Cat Illness Problems - Excessive Cat Shedding

The domesticated cat has lost the seasonal triggers that tell his body to shed his coat according to the time of year. In spring the feral cat will shed its coat over a period of time to thin the density, whereas in winter he will shed much less in order to maintain the thickness and retain the insulation properties of the fur.

In the domestic cat these natural cycles may be compromised because of the near constant temperature of human dwellings and he will therefore be more likely to shed hair on a continual basis throughout the year. This is perfectly normal and you will be able to help your cat by grooming him regularly with brush and fine comb so as to stimulate the skin and remove the dead hair, otherwise he will ingest a great deal of fur when grooming which will lead to frequent furball. Long haired breeds need much closer attention of course. It is particularly important to check the underlying skin as much as possible when grooming to make sure there are no areas of redness or infection which might indicate a condition made worse by the denseness of the fur.

When cats shed more hair than usual there is likely to be an underlying disease or condition which is leading to excessive hair loss.

One behavioural factor is a cat obsessed with cleaning himself, which can lead to patches of baldness where he has licked the fur away. This type of behaviour tends to be seen in stressed cats upset by change of environment or location, and can also be a sign of depression.

Some allergies lead to skin irritation which because the blood supply is compromised will affect the health and growth of the hair follicles and you will notice he is shedding more. Fleas and internal parasites may have this effect of causing allergy and hair loss.

Skin infestations such as ringworm will cause round bald patches which are due to the fungus inhabiting the hair shaft and weakening it so that it breaks close to the skin.

There are treatments or supplements that your vet may prescribe so as to improve his general health and improve hair growth and condition. These are likely to be oils that he can take as a food supplement, or as a tablet, or even as a preparation that can be smoothed on with the hands, but the key to maintaining healthy fur growth is to feed him a healthy, well balanced diet which will contain all the nutrients he needs for good overall condition. Once these nutrients are in his bloodstream they will reach the base of the hair follicles through tiny capillaries which feed the base of the hair.