How to Help Cats Shed Less

As the winter fades into spring, the flowers begin to bloom, the birds return to their roosts ̵1; and you cat starts to shed. Like humans, who put away their winter clothes at the sign of the first spring thaw, cats have to get rid of their winter coats so their thinner summer coats can grow in. As anyone who has cats knows, your furniture and clothes can look as if you have fur by the time your cat is done. Using the right grooming tools and feeding your cat a proper diet can help reduce the amount of shedding it does.

Things You'll Need

  • Slicker brush
  • Deshedding or fine-toothed comb
  • Scissors
  • Car food
  • Pet shampoo
  • Pet hair conditioner
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Instructions

    • 1

      Verify that the shedding is not due to some malady, such as a pest infestation or illness. Check for fleas or ringworm on the cat's skin. Look for any bald patches or areas that are thinned due to excessive scratching or licking. Take your cat to the veterinarian if you suspect the shedding may not be a natural event.

    • 2

      Brush your cat often. Brush short-haired cats at least once a week and long-haired cat several times a week, up to once per day. Use a slicker bush which will remove dead hair from the fur and help eliminate any clumps of fur, know as mats.

    • 3

      Comb your cat's fur with a fine-toothed comb, such as a deshedding comb, to help remove any matted fur. Use scissors to remove any clumps that you cannot remove with the brush or comb.

    • 4

      Feed your cat a healthy diet. Give it dry and wet food that is specifically geared to reduce shedding and eliminate hairballs (if you have a cat that is shedding, it stands to reason it probably has a problem with hairballs, too). Consider adding supplements to its food that are geared for maintaining skin and coat health.

    • 5

      Bathe your cat often, such as once a month. Introduce your cat to baths while still a kitten so it becomes used to them. Place it in a large sink or tub and let the basin fill with warm water that comes just below the neck line. Wash it with pet shampoo designed to promote a healthy coat and skin. Rinse gently (never spray water directly onto a cat unless you want to get clawed and hissed at). Use a pet hair conditioner on its fur to keep the coat silky and moisturized. Towel dry the cat as soon as possible to keep it from trying to lick itself dry.