Do Munchkin cats shed? The answer to this question is yes, but it depends on the cat. Not all munchkin cats shed; some are low-shedding. Although they are called ‘low shedding,’ they still leave hair everywhere around your house, whether on your carpets or your clothes.
It’s fair to say that munchkin cats are not the best choice for people who suffer from allergies.
Munchkin Shedding Patterns
Munchkin cats are a crossbreed between a short-haired mother and a long-haired father. The result is this very cute little cat, but their fur/hair can cause problems for us humans.
They are low shedding, but sometimes the fur/hair can become matted; this causes an excessive amount of hair to be released into your house.
The average amount of hair shed by a cat is about 50-100 hairs per day. The more often you brush them, the less shedding there will be. Not all munchkin cats shed; some are low shedders. If your cat is a low-shedding munchkin, there won’t be much hair loss in your house.
Cats lose their hair during times of stress or illness, but this should be temporary and not throughout the entire lifespan.
9 Factors That Can Cause Your Munchkin Cat to Shed
Munchkin cats are generally healthy and low-maintenance pets. They have a playful, lively temperament and love to be around people. However, several factors can contribute to a decrease in their quality of life, thus causing them to lose hair, including:
1. Poor Nutrition
The wrong type of food or lack of proper nutrition can affect your cat’s overall health and coat quality. Thus, it is essential to ensure that you know your cat’s daily nutritional requirements and that you are meeting these.
2. Hormonal Changes
Some hair loss can be attributed to hormonal changes experienced by both female and male cats. This is common in the case of neutered animals. Also, parasites include skin parasites like Cheyletiella (walking dandruff), Demodex, Scabies mites, and Fleas.
3. Tumors
Cats are often victims of lymphatic or blood system tumors. These can be benign or malignant, thus causing the cat to experience hair loss throughout its body.
4. Stress & Allergies
An array of factors, including stress, allergies, and sickness can cause your cat to lose hair even when it is not under any condition that would warrant this response from them.
Genetics may also play a role in some cases. You need to consult with your vet about what might be causing the hair loss so you both can work on treatment options together.
When cats are allergic to something in their environment, this may also cause them to lose hair. It would be best to rule out any possible allergies to get to the root of your cat’s particular case.
You can do this by using the minimal number of chemicals possible in your home to see if any changes occur after doing so.
Alternatively, you could try switching to an all-natural approach to cleaning products, perfumes, etc., or even take your cat off commercial food and switch them onto a raw meat diet instead.
5. Poor Grooming Habits
If you are not taking the time to groom your cat regularly, they may lose more hair than necessary. This is because the new growth undercoat has not yet come through and become long enough to protect the older outer coat.
6. Poor Grooming Tools
The tools you use on your cat for grooming purposes matter. Using steel combs or brushes can severely scratch and irritate their skin which will cause them to become stressed, thus leading them to lose their hair in that area of discomfort.
7. Abnormal Levels of Thyroid Hormones
Cats with low thyroid hormone levels will usually lose their hair. Your vet can diagnose this after a blood test is performed. Liver dysfunction may cause a deficiency in specific nutrients, disrupting the cat’s hormonal balance and triggering hair loss.
8. Normal Hair Shedding During Grooming
Your Munchkin cat may naturally seem to lose more hair when you are grooming them, but this should not be excessive or abnormal. It is common for cats to lose “significant” amounts of hair when being groomed.
Especially if the coat is long and thick, making it difficult for you to keep up with removing loose hairs from their body before they escape into your home environment. However, if they are constantly losing significant amounts of hair when brushed, for example, then this may be a sign to take action.
9. Weak Blood Flow
When the body is not getting enough nutrients, it needs to function correctly, including Vitamin B12, Iron, and Folic Acid, among others. This will cause slow blood flow, which in turn can lead to excessive hair loss or bald patches appearing on your cat’s skin.
It is another reason you must ensure that your cat gets the correct type of food for them, together with all their nutritional requirements being met.
Poor circulation in extremities may cause the fur in these areas to fall out due to a lack of nutrients getting into these parts, which are furthest away from the heart.
How to Minimize Munchkin Shedding Process?
Munchkin cats usually don’t shed excessively. However, if you brush them daily and keep up their grooming routines, they should remain to look clean and well-groomed.
Caring for your cat is very important. As your cat can suffer from many medical conditions that affect its health.
Especially, food allergies can lead to hair loss and other skin irritations that need proper care and attention.
If you suspect any severe causes of hair loss, such as an underlying disease or medical condition, make sure you take your pet to the vet immediately.
The vet can diagnose what might be going on with them and prescribe suitable treatments which will help mitigate the harmful effects.
Your cat’s lifestyle also needs to be taken into account because these furry creatures love to climb and jump around and explore, which can put their bodies under a lot of stress.
If you notice that your cat has stopped doing these activities, it may indicate that they are not feeling well for some reason; in such cases, you should take them to the vet straight away.
How do you take care of Munchkins?
It is also essential to check on the nutrition of the cats and make sure they are getting the right stuff in their food.
This is not always easy, but with a bit of effort and time, you can do it, especially if your Munchkin is on a raw meat-based diet such as Orijen cat food, for example, which has all the necessary nutrients cats need to be healthy and feel better than ever.
Regular brushing can reduce shedding by up to 90%. Cats are naturally clean animals, and they enjoy taking a bath on their own without your interference. However, if you notice excessive hair loss or bald patches on the cat’s skin, it’s time to bathe them.
While this sounds like a simple task, it can be tricky, so you need to know what you’re doing. Look for quality pet shampoo brands that will leave your pet feeling fresh and smelling great afterward.
If your kitty is particularly sensitive, try diluting some baby shampoo in warm water and let the solution sit on their fur for about 15-20 minutes before rinsing thoroughly and drying with a towel.
Are Munchkin Cats Hypoallergenic Cats?
Munchkin is not a hypoallergenic cat. It is a moderate shedder. It will significantly affect people with allergies. However, people choose them for their moderate allergy friendliness.
If your cat makes you sneeze or has an itching/burning sensation in your eyes, ensure you take preventive measures.
If you want a low allergy pet, only choose hairless breeds that do not shed hair. Hairless breeds do get dirty quickly and need bathing more frequently too. They also get chilly quickly since no fur keeps them warm during colder months.
Due to short legs, the Munchkin cat can’t jump or climb, and other cats with average leg lengths.
As for other health problems associated with Munchkin, they are prone to being overweight/obese due to their short legs, so you have to be strict when feeding them.
Keeping your cat healthy by providing a balanced diet of fresh meat and organs together with veggies makes an excellent diet that will benefit your cat in the long run.
Conclusion
Do Munchkin cats shed a lot? The simple answer is YES. Munchkin cats shed a moderate amount; therefore, they are not a notably hypoallergenic breed. If your cat makes you sneeze or have an itching/burning sensation in your eyes, then it is more likely to be allergic to something on the ground/on the furniture rather than the cat itself.
Regular brushing is highly recommended with quality pet shampoo brands to reduce shedding, which will leave your pet feeling fresh and smelling great afterward! If you want a low allergy pet, only choose hairless breeds that do not shed hair.