12 Home Remedies for Excessive Cat Shedding
Cats, like dogs, are one of those pets where shedding is a natural part of their day-to-day lives. It can be a source of frustration and stress for many cat parents. In addition to excessive shedding being yet another reason you need to keep grooming your cats and getting rid of cat hair from your couch, too much cat hair can also lead to issues like hairballs. The good news is that there are plenty of home remedies for excessive cat shedding. Let’s take a look at these 12 easy-to-do home remedies for cat shedding, including what the best pet hair remover is for grooming at home, and learn about how much shedding is too much and what can be done to stop cat shedding.
REASONS YOUR CAT MAY BE SHEDDING TOO MUCH
There are plenty of reasons why your cat may be shedding or why you think that your cat may be shedding “too much.” The amount that a cat sheds varies due to different factors like your cat’s breed, their fur type, and whether they’re an indoor or outdoor cat because of how they respond to weather and seasonal cues that it’s time to shed. With the exception of hairless breeds, your cat will be shedding some fur from time to time.
- It Depends on Your Cat’s Breed — Different types of cats will shed more than others. In general, long-haired cats tend to shed more than their shorter-hair counterparts.
- It Depends on Your Cat’s Mood — Depending on how your cat is feeling, they may shed more than usual if they’re feeling down in the dumps. If they’re stressed out, scared or just plain anxious, your cat is more likely to shed.
- Consider Your Cat’s Diet — If your cat has a poor diet, they may be shedding too much because their fur is falling off. Ensure your cat has a healthy and well-balanced diet so they’re getting the nutrients they need to have a shiny coat and an overall healthier lifestyle.
- How Is Your Cat’s Ability to Groom? — An overweight cat may have trouble grooming themselves. They won’t be able to get into all the nooks and crannies, so they’ll be more prone to loose fur and excess shedding.
- Be Wary of Possible Medical Issues — If you’re still not quite sure what’s causing your cat’s excess shedding, speak with your veterinarian. It can be any number of health issues, but your veterinarian will be able to take a look and determine the next steps.
- Know What’s Considered a ‘Normal’ Amount of Shedding — First of all, remember that shedding is a natural and healthy part of your cat’s lifestyle. There’s no cure for shedding, so you won’t be able to get your lovely yet very furry cat to stop shedding any time soon. Instead, you’ll be able to minimize the amount of shedding. If you’re still concerned about the amount of shedding your cat seems to be doing on a daily basis, consult your veterinarian so they can rule out any medical issues. We’ll get into home remedies for excessive cat shedding next.
HOME REMEDIES FOR EXCESSIVE CAT SHEDDING
You’ve learned that shedding is totally normal for cats. Next, let’s look at different ways you can minimize the amount of shedding your cat does throughout the year. Shedding reduction techniques like brushing your cat or feeding them a nutritionally balanced diet can help alleviate the amount of cleaning up you’ll need to do after your shedding cat. When in doubt, consult your veterinarian for guidance on the best diet you can give your cat.
1. GIVE YOUR CAT A BALANCED DIET
What’s considered a complete and balanced diet? According to the FDA, in order for cat food to be considered complete and balanced, it needs to meet the cat food nutrient requirements as established by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). It also needs to pass a feeding trial using those AAFCO procedures. What does that mean for your cat? It means you’re getting food for your cat that isn’t human food or sweet treats. Ask your veterinarian to see what foods they recommend for your cat, and they’ll likely recommend cat food that has protein, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and enough water to help hydrate your cat.
2. GET THEM CAT SUPPLEMENTS
You need to feed your cat a healthy diet so they’re getting the nutrients they need to stay strong and have a nice, healthy-looking coat. Sometimes, the nutrients in their food are not enough and that’s where supplements come in. It’s best to ask your veterinarian for advice on any supplements they recommend for your cat and to see if they think your cat needs supplements or something else entirely. If they do recommend supplements, they may have your cat try omega fatty acids to promote your cat’s healthy skin and coat.
3. MINIMIZE YOUR CAT’S STRESS
Stress isn’t good for anyone, including your beloved cat. If your cat is going through a stressful time, such as a new transition like moving homes, a new baby in the family, or a significant other moving in with you, that may be stressing them out. Changes, even “good” changes, can stress out anyone as they’re looking to adjust. Minimize the amount of stress in your cat’s life by giving them extra attention when they need it and playing or cuddling them more to remind them that you’ll always be there to support them.
4. ROUTINELY GROOM YOUR CAT
Instead of fur ending up on your clothing or your living room furniture, routinely groom your cat. This is an easy thing you can do at home to de-shed your cat. Get into the habit of grooming your cat at least every other day, if not daily. You can incorporate this into your cat’s daily routine and encourage them to enjoy this bonding experience by offering them treats and high praise. The extra loving attention your cat receives when you groom them is a win for them, and you’ll love having less cat fur to clean up at home.
5. GET THE BEST BRUSH FOR YOUR CAT
You want the best for your cat. They give you love, attention, and snuggles, and you want to make sure you’re giving them the best of the best. As it turns out, the best brush for your cat is not only great for grooming them on a regular basis, but it’s also great for removing pet fur from your clothing and furniture, too! Take a look at our pet hair removal tool that comes in different sizes, depending on the size of your cat or any other pets you have at home.
6. BOND WITH YOUR CAT THROUGH REGULAR GROOMING
Let’s face it. Cats aren’t the most cooperative creatures on the planet, and we love them regardless and probably even reluctantly admit that we admire them because of their tenacious independence. However, when it comes to grooming, sometimes we wish they were a little more cooperative. To help turn grooming into a fun bonding activity for you both, practice regular grooming so that it becomes more of a reason for you two to snuggle than for you to just remove hair from their back. It might mean sneaking in a grooming session in between their power naps or while you’re in the middle of other chores, but the easiest way to groom them on the go is with a portable pet hair remover tool that you can take with you and your kitty wherever you two go.
7. BATHE YOUR CAT
Yes, you read that right. Have you ever tried bathing your cat before? Bathing a cat, especially a more temperamental cat, isn’t for the faint of heart. Many cats need to be sedated before they’re bathed. In the event that you’re not able to give your cat a bath on your own, don’t worry. Most people’s cats won’t allow their pet parents to bathe them. You can work with a professional groomer or a veterinary hospital to help take on this daunting task. At the end of the day, bathing your cat is yet another routine grooming measure to help prevent excess cat fur from piling up at home.
8. CONSIDER SHAVING YOUR CAT
Shaving your cat is a great way to not have to worry about pet hair at all. Suddenly, your furry friend goes from leaving their cat hair everywhere to no hair at all, effectively making your cat a hairless cat until their hair grows back. However, just like bathing, most cats don’t take kindly to the kitty shears. Your cat may also miss their beautiful coat, so this option definitely isn’t for every cat.
9. LEARN HOW TO CLEAN YOUR CAT WITHOUT WATER
For those who don’t want to take extreme measures like bathing or shaving their cat, you can use cat-cleaning products to clean your cat without water. Your cat is already a pretty adept groomer. Sometimes, they just need a little extra help. Visit your local pet store and look for wipes or sprays that can clean your cat without water. If you want to quickly remove loose fur from your cat’s top coat, you can use a damp, warm water paper towel or cloth instead of giving your cat a full-on bath.
10. GIVE YOUR CAT SOME SPACE
When we say “give your cat some space,” we mean both literally and figuratively. You’ll figuratively want to give your cat space in the sense that they may have sensory overload or are generally stressed out, causing excess shedding due to their stress and anxiety. The way to alleviate that may be to literally give your cat some space. Does your cat have a designated space that’s truly their own? No matter the size of your space, you can get your cat their very own cat bed or kitty corner. Many cats love dark spaces that feel like caves for their protection.
11. CLEAN YOUR HOME
There are a number of different cleaning tasks you can do to help prevent excessive cat shedding or at least the amount of cleanup you’ll need to do in the long run. For one, you can capture fur with an air filter at home. That way, the cat fur isn’t constantly recirculating around your home. Make sure to also clean your linens, furniture, and clothing by removing excess pet hair from these surfaces as well with a pet hair remover.
12. BOOK A PROFESSIONAL GROOMER AT HOME
Most of us aren’t cut out for professionally bathing a cat, and we’re better off leaving that to the professionals. You can book a professional groomer to come to your home and give your cat that extra TLC they deserve. Even if you don’t have the confidence or comfort to properly bathe your cat (as most of us don’t!) at home, you can still feel like a professional groomer at home with the Uproot Cleaner Pro™. This easy-to-use tool is loved by pet parents who want to make sure their cats are well-groomed and well-loved, easily removing extra fur from their coats and your clothing and furniture, too!
KNOWING WHEN TO CALL YOUR VET
When in doubt, don’t hesitate to call your cat’s veterinarian for guidance or a formal diagnosis. It’s better to be cautious and rule out that any disease is causing your cat to shed more than what’s considered “normal” for them. According to PetMD, some signs that you should make an appointment with your vet include observable patchy hair loss on your cat, scratching or chewing more than usual, skin lesions and other general signs of illness.
Now that you have a better understanding of what may be causing your kitty’s excessive shedding and how to help reduce shedding at home, make sure you have the right tools for the job. The best gift for you and any other pet parent is our easy-to-use Uproot Cleaner Pro™ tool. This tool can be used not only to groom your furry friend but you can use it to remove cat hair and other animal furs from your furniture, clothing and any non-knit surface at home!
Image Credits
spiral media/Shutterstock.com
Flame of life/Shutterstock.com
Oleksandr Lytvynenko/Shutterstock.com
Lubava/Shutterstock.com
robert_s/Shutterstock.com
Dorottya Mathe/Shutterstock.com
Anciens Huang/Shutterstock.com
NONGASIMO/Shutterstock.com
