You stroke your dog or cat and come away with a handful of fur. The sofa needs another clean. Hair gathers along the skirting boards a day after you vacuum.
An increase can form part of a normal coat change. Your pet's usual pattern matters more than the number of hairs on one cushion. A sudden change, bald area or sore skin needs a closer look.
This guide covers cats and dogs. It will help you check the coat, plan calm grooming and recognise signs that need a vet.
More fur around the home can be normal
Cats and dogs replace old or damaged hairs as part of the coat cycle. PDSA explains that breed, coat type, season, diet, stress, heat and light can affect moulting.
Many pets lose more coat during spring or autumn. Indoor cats may shed across the year because indoor light and heating reduce the seasonal contrast. Some dogs lose hair across the year, while others have a clear seasonal change.
Start with your pet's baseline. Think about the amount they shed last month, the feel of the coat and the condition of the skin. A healthy coat should not develop a new bald or patchy area during routine moulting.
Check the coat and skin
Run your hands over the coat in good light. Part the fur in several places and check the skin beneath it. Look around the neck, belly, legs and the areas your pet can lick or scratch.
Make a note of:
- bald or thinning patches
- red, flaky, crusted or sore skin
- bumps, scabs or darkened areas
- frequent scratching, chewing or licking
- a dull coat or new matting
PDSA advises dog owners to contact a vet about fur loss, since fleas, allergies, mites, infections and hormone conditions can cause alopecia. Cats Protection gives the same boundary for cats with bald patches, irritated skin or excess grooming.
Take a clear photograph if you find a change. It gives you a dated record and can help your vet see whether the area has spread.
Build a calm grooming routine
Choose a grooming tool for your pet's species, coat and skin. A short coat may suit a soft brush or grooming mitt. A long, dense or double coat may need a comb or brush chosen with help from a groomer or vet.
Pick a time when your pet feels settled. Let them inspect the tool, then make one or two gentle passes. Keep the first session short. Stop if they pull away, flatten their ears, tense their body, growl or try to escape.
Grooming collects loose coat hair before it reaches the floor. It does not stop the coat cycle. It also gives you a chance to find a skin change, lump or painful area.
Do not pull at a mat or cut close to the skin. Ask a vet or reputable groomer to handle tight matting, since skin can sit close beneath it.
Support the coat without home remedies
Feed a complete diet suited to your pet's age and health. Ask your vet about diet changes, supplements or parasite control. Skin oils, human creams and unprescribed treatments can cause harm when a cat licks them from the coat.
Use flea treatment on the schedule your vet recommends for your household. Fleas can trigger itching and fur loss even when you do not see one on the pet.
Avoid extra baths as a response to loose hair. Shampoo, water temperature and bath frequency need to suit the animal and its skin. Ask your vet for advice if the coat feels greasy, smells different or develops dandruff.
Call your vet about a new coat change
Contact your vet if your pet develops a bald patch, thinning area, sore skin or a sharp rise in scratching. Book an appointment for a sudden shedding pattern that differs from your pet's baseline.
Tell the vet about changes in appetite, thirst, weight or energy. Share the date you noticed the coat change, the parasite products you use and any recent change in food, bedding or cleaning products.
Your vet can examine the skin and find the cause. A grooming tool cannot diagnose or treat parasites, allergies, infection, pain or a hormone condition.
Keep loose hair under control at home
Work from the pet to the room. Collect suitable loose coat hair during a calm grooming session, then clean the places where your pet rests.
Use washable throws on beds and sofas. Shake out dry covers before washing and follow each care label. Vacuum floors and upholstery with the attachment and suction level recommended by the maker.
Use a reusable roller on suitable dry fabric after a hidden-patch test. Apply light pressure and stop if the tool pulls the weave or changes the finish. Keep any fabric roller away from your pet.
Where the Shedlo kit fits
The Shedlo Pet Hair Rescue Kit handles two separate jobs. The grooming mitt can collect loose coat hair from a suitable dog or cat. The reusable roller lifts surface hair from suitable dry sofas, clothes, bedding and car upholstery.
The mitt cannot stop shedding or treat a coat condition. Use the roller on fabric and interiors, never on an animal.
A five-minute coat check
- Look at the coat in good light.
- Part the fur and check the skin.
- Note any bald patch, redness or sore area.
- Groom a small section with a coat-suitable tool.
- Stop at the first sign of stress or pain.
- Record any change and contact your vet when needed.
Questions pet owners ask
Does grooming stop a dog or cat from shedding?
No. Grooming removes loose coat hair and may reduce the amount that lands around the home. Your pet will still replace hair as part of the coat cycle.
Can indoor cats shed all year?
Yes. Cats Protection explains that indoor cats can shed across the year because they have less exposure to outdoor light and temperature changes.
Does a bald patch count as normal moulting?
A new bald or patchy area needs veterinary advice. Normal moulting should not leave a healthy coat with a new bare area.
Can I use the Shedlo roller on my pet?
No. Use the reusable roller on suitable dry fabric and interiors. Use a coat-suitable grooming mitt or brush on the pet.
Save the five-minute coat check
Keep this reminder on your phone or Pinterest board before the next grooming session.
