My Cat's Hair is Falling Out - What Should I Do?
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If your cat's hair is falling out, it's very important to do some research to work out what are the possible causes, solutions, and especially the alarm bells which will help you know when to take your pet to the vet.
Hair loss is a common condition, because cats spend so much of the day preening themselves. Regardless, it's important to keep an eye on the amount of hair loss just in case it's a serious problem. Keep reading this AnimalWised article to find out why is your cat's hair falling out, and what should you do about it.
Contents
What is normal hair loss in cats?
If you've only recently welcomed a cat into your home, you might not be used to finding loads of hair on your sofa, clothes and even in the most unexpected places. If this is the case, we stress that regular hair loss is normal, especially for long-haired cats. Check out our article on how to deal with cat hair shedding for some advice.
You must make sure that you look after your cat properly, which includes brushing it at least 3 times a week. By doing this, you'll help it to efficiently remove dead hair. You should start worrying if you notice limp, thinning fur with patches in certain areas, or if the animal gets fleas.
Older cats may lose more hair than younger cats. If this is the case - and it isn't an excessive hair loss - the vet will suggest that you improve its diet.
Do cats molt?
In the same vein as dogs, chinchillas or rabbits, cats change their coat to adequately adapt to changes in temperature.
This change is more pronounced in feral cats and those that live permanently outdoors. It's not as obvious in domestic cats, and the molting isn't always sufficient due to the presence of air conditioning and heating at home.
Cats experience significant hair loss during one of the two molting periods. This process usually lasts between 1 and 2 weeks and takes place during late summer and early spring.
Effects of stress in cat's fur
Animals have feelings and memories just like we do, and they are therefore susceptible to suffering from psychological problems at some point in their life.
Cats can be severely affected by a sudden change of residence, the loss of a family member or pet, or even the introduction of a cat carrier. In this case, the depression or the stress can affect the animal's fur.
In such cases, AnimalWised strongly recommends paying more attention to your cat to make it feel more protected and happier, which will make it healthier as a result. We recommend:
- Petting
- Massages
- Toys
- Homemade food
- Exercise
- Vitamins
These are just a few of our suggestions, but you know your cat better than anyone else. It will be you who discovers which activities improve its overall well-being. AnimalWised want to show you what to do if your cat is stressed. If you can't work out if your cat is stressed, go to a vet so that you can at least rule out certain illnesses.
What skin diseases can cause hair loss in cats?
Finally, it must be noted that there are certain skin diseases that can directly affect your cat's fur and cause them to lose hair. While many different types exist, ringworm is the most common, distinguishable by red welts on the skin.
From the long list of skin conditions, bacteria and fungus growth are two notable ones. If you suspect that hair is falling out due to an illness or the presence of parasites, it's best to see a specialist as soon as possible.
If you want to read similar articles to My Cat's Hair is Falling Out - What Should I Do?, we recommend you visit our Fur care category.
