Cat Shedding: How to Prevent it All Year Long

Many pet parents love their cats, but hate the fur they leave on the furniture. Here are some ways to reduce cat shedding.

Why is my cat shedding so much?

It is natural for a cat to shed fur, and any cat owner will tell you that cleaning up pet hair is an inevitability for a pet parent. Yet, it is possible to greatly reduce the amount of fur shed by a cat. Through proper nutrition, supplementation, and regular grooming, a cat will shed much less.

How to Prevent Cat Shedding?

1. Proper Nutrition

As the old saying goes, you are what you eat, and this applies to felines as well. Among the first signs of improper nutrition in cats are hair and skin problems. A cat with dry itchy skin who seems to leave a pile of hair behind every time it lays down is almost certainly eating a cheap, grocery store brand of cat food.

Pay attention to the first three ingredients listed on the bag of food you feed your cat. Cats are obligate carnivores, so if there is more grain than meat in the food, it is not a good diet to be feeding to your cat. Other ingredients to look for in a bag of cat food would be omega 3 and 6 fish oils, olive oil, or some other vegetables and/or vegetable oils that keep the skin and coat of your cat healthy.

Hairball control and indoor cat formulas often contain the aforementioned ingredients. These ingredients not only help with the internal elimination of hairballs, but also build a stronger, fuller coat in a cat, so that the hair doesn’t come out in the first place. Someone at your local pet specialty retailer can help you choose a food that will help reduce the amount of fur your cat sheds.

Some cat food for shedding recommendations:

Even when a cat is fed the best of foods, supplementation may still be necessary to help reduce shedding. Supplements that strengthen the hair of felines usually come in liquid form, and are flavored so that the supplement can be added to food, or even be given to a cat right from a spoon.

These cat supplements usually contain omega 3 and 6 fatty acids, often derived from fish oils. These oils become much less potent when cooked down into a dry kibble, which is why a liquid supplement is often beneficial to the skin and coat health of a feline. Many people see a huge difference in the amount of fur a cat sheds once they work a liquid supplement into the diet of the animal.

Cat supplement for shedding recommendations:

• Zesty Paws Pure Wild Alaskan Salmon Oil for Dogs & Cats
• Ultra Pure Omega 3 Fish Oil for Cats
• The Missing Link The Original Ultimate Feline Formula for Cats with Balanced Omega 3 and 6

3. Grooming

Regular grooming ensures that any loose hair is removed by a brush, and doesn’t fall off onto furniture. Brushing your cat at least once a week not only pulls out any loose hair, but also helps to strengthen the bond between the feline and their owner. Slicker brushes and shedding blades work well, and are inexpensive.

The best option though, is the Furminator. These grooming tools are pricey, but are hands down the best tools for getting down to the undercoat and removing excess hair. The Furminator reduces shedding by up to 90 percent. Most pet parents experience a bit of sticker shock when they first see The Furminator, but once they try it, wonder how the ever lived without one.

Another great cat brush: 

• Dematting Comb for Cats and Dogs

We hope that these tips to help prevent excessive cat shedding is helpful for you and your cats!

Don’t miss these other great cat health articles:

• What Foods Are Toxic to Cats?
• Safe Soap for Cats: Which Cat Soap is Best?
• Diabetic Cat Food
• Environmental Enrichment for Cats

The views expressed across the blog are the opinion of the author and not necessarily endorsed by Pet Coupon Savings. Always consult your veterinarian for professional advice. Pet Coupon Savings may earn a small commission via affiliate links. Read more about our policies.