You are viewing entries tagged 'shedding'.
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My current cat Ed is a sweet, affectionate creature. One morning, I awoke to him grooming my head and he hasn’t looked back since. If my hair is anywhere in his reach, he pounces on it and starts a slow, rhythmic process of licking my locks.
I assumed this was some sort of expression of his love for me and it may be. Cats groom each other as a sign of comfort and bonding (you’re unlikely to see two cats who despise each other grooming each other). Especially if your cat is kneading and purring while doing this, it is likely to be a sign of contentment and acceptance. Or, it could be the shampoo you use – you never know with cats.
Kelly is a dog columnist and pet writer. She lives in the Boston-area with her three pit bulls and one neurotic cat. |
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You know that sound – as you’re sitting, playing on your computer there comes a hacking noise from your cat behind you. It’s somehow different that other kinds of coughing – you can hear him straining to get something foreign out over and over.
It’s hairball time. Almost all cats get hairballs, some more often than others. Long-haired cats like Himalayans tend to be most prone.
There’s not too much you can do once your cat has a hairball. You can gently push on his stomach to help get it out. But prevention is best. Try feeding a food specially formulated for hairballs, try Petromalt on a regular basis or try a home remedy such as pumpkin. Even brushing his teeth can help to keep them at bay. |
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A cat experiencing stress, even a small dose of it, will shed automatically as a response. Since we know how long the list of stress factors for cats is, this can happen quite frequently and your cat will need some extra brushing help from you. So if you know that your cat has recently been in a stressful situation (your absence, going to the vet, household visitors, etc.) then jump right in with some extra brush strokes and attention. |
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Outdoor cats naturally shed twice a year (in preparation for winter and for summer) since they are exposed to the outdoors and the natural changes in the light and temperature. A completely indoor cat will not have those two major sheddings twice a year because he or she lives in artificial light and a more consistent year-round temperature, so sheds moderately but continuously. |
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