Although you want your cat’s coat to look healthy and shiny, there are several factors that can cause excessive hair loss, such as hygiene, diet, and certain diseases. Below, we explain the main causes of hair loss in cats and give you some tips to remedy it.
Causes of Hair Loss in Cats
Hair loss is very common in our feline friends. However, seeing your cat lose too much hair is not only distressing, but it can also be a symptom of a more serious problem. These are some of the most common causes of hair loss in cats:
- Excessive grooming. As you know, cats groom themselves to stay clean and healthy. However, excessive grooming can cause hair loss in cats. If you believe your pet shows signs of over-grooming, you should take them to the vet, as this behavior may be linked to certain issues such as stress or lack of stimulation.
- Unbalanced diet. Your feline friend’s daily food should provide all the necessary nutrients to maintain optimal coat and skin health. A deficiency or excess of certain nutrients in their diet can weaken the fur and cause hair loss.
- Allergies, fungi, and parasites. Both external parasites and food or environmental allergies can cause itching, leading cats to scratch and groom excessively. Another common cause of hair loss in cats is ringworm, a highly contagious fungal infection that often occurs in cats living in groups.
How to Prevent Hair Loss in Cats
Although it is impossible to completely prevent your cat from shedding, you can control hair loss by following these hygiene and dietary guidelines:
- Brush your cat regularly. To control shedding, brush your cat for 5–10 minutes at least once a week. Use a soft-bristle brush if your cat has short or medium-length hair, and a wire-bristle brush for long-haired cats. If your pet doesn’t tolerate brushing, try grooming gloves instead.
- Maintain proper hygiene. To reduce shedding, we recommend bathing your cat every four weeks. If your feline doesn’t like water, use grooming wipes or special dry-cleaning sprays. Another option is a cloth dampened with warm water. For cats with long, thick fur—or if your cat becomes aggressive when being groomed—it’s best to take them to a professional groomer.
-
Take care of their diet. Both skin and fur health depend on a protein-rich diet. These proteins must be high-quality and digestible; otherwise, the fur may become thin and brittle. Food against hair loss in cats should also include vitamins A and E and Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids.
In this sense, we recommend the range of cat food for skin and hair loss problems from Only Fresh. A collection of delicious and hypoallergenic recipes made with fresh fish rich in Omega-3 and Omega-6. These formulas also prevent food allergies and intolerances since they contain no meat flours or dehydrated meats. - Keep your cat dewormed. Cats scratch intensely when they have fleas or other external parasites. Check your pet, and if you find fleas or flea droppings at the base of the tail, take them to the vet for deworming treatment.
- Visit the vet. If your cat scratches excessively and you can’t identify the cause, consult your veterinarian. Besides parasites, your cat may be suffering from pollen allergies, food intolerances, or even ringworm.
As you can see, in general, cat hair loss can be controlled by making some adjustments to your cat’s hygiene and diet routines. In any case, if you think your feline friend is losing too much hair, don’t hesitate to see a vet to identify the cause and establish the most appropriate treatment.
