Fur loss in cats
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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The fur of cats grows in cycles. Each follicle has a period of rapid growth (anagen phase), followed by a slower growth and then a rest phase (catagenic phase). During the resting phase, the mature hair remains in the follicle and eventually separates at the base. When the hair falls (telogenic phase), new hairs push out the old hairs, and the cycle repeats. On average, the cat's fur grows 8 mm per month.
There are hairless breeds of cats, such as Peterbald (born with a certain amount of wool, which falls to about two years old) and the Sphinx (their body is covered with small fluff, they can have hair on the nose, fingers and tail). The lack of hair in these cats is caused by a genetic mutation, this is not a disease.
Too much female hormones in the body can slow the growth of hair. Too small amount of thyroid hormone often worsens the growth, texture and gloss of cat hair. Poor health, debilitating disease, hormonal imbalance, deficiency of vitamins, as well as parasites on the cat or in its body can lead to the fact that the wool becomes rare and brittle. If you suspect that the cat's fur is not in a normal state, you should contact the veterinarian. The poor condition of the coat always reflects a systemic disease.
Some breeds of cats have a thicker coat. The residence environment also has a certain influence on the density and the amount of wool. Cats living on the street in cold weather, grow abundant hair for warmth and protection. During this period it is desirable to have an additional amount of fat in the diet, since fat provides a more concentrated source of energy for the growth of the wool. Fat also promotes the assimilation of fat-soluble vitamins, provides essential fatty acids for the health of the skin and coat, and improves the taste of food. On sale there are additives of concentrated fatty acids. In the cat diet, too much fat when the stool becomes soft.
The average cat living in the house does not need fat supplements. As a warning, it should be noted that you can not give fat supplements to cats with pancreatic inflammation, gallstones or malabsorption syndrome. Excessive fat supplements can interfere with vitamin E metabolism. Before making long-term changes in fat content in a cat's diet, discuss such changes with your veterinarian. Always consult a veterinarian before giving any supplements to the cat. This is necessary to not break a well-balanced diet.
Hair loss
Some people believe that seasonal temperature changes cause hair loss in cats. In fact, the loss of hair is more affected by changes in natural light. The more exposure to natural light, the greater the loss of hair. This applies to both sterilized and unsterilized cats.
In cats who spend all their time on the street, increasing the light day in the late spring activates the process of hair loss, which can last several weeks. In cats that go outside for a part of the day, new hair usually falls out and grows in early summer. In autumn, when the days become shorter, the coat becomes thicker for the winter. In cats that live in confinement and are subject to constant exposure to light, little by little the new wool may fall out and grow all year round.
Spotted wool is the most common pattern of wool in the wild. Tiger striped (elongated spots), leopard spotted, in lions, spots appear in young animals. It is also very common among domestic cats, such as the American Shorthair cat.
Most cats have double wool, consisting of long large coarse hair and soft fluffy undercoat. The exception are Devon Rex and Cornish Rex. Rex cats have single wool, consisting of their small curly hairs. Cats of Selkirk Rex breed wool a little longer, curly. These cats molt, but less than cats with ordinary hair. This is a dominant mutation.
The woolly cats have strongly crimped wool, including a mustache. This is a dominant mutation. The coat is coarse and stiff to the touch.
When a cat with double wool begins to shed, the undercoat fades mosaic or spots, the wool looks as if moth-eaten. This is absolutely normal. Cats that do not leave the house at all, moult all year round, and with them this does not happen. When hair loss begins, during daily combing, remove as many dead hairs as possible to prevent skin irritation.
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