Feline hair loss occurs in a large number of cats each year. While a certain degree of hair loss is to be expected through natural shedding, as your cat changes between a lighter summer coat and a heavier winter coat, excessive thinning or loss of fur can signal a health concern of some kind. The first step toward addressing your pet's hair loss is to properly chart his symptoms. Using that information, you and your veterinarian can make an educated diagnosis and begin to treat the problem at its source. As with other symptoms that may indicate a variety of conditions, it is crucial that you act promptly to ensure that your pet maintains his health.
One of the most common causes of feline hair loss is malnutrition. Even domesticated house cats may lack certain necessary ingredients and minerals. Recognizing your cat's dietary needs and providing him with a high-quality, balanced food source can help to significantly reduce the chances that he will experience excessive hair loss.
Qualities of a Superb Feline Diet
Cats in the wild are exclusively carnivorous animals. As natural
predators, cats catch and eat a variety of smaller animals, including
fish, rodents and other creatures. Your pet's diet should closely
approximate the diet that a cat might expect to find in the wild.
Specifically, your cat requires a majority of his diet to consist of
proteins. Studies have shown that fish- and poultry-based proteins
offer the widest and most complete selection of feline nutrients, as
these meats signify a closer representation of a cat's diet in the wild.
When
addressing your pet's diet with hair loss prevention in mind, look for
high quality brands of cat food like Natural Balance, Science Diet or
Innova. These brands are superior to others because they provide a
large volume of protein-based nutrition, all of which is derived from
meat sources. Wheat and gluten proteins are not as good as meat
proteins, and may actually contribute to feline hair loss, rather than
prevent it.
There is no significant difference between dry food
and canned food when it comes to hair loss prevention and management.
Both types of cat food vary depending upon the brand, and it's possible
to find high quality examples of either type. The most important
consideration when selecting a cat food is your cat's preferences and
tastes. Cats are picky eaters, and many felines will refuse to eat or
will not eat sufficiently if they don't like their food. Because this
can also contribute to malnutrition and, subsequently, hair loss,
choosing a food that your pet likes is just as important as picking a
food that's high in quality.
Many brands of cat food offer
specially formulated mixes that encourage coat sheen, color or
thickness. A diet that meets all of your pet's dietary requirements
should be enough to keep his fur healthy and full. Still, you may find
that these other brands of cat foods help to boost your pet's coat
quality, provided that they also contain a sufficient balance of
nutrients.
As with all dietary modifications, it's important to
consult with a veterinarian if your pet experiences any side effects or
unusual reactions to his new food.