Shedding AGGGGGGHHHHH!

[Kanga]

Is there anything I can do to lessen shedding? We have 3 cats who usually never shedded much before switching their food. They used to be on Nutro, but we have since had to switch to a rx diet. 2 of the cats are just a little worse in the shedding dept which I expected, but the other is TERRIBLE. Our furniture is covered in hair even though I regularly clean it. When you pet him, you instantly get a handfull of fur. Is there anything I can do about it.

[tlew12778]

Brush, brush and brush some more.

My parents had a deaf cat and they used to vacuum her. She thought it was a massage!

You can also feed them brewer's yeast. It improves their coat and helps shedding.

[MLA]

I don't know if this will be an option for you, but every summer one of my cats gets a summer cut. He has long hair, and it cuts down tremendously on his shedding. I suppose he sheds the same amount, but it's less noticable because his hair is so much shorter. This year, I think we'll be shaving both of our cats -- since moving to NC, they've both been shedding a lot more during the summer.

[vwinkel]

I find that combing the cats help more than just brushing. I bought a pack of plastic combs (human kind! ;) )from the drugstore and these are the best. I also try to give them a bath once a month. I had never done or heard of this for cats before a friend of mind suggested it. It does help.

[silvergrey]

I don't know if this will be an option for you, but every summer one of my cats gets a summer cut. He has long hair, and it cuts down tremendously on his shedding.

This is what we do. We bought a trimmer at Petsmart, and I keep our 2 long-haired cats shaved in the spring and summer...not down to the skin, but pretty short. It really helps.

[vwinkel]

silvergrey - Can you post a picture of that?

[silvergrey]

silvergrey - Can you post a picture of that?

The trimmer or the cats? ;)

I got this trimmer set (http://www.petsmart.com/global/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=84552444178 1723&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302026120&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=2534374302023689&bmUID=1152316466875&itemNo=6&Ntt=oster&In=All&previousText=oster&N=2):
http://www.petsmart.com/media/ps/images/products/detail/large/i/inP0/inP037655large_fb7f.jpg

It has a quiet motor so it doesn't scare them.

Can't resist a pic of the poor pathetic shaved cats, LOL

Before:
http://silvergrey.photosite.com/~photos/tn/1549_348.ts1104024220015.jpg

After:
http://silvergrey.photosite.com/~photos/tn/1550_348.ts1109867388000.jpg

[lawyerlee]

Awww, they look so cute! :D

We've had our cat for less than a week, and he was shedding so bad when we brought him home! I've found that lots and lots of combing does help a bunch. :)

[MLA]

This is what we do. We bought a trimmer at Petsmart, and I keep our 2 long-haired cats shaved in the spring and summer...not down to the skin, but pretty short. It really helps.

Really? You do it yourself? I've always taken my boys in to the groomer for fear of having no skin if I tried to trim them myself. How do you do it?

[jesvet]

If you're not as brave as silvergrey (I know I'm not!) you can ask the groomer for a lion cut, which is what she posted. They look silly but soooo cute!

[silvergrey]

Come on, you guys...shaving cats is fun! :D

Actually, that pic I posted is when I had the groomer do it. I paid $80 for the two of them, got them home, and realized I could do it myself much cheaper. But I have pretty easygoing cats. Cleo doesn't like it, so DH gently holds her head and front legs while I quickly shave her. Ramses couldn't care less. He's a cuddle bug and seems to think that shaving = petting, so he's easy as long as I take it nice and slow.

The first couple times I did it, it was a total hack job, and they were all uneven. But I'm pretty good at it now. It just takes some practice...and getting used to all your friends making fun of your shaved cats, LOL

[maxandmolly]

Max would kill me if I tried to do that to him.

[MLA]

Okay, so I just had to post a before and after of my Seymour. He looks so funny!

Before:
http://static.flickr.com/59/175856635_24d7a64e48.jpg?v=0

After:
http://static.flickr.com/44/184985356_8831090fba.jpg?v=0

That tuft at the end of his tail drove him crazy. He would chase his tail for hours. When he'd catch it, he'd bite it and hurt himself and stop chasing it . . . until, that is, he saw it again. Poor baby! We don't let them leave a tuft like that, anymore. We just have them trim his tail. ;)

[Kanga]

Well, I think Jazz (and dh - dh spoils him like you wouldn't believe) would get a piece of me if I ever tried to do that. Plus he's a shorthair, so he'd look really funny. But I have found a better solution - it's dh's job to lint roll the couches and vacuum:D And I have been combing him almost daily now.

And just because I can't resist posting a pic
http://www.dotphoto.com/SAN1/18/F3/48/i18F348CB-4612-4A29-A46C-4F8A82381F8A.jpg

Yes, he honestly did think he could fit in there.:rolleyes: