How to Evaluate a Kitten's Coat for Shedding

Kittens shed off dead hair and replace it with new hair throughout the year. However, a number of factors that contribute to unhealthy skin and coat quality cause excessive shedding. Learning how to evaluate a kitten's coat for shedding is easy and should be done during routine grooming sessions. Being aware of how much your cat should shed makes determining if and what type of treatment may be necessary to reduce shedding.

  1. Easily Lost Hair

    • Check if your kitten leaves hair on your hand when you are casually petting your cat. The fewer the hairs the less likely your cat is shedding. If your kitten is losing handfuls of hair during a casual petting session, it could indicate your kitten is losing its kitten coat or shedding because of the effects caused by long hours of artificial light from being inside. Generally, the more light and heat a kitten is exposed to, the more it sheds.

    Lost Hair on Bedding

    • Wash your pet's bedding often to determine how much hair your kitten is shedding. Kittens that spend a great deal of time in their sleeping quarters and are shedding a lot will leave behind a lot of hair on the bed. Using a dye- and perfume-free detergent on bedding can reduce skin irritation, making your kitten less likely to loose healthy hair due to excessive grooming or dry skin caused by allergens.

    Grooming and Light Quantity

    • Use a shedding blade during regular grooming sessions to catch dead hair and clean follicles. Evaluating the amount of hair that is caught in the blade can also indicate whether your kitten is shedding off the small amounts of daily dead hair or if it shedding a seasonal coat. Outdoor cats have a more natural and rhythmic shedding cycle than indoor cats because they experience the effects of shorter days during the winter months. Because of the smaller amounts of light, outdoor kittens shed less -- and less often -- than indoor kittens.

    Close Inspection

    • Inspect the skin and follicle closely during grooming and bathing sessions. Healthy skin is free from dead skin cells and debris, which can clog pores and smother healthy hair. Healthy coat hair is firmly attached to the skin and does not break or splinter when combed or brushed. Both skin and coat health can increase with supplements and regular grooming.

    Diet and Health

    • Examine your kitten̵7;s diet and healthcare plan. Diet and nutrition play an important role in your kitten̵7;s skin and coat health. Feeding low-quality foods and foods from the wrong life stage contribute to excessive shedding. Kittens that have yet to be vaccinated are at risk of developing diseases that can greatly increase the amount of hair a kitten sheds. If your kitten is suffering from excessive shedding to the point of showing bald spots, contact a veterinarian for advice.