Whether you own a dog or a cat, you have certainly noticed that your pet sometimes experiences massive episodes of hair loss. Rest assured, this phenomenon is normal! It is called a moulting period.
In this article, find out everything you need to know about it and how to limit it.
What is moulting?
When we talk about molting, we think primarily of a snake that changes its skin. If this one manifests itself in this way in the reptile, the moult is also observable in the cat and the cat and is characterized by the fall of hairs.
This is a perfectly natural phenomenon that is directly related to sunlight and not to temperature.
Moulting occurs at the major changes of season, i.e. at the approach of spring, after the winter period when the sun was not very present, and at the time of autumn, following the very sunny summer season.
Even if a relative loss of hair is visible throughout the year, it is much more important at these times.
Moulting is useful because it allows the coat to adapt to the season. In the fall, the coat becomes denser and thicker to cope with the cooler temperatures of the winter season, while in the spring, the coat thins out before the arrival of the summer.
How does it manifest itself in our animals?
In dogs, shedding is usually felt in the family home!
Hair accumulates on the floor and cleaning becomes more frequent. Also, on the level of the textiles of furnishing, clothing or still car seats, hairs are indeed there.
If your cat has long hair, it will cover your home more than usual during the moulting period, whereas for shorthair cats, this period is more discreet. Very clean, the feline spends many hours a day grooming and caring for his coat. While removing impurities from his coat, he also ingests dead hair.
This phenomenon is of course different depending on the breed. Thus, a long-haired animal will shed more. Also, it depends on the animal’s lifestyle. For example, an apartment cat lives in a home with a fairly constant temperature and is not subject to direct sunlight. Therefore, it has a more regular loss of hair during the year and less frequent shedding than outdoor cats that are exposed to sunlight and extremely changing outdoor temperatures.
How to limit it?
The best way to limit hair loss is brushing. If brushing must be regular during the year to maintain your pet’s coat, the rhythm must be much more sustained during the moulting period.
For the dog, this allows to limit considerably the falls of hairs while for the cat in period of moult, it tends to prevent the formation of hairballs which can cause discomfort and intestinal disorders.
The most popular product for this purpose is the FURminator deshedding brush. Complete and professional, it is a formidable tool against dead hairs: up to 90% reduction of hair loss!
This brush is available in dog and cat versions, with variations for each species depending on the weight and length of the hair.
