You might as well face it, if you have an indoor cat then you're going to have to deal with shedding. There really is no way around it, but there are a few things that you can do to at least minimize the problem.
Cats in the wild will shed two times a year, in the spring to loose their heavy winter coat and in the fall in preparation for growing a winter coat. But indoor cats shed almost constantly this is because artificial lighting, air conditioning, and heat has disrupted their natural body rhythms.
Now that you know what causes the shedding, what can we do to stop it?
Items Needed
- A proper diet
- Vitamins
- A good brush or comb
- Deshedding tool
- Cat treats
One of the most important things that you can do for your pet is to make sure he or she has a healthy diet. Feeding your cat a cheap brand of pet food will in the long run cause a lot more serious problems than shedding. If you're not sure what brand to purchase try consulting your vet, he or she will be happy to advise you as to which brands of food and vitamins will be helpful.
The second most important thing that you can do is to establish regular grooming. Most cats find brushing to be pleasurable but knowing a cats personality they will sometimes object to the brushing even though it feels good. To get around this I like to keep some cat treats on hand and to give her one or two throughout the grooming session.
If you can afford it (22.00 from Amazon) the Furminator deeshedding tool is wonderful for removing the loose dead undercoat. Give it a try and you'll be amazed at the difference.
After grooming try wiping kitty down with a pet cleaning wipe, this will remove any left over hair and will leave your cat smelling fresh and clean. You can find them at wal-mart or any pet supply store.
*Remember to be very gentle while brushing and kitty may soon grow to love grooming time.
