Why does my cat shed so much?

Question

My cat, Odin, sheds a lot. He mostly sheds when he is nervous, aggressive, or play fighting with my other cat, Bose. Is this a problem? I don't really know what's going on with him. He also seems to shed when he is very scared, and I find a lot of hairs from my cat all around the house.

My other cat, Bose, doesn't shed as often, though.

I searched, and it said that my cat can have a bunch of different medical issues, including stress, poor diet, and allergies. I think the closest medical issue it could be is stress. He seems very aggressive and nervous a lot, so maybe that's it?

It also said to brush my cat daily, but almost every day, I forget to brush his hair. So it could be that, as well. My cat doesn't fight a lot with my other cat.

Maybe it has something to do with their breeds? Odin is an American Shorthair, and Bose is a Bombay.

So why do you think my cat, Odin, sheds a lot?

Answer 1

With the disclaimer I am not a vet, but from your description, I do get the impression the shedding could be stress related, specifically due to these points:

• It visibly increases in specific situations. Normal shedding is usually pretty consistent, with an exception for if the cat is being petted or groomed, which tends to pull out loose hairs.
• The cat seems generally anxious and aggressive. Keep in mind, aggression is often rooted in anxiety as well.

Take the cat to the vet.

Even though stress seems a likely cause, it's probably a good idea to make sure there really is no medical explanation for the unusual shedding. While you are there, I would also bring up the possibility of giving the cat anxiety medication. If it turns out the shedding really is stress related, then it's likely a sign the cat has unusual levels of anxiety. A cat at home in its regular routine should not be showing signs of stress. It's also possible anxiety medication will make the cat less aggressive.

It is also possible though that it's simply due to differences between individual cats. In this case, there's nothing really to worry about, other than having to clean up more hair, and being careful about hairballs.

Answer 2

Maybe your cat is stressed. During this time, the follicles of certain hairs called telogen hairs are released. The discharge causes the cat to shed more than usual. I have had cats for 5 years. I often notice their changes and learn from them. Their hair loss worries me because when they lose their hair they fly all over the house and even get on their clothes which makes me very uncomfortable. I have found that the reasons they lose so much can be due to age, being too stressed, or being pregnant, and especially when they shed seasonally the hair tends to fall out a lot. a lot of. I found many solutions to the problem, you can brush your cat daily, bathe her from time to time, be consistent in her diet and remember to check your cat.