Despite the extremely short coat the Siamese cat breed has, shedding still occurs as a normal process for him. He needs to let go of his old hair and replace it with a new one since this is his way of keeping it in a good condition.
You can tell a lot about a Siamese cat’s health through his overall coat. Thankfully, even though he sheds on a regular basis, the fine hairs he let go of are not that noticeable. However, if you start seeing clumps of hair on your couch, then something might be of concern. Learn more about his shedding and how to combat it through this article.
How Often Do Siamese Cats Shed?
Siamese cats regularly shed off their old coats although the frequency would depend on several factors like health. To understand further why shedding happens like a cycle, here is a process of shedding that is composed of 4 stages. Every individual phase lasts for a particular amount of days. Let’s discuss each of them below:
- Anagen. Considered to be the active phase of the hair, the anagen phase occurs when the cells in the root of the hair start to divide rapidly. A new hair begins to form and it gradually pushes the old hair out of the follicle. During this stage, the hair grows by 1 cm every 28 days.
- Catagen. The old hair of your cat stops growing and each hair strand is cut off from the blood supply. This phase lasts for 10 to 20 days.
- Telogen. Each hair strand experiences a resting stage in the hair growth cycle. This means that they are no longer actively growing but are simply just waiting to be pushed out of their places. This takes up to 3 to 4 months to complete.
- Exogen. When this phase occurs, shedding happens at the same time. Brushing and washing can help take off all the loose hairs. Expect this stage to take at least 2 to 5 months.
Does a Siamese Cat’s Shedding Cause Allergy?
Yes, it can. Cats naturally produce Fel D1 protein which is considered an allergen. This is often found in his saliva, urine, and dander. Whenever he grooms himself, the Fel D1 also gets spread throughout his coat. That means, the moment he releases his hair, each strand carries the allergen which can trigger cat allergies on someone who is hypersensitive.
This explains more clearly that the cat fur is not the catalyst of allergies, but rather the protein allergen that is sticking in it.
5 Reasons Why He Might Shed More
The Siamese cat falls under the list of hypoallergenic breeds and that gives us a hint about how much he sheds- less than any other breed. There may be instances though wherein his shedding rate suddenly increases. Knowing what triggers such an unusual occurrence is necessary so you’d know whether he needs to be brought to the vet or not.
There are various reasons why your Siamese cat might shed more, but here are 5 common triggers that you should be aware of:
Food & Diet
A Siamese cat who is suffering from nutritional issues is highly likely to shed more. Bad health can be seen physically through the quality of his coat and if he lacks certain vitamins like A, B, and E, his healthy coat will dramatically change. Also, if he does not get the right amount of Omega-3 fatty acids, his hair’s condition may get worse. Irritation may take place and this may lead to excessive scratching.
Shedding Season
Watch out when the spring and fall seasons come! These are the times when your Siamese cat will shed even more. When spring comes, your Siamese cat will replace his old winter coat with a light summer vest! Imagine how much hair he’ll let go of. Meanwhile, as wintertime approaches, your feline will gradually change his summer coat with a heavier one to combat the cold climate.
Stress and Anxiety
Siamese cats bring positive vibes with their playfulness and friendly attitude. This shifts drastically when certain alterations occur such as a change of location, constant loud noises like a thunderstorm, family tensions, and arguments, or if he’s stricken by an illness or disease. The common physiological response the moment this feline feels emotionally unwell is rapid shedding. He would also try to seek comfort by excessively grooming or scratching himself. Veterinarians would often label this as psychogenic alopecia. The main areas where patches start to appear are in the sides, belly, and legs.
Allergy
It isn’t just us, humans, who experience the hassle of having certain allergies. Siamese cat breeds may also react to certain substances like food, commonly. If you are feeding him new cat meal, it could be that it contains ingredients that could trigger a reaction from his immune system. The usual response a cat can get from allergies is a skin condition known as atopic dermatitis in which one of its symptoms is hair loss.
Age & Gender
Kittens shed less than adult Siamese cats. They only start to replace their coat the moment they reach adulthood. It is by the time they reach 6 to 12 months when their shorter and fluffier coats start transitioning to give way to the development of an adult coat.
Gender also plays a major role in shedding. Female Siamese cats will shed more than ever when she’s pregnant due to the stress she may experience.
5 Ways to Minimize His Shedding
There is no absolute way to stop our Siamese Cats from shedding, however, if, despite his low shedding rate, you are still bothered by the strands you constantly find on your clothes and furniture, then there are ways to minimize the presence of his hair fall. Simply incorporate into your daily routine the steps listed below:
- Groom Him Regularly
- Clean Your Home
- Replace Items and Furniture
- Change His Diet
- Keep Him Hydrated
4 Grooming Tools You Need
Of course, simply knowing how to minimize your Siamese cat’s shedding isn’t enough when you don’t have the right tools! In owning any pet, it’s just vital that you are equipped with all essential weapons to fight off shedding. Here are the must-haves in your grooming kit:
- High-Quality Brush. Go for a self-cleaning slicker brush from Hertzko for a more convenient and fun grooming time. This is effective in removing all loose and dead hairs right after just a few strokes!
- Cat Shampoo. Various cat shampoos offer shed control qualities and one of them is TropiClean shampoo! Its ingredients are natural, safe, and effective in ensuring that your Siamese doesn’t shed too much.
- Lint Roller. Sometimes, our cat’s hair would persistently stick on our clothes and nothing else can efficiently remove it except for an excellent lint roller from Wellted. It is reusable, convenient, self-cleaning, and portable! Above all, you’ll no longer have hairs sticking on you.
- Vacuum Cleaner. Vacuum cleaners are certainly not cheap, but that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be affordable. Having one will keep your home hair-free and Electrolux would be your ultimate best buy!
