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Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Original poster

If you're cat is moulting like mad at the moment...

34 replies

patothechiefexec · 26/04/2014 14:57

Is it a problem all year round?

Went to look at a lovely cat today at the rescue centre but he is moulting like mad at the moment. I came away with a new fur coat. He is 3 to 5 years old, has just been neutered, is short haired white and ginger.

Any comments appreciated.

OP posts:
cozietoesie · 26/04/2014 15:09

In my experience, some/most cats do shed all year round but it can be well controlled with a good grooming routine. (That's good for the cat as well because they don't get such a build up of fur inside after washing themselves so less furball vomiting.)

A certain amount of hair rather goes with the territory though. You more or less have to give up on black clothing - unless you have a black cat.

spottydolphin · 26/04/2014 15:12

we have a short haired ginger and white boy and he is moulting TONS at the moment!

it isn't all year round though. I mean, obv there is some shedding all the time, but i think this time of year as weather is getting warmer is the worst as they lose their winter coat?

spottydolphin · 26/04/2014 15:14

oh, i did invest in a miele cat and dog vacuum cleaner though, which has made things less hairy Grin

Fluffycloudland77 · 26/04/2014 17:07

It's moulting season. You'll need a furminator. Mine loves being furminated, he rolls on his back to get his tummy done.

RubbishMantra · 26/04/2014 18:23

pato, my cat doesn't moult much, but put him in a stressful situation, ie. vet's, and he sheds like mad for the duration. The cat you visited today was in a stressful situation - who knows what the events were leading up to his rescue, then neutering, now surrounded by strange cats/people etc.
That said though, IME the denser, finer and fluffier the coat, the more shedding there is.

itsnothingoriginal · 26/04/2014 21:26

Mine is moulting too but only just over the last month or so - not noticed it before. It's our first year of cat hair and agree you mostly notice it on black clothing! I've got one of those rolly lint remover things with sticky stuff which has proved to be a godsend!

timtam23 · 26/04/2014 21:45

I have had a longhaired cat and 2 shorthaired cats, the shorthaired ones were by far the worst for moulting

Both of them have got very dense fine coats as RubbishMantra says

Recently bought a Furminator which has combed out an astonishing amount of fur but I'm not sure if it's lessened the moulting! I also have a ZoomGroom with rubber teeth which is good for grooming the fine undercoat and it's not as harsh as the Furminator on my elderly cat's bony spine & hips.

Original poster
patothechiefexec · 27/04/2014 08:48

Thanks everyone.

I did wondor if it was a combination of change of season and stress. He actually seems very happy in the rescue. He was rolling around showing off and couldn't leave me alone. DH described him a big fat monkey. Grin

We're trying to decide between him and his fur issue/unknown background and another cat who is being given up by his owner due to financial issues. He's a lovely cat but is quite subdued and he was being tormented by a kitten and a young child. The family are also in the process of moving so I don't think we saw him at his best. DH's first choice is him and mine is the big fat monkey.

Decisions, decisions...

OP posts:
Fuzzymum1 · 27/04/2014 09:19

I have a ginger and white cat and sofa who moults all year round. It's worse at the moment though. The one who moults the least is my long haired boy.

cozietoesie · 27/04/2014 09:33

The subdued cat you might ('might' - he could come out of his shell directly he moves in with you) have to work on a bit to bring out of himself and the big monkey might have to be put on a diet once he's settled if he's really overweight.) I see what you mean about decisions.

The only thing I would say is that a cat who is not at his best wouldn't attract a new family as easily even if the reasons were known. So if you're thinking of him, that could be a very rewarding choice.

Difficult isn't it? So many cats and so few homes.

girliefriend · 27/04/2014 09:37

Whats a furminator?!

My cat is def moulting more than usual at the moment, he seems to have a 'winter' and 'summer' coat iyswim.

It is manageable with regular brushing.

Martorana · 27/04/2014 09:43

We have 5 moulting animals at the moment- it's awful. One of them is a white pony. Sad

cozietoesie · 27/04/2014 09:43

A sample \link{http://www.amazon.co.uk/FURminator-133-Furminator-Cat/dp/B000PU31MY/ref=sr_1_5?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1398588026&sr=1-5&keywords=furminator\furminator.}

(That's only a sample. Other posters who use one will be able to guide you to the best buys.)

Original poster
patothechiefexec · 27/04/2014 10:22

A Furminator would definitely be worth a go. I've always had cats so I'm used to the fur issue but this cat seemed particularly bad. His coat is short and quite coarse.

I'm sure that either cat will be fine. Our last cat had lots of issues when we got him and he was very subdued in rescue. He settled within a few days and turned out to be the most amazing cat. I am sure the second boy will love it here as there is no one to torment him and lots of places to explore outside.

Hmm... what to do. What to do. I think I may have to see both of them again. Second boy is due to go to the rescue centre on Thursday. I had hoped that we would save him the upheaval of going there but I'm really struggling to decide. I don't feel I can ask to see him in his current home again. The owner was very nice but I would feel a bit awkward asking.

Have fallen in love a bit with big fat monkey but feeling guilty about number two. Blush

OP posts:
cozietoesie · 27/04/2014 10:41

I'd recommend ignoring guilt if that's coming into play - it's never a good start to a relationship, human or animal, in my experience.

TheOneWithTheNicestSmile · 27/04/2014 21:48

it is very much moulty time.

I have 2 black cats - one very short-haired & extremely sleek, the other long-short-haired & like a walking football. My light brown carpet is a complete mess currently. The football is moulting like mad but a good furminating does deal with most of it. Sleek cat hardly sheds at all (which is lucky because she hates being combed)

Also have a short-haired sleek tabby kitten; she's not too bad atm & anyway she seems to enjoy furminating.

TheOneWithTheNicestSmile · 27/04/2014 21:51

\link{http://www.amazon.co.uk/Russel-Clothes-Double-Velvet-Handle/dp/B000WCE2NC\these velvety brushes are brilliant at getting hair off clothes, bedding etc}

TheOneWithTheNicestSmile · 27/04/2014 21:53

oh, just read the reviews
maybe not that particular one then
I have a Kleenezee one which is excellent

TheOneWithTheNicestSmile · 27/04/2014 21:56

from cozie's link, I have \link{http://www.amazon.co.uk/FURminator-Short-Hair-DeShedding-Small/dp/B004WJ0KIC/ref=dp_ob_title_pet\this furminator}

DS2 loves doing our hairy cat & last time he was home he got approx a tennis ball off her Grin

HolidayCriminal · 27/04/2014 21:58

Better quality diet & more stroking has done a lot to reduce shedding on one of my cats.

EddieVeddersfoxymop · 27/04/2014 22:01

Yep, it's moult central here right now. They're shedding the winter coat. Unfortunately, I love black clothes and have a semi-long hair white cat. Angry

TheOneWithTheNicestSmile · 27/04/2014 22:15

oh Eddie Sad

had you thought about trying Grecian 2000?

sashh · 28/04/2014 08:11

Not only is it moulting season but cats molt when nervous. Charlie appeared to never molt, until I took him to the vet where he left a nice coat of mainly black hairs over every surface.

Did you ask if he normally sheds or only when meeting new people.

Original poster
patothechiefexec · 28/04/2014 10:07

The lady at the rescue said that he had only just started to moult.

He was very excited both times I saw him. Was rolling around and showing off. Kept nudging me with his head and was on and off my lap. Was purring like a lunatic (while simultaneously eating) and was also talking quite a bit. DH thought he was a bit too intense but he did calm down a bit after we had been there a while.

I did make a fuss of the cat in the pen next door and I swear he was giving that cat the evil eye!

OP posts:
paperclip2 · 28/04/2014 10:11

Difficult choice. Is there any chance that you could take both of them? Then you'd have one cat each Wink

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