtains and even clothing. Lint brushes come in all sizes which means you can even keep a smaller one in your car!
• Investing in a vacuum cleaner specifically designed for people who share their homes with pets is also very worthwhile, especially if you have several cats and other pets too! It makes life a lot easier for you and ensures that pet hairs are quickly and effectively vacuumed up without too much effort!

Conclusion

Our feline friends bring a lot of pleasure into our lives and it's nice to be able to spend a little one-to-one time with them whenever we can. Cats love the attention you give them and one of the best ways to form a very strong bond with a cat, is to brush them on a daily basis. Not only does this routine get rid of a lot of the hair they shed, but it also means there is less chance of your pet developing a fur ball and it certainly helps keep unwanted pet hair off your furniture!