Many furry breeds of cats are hardy in low temperatures but acclimation is one of the important factors.
Long-haired and some short-haired cats grow thick, fluffy winter coats in time for the cold season. Lower availability of sunlight in winter – not low temperatures – affects hair growth patterns in cats. Indoor pets also get winter coats but the changes in their fur are less pronounced.
The change in the growth of fur prepares the animal for winter to some degree but long-haired still get cold and are still vulnerable to frostbite.
How Is Winter Coat Different?
Long-haired cats, as well as some short-haired breeds of cats, have double-layer fur:
- The undercoat is short, thick, and has a plush quality to it. Its function is to maintain a stable body temperature and protect from both cold and hot air.
- The long hairs are sparser and coarser. Their function is to shield the animal from rain, UV light, and insects.
The undercoat gains in thickness and fluffiness during the cold season and becomes thinner in spring. The upper layer follows the same patterns as the undercoat and becomes longer and thicker in autumn, in time for winter.
What Triggers the Winter Coat?
It is not the change in temperature but the availability of daylight that triggers the change in the hair growth pattern. The amount of daylight and the length of the day prompt determine changes.
As the day gets shorter and less natural light is available, the undercoat is triggered to get thicker and fluffier for more effective insulation. The longer guard hairs also undergo a renewal process.
Spring brings heavy shedding to lighten the undercoat in preparation for summer.
Do Indoor Cats Grow Winter Coats?
Indoor cats are also affected by seasonal light changes but not as dramatically.
Your indoor pet will experience the same shedding patterns as outdoor cats. The shedding may be a little lighter and the winter coat may not be quite as fluffy as that of an outdoor kitty but it is the same principle.
The implications are the following:
- Indoor cats do regulate their body temperature, similarly to the cats who go outside regularly.
- Shedding is an issue with any animal, even if your pet stays indoors. It is a natural and necessary process we neither can nor should prevent but there are ways to gain some control over it.
How To Manage Heavy Seasonal Shedding
Brushing your furry pet daily with a good shedding brush, especially during periods of heavy fur loss, is an important routine. Regular brushing promotes a healthy coat and prevents the fur from spreading all over the house.
Some cats love being brushed, while others dislike it so intensely that brushing them is next to impossible. Most felines, however, at least tolerate being brushed, just enough to keep shedding more controlled and prevent knots from forming.
In addition to reducing the amount of hair on floors and other surfaces in your home, brushing and using a shedding comb prevents your cat from swallowing hair while grooming.
Along with good coat maintenance practices, balanced nutrition and good general health of your pet make up the best long-term strategy to keep shedding as light as possible.
Related Questions:
Do long-haired cats shed more?
Long-haired cats do not shed more but there may be more seasonality to their shedding. Their fur is longer and often thicker, so it is also more noticeable on most surfaces. To keep shedding to a minimum, brush your cat regularly with a shedding comb, use kitty wipes, and do your best to make sure that your cat is in good health in general. If your cat’s shedding pattern suddenly changes or he sheds in patches, it is important to rule out any pathological causes of hair loss.
