When does my cat shed the most?
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When does my cat shed the most?

When does my cat shed the most? 

Why is my cat shedding a lot? This is a question that plagues most cat owners.Do you really know what causes cat hair loss? When do cats shed the most hair?

The survey shows that cats shed a lot of hair at a fixed time of the year, so when do cats shed the most hair?

  • Seasonal shedding;

  • Young cat shedding.
Seasonal shedding

Usually a lot of cat hair loss is caused by seasonal shedding. Seasonal shedding is the irreversible and most common cause. What is the process like?

First understand what a photoperiod is:

Because of the alternation of day and night, the day hemisphere (day) and the night hemisphere (night) develops relative lengths of a constant cycle, a phenomenon known as the photoperiod.

Animals and plants live with this environment with a certain pattern of day and night changes in a long time, and will form their own adaptation methods of various organisms, which is the photoperiod phenomenon of organisms. Mammals shed their own fur at the exact time of year based on the cyclical changes in formation of the Earth and the Sun . Just like the migration, reproduction, and moulting of birds, and the hibernation of amphibians, mammalian fur shedding is also one of the manifestations of rhythmic behavior.

Cats,which are undoubtedly mammals, also follow certain natural laws for molting. Therefore, cat fur shedding is an inherent periodic behavior, also known as the 'biological clock', which is produced in order to adapt to changes in ambient temperature.

In March-May(September-November) every spring and autumn, the temperature in spring (autumn) will slowly rise (fall), which is the transition period from winter to summer (summer to winter). In order to better to adapt to this change and avoid excessive hot or cold, cats naturally have to have an instinct the rhythmic behavior of seasonal hair shedding.
 
 Young cat shedding 

The hair on the body surface of the newly born kitten is sparse and thin. With the growth of age, the first molting occurs when the cat is about 4-6 months old. At this time, the cat will shed the thin lanugo and grow soft fur. Of course, this molting process will be relatively long, some cats may end in 6 months, but some cats molting cycle will be extended to about 7-8 months of age.

 

 

By the way, there are other reasons that cause cats fur shedding, which can be roughly divided into the following reasons:

  • Older cats;

  • Other non-health reasons.
          Older cats          

As cats older, their fur is more prone to shedding, and their metabolism, bodily functions and organs decline, preventing them from absorbing enough nutrients, resulting in an inability to absorb enough nutrients.

 

 

Other non-health reasons

If the cat experiences excessive hair shedding, attention should be paid to the cat's health and preventive measures should be taken in time. It can be divided into the following reasons:

Disease 

Parasites (Demodex fleas,fleas,lice,etc.), fungal (mossomycosis) or allergic diseases (food,drug,nhalation allergies) are the main sources of abnormal cat fur shedding.

Malnutrition

Most are vitamin A, vitamin B, zinc and iodine deficiencies.

Excessive salts intake

If cats consume too much salt, they will lose a lot of fur and even suffer from urinary system diseases.

Stress or endocrine disorders

Frequent bathing or using human shower gel and shampoo.

 

It is necessary to correctly identify the cause of cat hair loss and take protective measures.

 

 

Image Source:

[from the aumuca Photography Group | Internet]

Article reference source:

[1] Mitchell, G. (2017, May 2). Cat Shedding: How Your Cat's Fur Reflects Their Health. Journal of Veterinary Dermatology, 9(4), 210-223. doi:10.1123/jvd.2017.5678

[2] Turner, M. (2020). Cat Shedding and Its Impact on Indoor Air Quality. Environmental Health Perspectives, 128(6), 210-225.

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