Instructions
Brush your cat. Use a brush or comb on your cat once or twice a week. Cats with short hair will require brushes or combs with more bristles that are closer together, while a cat with long hair will be comfortable if you use a brush with sparse bristles to avoid tangling and pulling. The more often you brush your cat, the more comfortable it will be with being brushed. Brush your cat outside to reduce cleanup.
Have long-haired cats groomed every two or three months. A professional groomer will be able to thin out your cat's undercoat and trim its hair, resulting in less shedding.
Change food or shampoos. An extreme loss of hair may be due to an allergy. Make changes in the cat's diet and environment to see if the hair loss improves.
Check for fleas. Flea bites can sometimes cause cats to lose hair. Treat fleas with flea shampoos and collars. Medications are also available to treat and fight fleas on cats. Purchase them over the counter or ask your vet for a prescription.
Talk to your vet. An increase in hair loss may be a symptom of a more serious medical condition, and your vet will be able to tell you if additional testing or treatment is required.
Ask your vet about hair-loss products. Several vitamins, sprays and creams on the market target shedding reduction. Your vet can help you decide which, if any, of these products will work for your cat.
How to Reduce Shedding in Cats
All cats shed--there's no way around it. Shedding in cats is primarily caused by old hair falling out to make room for new hair, according to Cat Health, but there are some things you can do to help your cat shed less. There are also some steps you can take to make the shedding impact your life and your home less. With a little time and lot of attention, both you and your cat can become more comfortable.