Dealing with a shedding cat?

Cats can be great companions and wonderful pets. They tend to be some of the lowest maintenance of pets. However, sometimes, cats can be a frustration, especially when you find you can no longer wear black, and your lint roller is your new best friend. So, what can you do to avoid the problems that come with a shedding cat?

Try the following if you have a cat that sheds:

1. Know that shedding is normal. People shed too, but cats tend to lose hair in a more annoying fashion. So, if you want to learn to handle a shedding cat, then know it is normal, and recognize when it isn't. For example, cats can also shed a lot because of medical problems, stress, a poor diet, infection, sunburn, allergies, etc. Just like humans, hair shedding increases when something is off in the body.

2. If you want to ensure that your cat does not shed more than is normal, be sure to feed it properly. This is the most common problem that leads to shedding. A balanced, healthy diet will help keep their coat shiny, and strong, and they will lose far less hair. Talk to your vet about the proper diet for the cat breed you have, and for your cat's specific needs. If your cat is overweight, etc. they might need a different diet than the same cat breed, but a cat who is younger, thinner, or healthier.

3. If you want to control the shedding so that you do not have to keep a lint roller near by at all times, then be sure to groom your cat regularly. If you brush and groom your cat a few times a week, you won't have to worry about their hair getting all over the place because lose hairs will be removed during the brushing. In addition, regular grooming gives you a chance to check the cat for irregular hair loss, bumps, or red skin. You want to watch for problems like cuts in the skin, fleas or ticks in the hair, and other problems that might be contributing to their shedding problem.

4. Keep your cat out of too much sunshine. A cat can get a sunburn. Just because your cat has a fur coat, does not mean that they don't get burned if they get too much sun exposure. So, do not let them get sunburned. You can't put sun block on your cat, but you can keep them out of the sun during the harshest times of day, from 10-2.

5. Give your cat plenty of things to keep them busy. A cat is going to need ways to get rid of stress, and the best way to help them so that stress does not turn into hair loss is to provide them with toys, a comfy bed, consistency, etc.