If a cat has long fur, it does not always mean that the animal is a heavy shedder.
Himalayan cats shed moderately throughout the year, heavier in spring and autumn. They do not shed more than other breeds, despite being so fluffy. Regular brushing makes the shedding more controlled and prevents the fur from spreading around the house.
How Much Shedding Is Normal For A Himalayan Cat?
Himalayan cats are long-haired, and their fur is noticeable on floors and couches. So, how much shedding is normal?
- The healthy coat of a Himalayan feline is silky, smooth, and, usually, very thick. If your cat normally sheds a lot but the fur looks strong and shiny, then your pet probably sheds an appropriate amount.
Himalayans’ shedding patterns do change seasonally because even indoor pets develop winter coats. So, expect moderate shedding throughout the year and heavy shedding during spring and autumn.
How To Tell If The Cat Sheds Too Much
How would you know if your Himalayan’s hair loss is excessive and pathological?
- Your cat sheds in patches
- There is a discernible change in the amount of shedding
- Your cat’s hair looks dull and thinning
If any of the changes are accompanied by other changes in your pet’s health and well-being, that is a red flag.
COMMON CAUSES OF ABNORMAL FUR LOSS IN CATS
Nutrition
Poor, or unbalanced, nutrition can cause matting and hair loss. Cats need a sufficient amount of calories and micronutrients, such as vitamins and minerals, to keep their coats healthy.
Insufficient Hydration
Hair follicles need water. A short supply of water in the body can cause hair follicles to become weak, and hair will shed at an unnecessarily high rate.
Allergies
Your feline can become sensitive to the same allergens people can be sensitive to some foods or shampoo, for example. Usually, an allergic reaction makes them scratch themselves heavily, which can lead to losing fur, often hair loss is localized rather than diffuse.
Parasites
If your cat goes outside, scanning her skin for mites and fleas is probably a regular activity for you. Indoor cats can get skin parasites, too. Intestinal parasites are quite common in all animals.
Any kind of parasites may cause itching and poor appetite, which often lead to hair loss, especially in the areas where the cat scratches the most.
Stress
Cats like routines. If you just got a new cat or moved to a new house, your kitty may feel overwhelmed and stressed out. She could stop eating and grooming and the quality of fur, as well as the amount of shedding, could also change.
Do Furry Cats Cause More Allergies?
Despite popular belief, furry cats do not cause more allergies. You are welcome to read our post on the subject by clicking the highlighted link above.
Allergies are not related to the length of fur or the amount of shedding. Instead, they usually have more to do with the proteins secreted by the cat in dander, saliva, and other body fluids. Every person can also be sensitive to some proteins but not others.
HOW TO KEEP SHEDDING UNDER CONTROL
Assess If Your Cat Grooms Regularly
A happy cat could spend quite a bit of time grooming every single day.
If your Himalayan is not grooming, it could be feeling unwell. A behavior change is always a warning sign. Evaluate any possible stressors and symptoms of physical illness that may warrant a visit to a veterinarian.
Sometimes, however, something as simple as the presence of matted hair could affect a long-haired cat’s grooming routines. Hair knots can cause discomfort during grooming because they get caught in the cat’s teeth and pull on its skin. So, a cat could avoid grooming for that reason.
Maintain a Regular Grooming Routine
– Brush Your Cat Daily
Himalayan cats are furry and prone to getting matted hair.
The only solid way to prevent mats is regular brushing. If your Himalayan doesn’t mind being brushed, it could become a great bonding activity, especially if your household has kids of school age.
Neither of our cats is particularly fond of being brushed, so we try to approach them when they are calm and benevolent to accomplish the brushing a couple of times a week. They do okay with it but do not let me brush their tails.
Use a good brush for furry cats. Some brushes work for routine light-duty brushing, while others break matted hair and help with shedding.
– Bathe Your Cat Occasionally And As Needed
Avoid bathing your cat often. Bathing does help loosen old hair, so an occasional bath will help the quality of your cat’s coat.
Bathing cats too often strips the natural oil from their skin and causes excessive dryness.
Avoid forcing your cat to bathe if the animal looks very stressed. Alternatively to a bath, you could use a wet cloth with some hypoallergenic shampoo for cats. Then rinse with a water-soaked cloth. Your Himalayan cat might then spend a long time self-grooming on his or her terms.
– Optimize Nutrition And Hydration
Offer your kitty a variety of wet and dry food to provide sufficient calories and micronutrients. Most brands produce foods designed to promote healthy fur and skin. Sometimes it takes trying several types of food to find what your kitty likes that also keeps her healthy.
Cats often forget to drink water, which is especially an issue if your pet eats a lot of dry food. So, encourage your pet to drink plenty of water to support proper hydration. You could keep water bowls in several spots in your home to encourage your pet’s intake of fluids.
Wet canned food is the main source of water for cats, so ideally your Himalayan should consume at least some wet food.
– Omega-3
Omega-3 fish oil supplements for cats are good for many aspects of a cat’s health, and one of them is their skin and fur. Regular consumption could help your Himalayan’s coat retain strength and smooth quality, as well as keep shedding to the degree that is normal for Himalayan cats.
HOW TO KEEP YOUR HOME RELATIVELY FREE OF CAT HAIR
We have always had animals in our home, so I know first-hand how hard it is to keep the place clean and free of cat hair. It is probably reasonable to say that some hair should be expected and accepted. It does not mean we should not try to keep things neat.
– Brush Your Cat Regularly
A good brush removes much old loose hair if you groom your cat regularly. Then your Himalayan does not have as much hair to lose while moving around the house.
Regular brushing also prevents your cat from swallowing a lot of fur while grooming. That helps prevent hairballs and vomiting.
Hairballs can lead to serious issues if they become big enough to block the gastrointestinal tract. Cats often vomit when they have hairballs, which is uncomfortable for the animal and messy for you to clean up. Some animals end up needing surgery to remove gastrointestinal blockages, so the problem can become serious.
– Have The Tools: Lint Roller, Vacuum Cleaner, and so on…
In addition to preemptively brushing off loose hair to localize the shedding, having lint rollers and a vacuum cleaner that is good enough for households with pets is important for any household with a cat.
A lightweight cordless vacuum cleaner is an asset in a household with furry pets, perfect for spot-cleaning your home. Lint rollers will help keep your couches clean.
Some people use robot vacuum cleaners to clean the place almost continuously. Those are expensive and, unless you live in a household where everyone is extremely busy, most cat owners find time to just do that part of housekeeping on their own.
Final Thoughts
Expect a good amount of hair in your house or apartment and be prepared to clean regularly, if you are interested in welcoming a Himalayan into your family.
It will be important to make sure that your cat does not shed excessively because that would be an indication of a health problem. Other than that, strategic cleaning routines will help you keep the nuisance of omnipresent cat fur under control.
