Do Siamese Cat Shed?

Do Siamese Cat Shed
Image: istockphoto.com / Daniel Dominguez Cuenca

Thinking of adding a Siamese Cat to your household and wondering about how much it will shed?

Do Siamese Cats shed?

Yes, Siamese cats do shed. Like most felines, the Siamese Cat sheds fur. The key difference compared to many other breeds is that the breed has short fur, making the fur they shed less noticeable.

A cat’s fur performs multiple roles. Apart from helping regulate a feline’s temperature, fur protects against the elements and physical and chemical damage.

Domestic cats, including Siamese Cats, undergo up to two hair growth cycles. During each cycle, cats will lose a considerable amount of hair.  These growth cycles are heavily influenced by the changing of the seasons as well as exposure to sunlight.

Before domestication, cats shed fur in spring to lose their heavy coat. Upon the onset of fall, cats will once again shed fur in preparation for the growth of their winter undercoats. But modern house cats like Siamese Cat can shed their fur all year round due to their exposure to artificial light. Exposure to artificial light tampers with a cat’s ability to keep track of the changes in the season, hence the year-round shedding.

However, this year-round shedding should not be a cause of major concern. In fact, normal shedding is considered a sign of good health.

Excessive shedding

But there is normal shedding and there is excessive shedding. For the most part, shedding is part and parcel of owning a cat. One way or another, you and your family will need to learn how to accept and deal with that. But excessive shedding is not normal and can signal an underlying problem that you need to identify.

Here are the potential causes of excessive shedding in Siamese Cats and other breeds.

Excessive shedding
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1. Inadequate nutrition

When a cat’s nutritional needs are not fully met, its body will exhibit a few noticeable changes. This includes excessive shedding of fur. Apart from the excessive shedding, you might also notice a change in the texture and appearance of the fur.

2. Allergies

Allergies caused by food or environmental factors can lead to an itchy reaction in a cat’s skin. This can lead to a cat scratching, licking, or even biting itself. In turn, this can trigger excessive hair loss.

3. Parasites

Common pet parasites like fleas can also trigger an allergic reaction on a cat’s skin. When these insects bite a cat, he will try to soothe himself from the pain inflicted on him by licking, scratching, and biting the affected area.

4. Hormonal changes

Hyperthyroidism is a condition that triggers the over-secretion of thyroid hormones. One of the effects of this condition is excessive shedding. If you own a female cat, you also need to be aware that she will undergo changes in her body, including losing more hair than usual. However, this issue typically resolves by itself after she gives birth.

5. Stress

Changes in the environment and anxiety can trigger stress in cats. And one of the ways that stress can manifest itself in cats is self-injury. A stressed cat will bite himself or even tear his hair out.

Staying on top of shedding

If you do decide to adopt a Siamese Cat or any cat for that matter, there is no going around shedding fur. There are, however, ways to stay on top of a cat’s shedding. Here are some of the strategies that will help you keep shedding at a minimum.

Pay attention to nutrition

Nutritional deficiencies can trigger a Siamese Cat’s excessive hair loss. This is why it is critical to feed your cat nutritious meals. Ideally, you should give your feline foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids which are known to promote healthy hair and skin. You can also give your cat fish oil to ensure her omega-3 intake.

Make grooming a habit

Make grooming a habit
Image: istockphoto.com / Diego Cerro Jimenez

Rather than deal with a massive amount of hair scattered around your home, the better option would be to set aside a few days a week to groom your Siamese Cat. Brushing your cat’s fur two to three times a week will help minimize the amount of fur circulating around your home. As an added benefit, regular brushing is the perfect opportunity to bond with your pet.

Apart from regular brushing, you should also bathe your cat regularly. Regular bathing helps remove dead skin cells while keeping the skin healthy and clean.

To help make grooming easier for you and your Siamese Cat, invest in a few quality equipments like a brush for short-haired cats, grooming wipes, and a cordless vacuum cleaner.

It is also a good idea to start grooming your Siamese Cat as soon as young as possible. This way he will become accustomed to or even look forward to your regular grooming sessions.

Watch out for skin issues

From time to time, check your cat’s skin for inflammation, sores, bald spots, and other symptoms that indicate a skin problem. Left uncheck, skin conditions can trigger overgrooming in your cat. In turn, overgrooming can lead to excessive hair loss.

Understanding cat allergy

Some prospective cat owners add the Siamese Cat to their shortlist of potential cats to get, thinking that the breed’s comparatively shorter hair means that it will less likely trigger an allergic reaction.

However, a cat’s hair does not trigger allergies. What people are actually allergic to are the proteins found in a feline’s urine, saliva, and dander or dried skin flakes.

People with cat allergies have immune systems that mistake harmless things like dander as dangerous substances. When the immune system makes this mistake, it can try to ward off these substances. In turn, this triggers a string of symptoms like coughing, itchy eyes, sneezing, and runny nose.

In short, the length of a cat’s hair does not matter if you have an allergic reaction to felines. Some breeds of cats that are identified as hypoallergenic can still cause allergic reactions. Apart from the cat proteins, allergic reactions can also arise from allergens like pollen and mold that attach to a cat’s fur.

An excellent family pet

If you are looking for an intelligent, affectionate, and sociable cat that will instantly settle in as a beloved family member, then look no further and get a Siamese Cat. However, if shedding is a major cause of concern, you might consider getting a hairless breed like the Sphynx.