Do Siberian Cats Shed a Lot? Have you ever cuddled up to your Siberian Cat and found a bunch of his or her hair on your clothes and couch and ask yourself, “Why does my Siberian cat shed so much?” Well, we have the answer to that question!
This article will explain 10 reasons why Siberian cats shed so much and how you can help minimize their shedding.
Top 10 Reasons Why Your Siberian Cat Sheds So Much
Siberian cats are a very popular breed of cat for many reasons, but people don’t often know why they shed so much.
Siberian cats have so much shedding due to their long and thick undercoat that lies beneath the outer coat.
This type of double-coating protects them from freezing in cold climates and also helps to regulate body temperature.
Since this fur has no waterproofing agents, it will always be prone to matting and tangling, which leads to excessive shedding.
This is not unusual for even an indoor Siberian cat with regular grooming sessions to lose up to 50% or more of its total coat each year.
1. Fur Problems
As an animal that lives in the cold, Siberian cats fall prey to other animals in the food chain from the same region.
This means that they have to adapt to their environment, and there are two ways of doing this – through thick fur or other measures.
These other measures include being nocturnal hunters to avoid other animals during the day when ticks, fleas, and mosquitos swarm around every corner.
Siberians, however, have adapted to be active during both day and night, which makes them not only incredible hunters but also creates a lot of fur problems for Siberian kittens shed everywhere.
This is because, unlike many other cats that have adapted to have very thick coats, the Siberian has taken on what could be considered a wolf’s fur.
They have very long guard hairs and a secondary layer of under-fur that is incredibly thick and dense to keep them warm even in the coldest conditions.
Their thick coats mean that they need floor coverings to avoid floors flooding with fur or furniture that their claws can easily damage.
2. Shedding Season
It is not just the Siberian cat shedding season; however, all cats have their specific times when they shed most of their fur during the year, usually after being given birth, during mating seasons for marking territory, or around seasonal changes where temperatures are changing rapidly.
This makes it hard to determine if your Siberian kitten will grow out of its urge to scratch everywhere but will usually ease off as they get older.
3. Over-Grooming
Over-grooming often relates to stress and anxiety in cats, particularly if you have more than one Siberian cat living together. The best way to ensure that your
Siberian kitten does not over-groom or cause damage to household furniture is to provide them with an environment that keeps them busy and free from boredom at all times.
This will keep their attention on playing or scratching posts rather than the sofa seat, which could be dangerous for both yourself and your furry friend.
4. Repetitive Grooming
Repetitive grooming can also happen if there are any abnormalities with your Siberian pet; this includes lumps or bald patches around their neckline or tails.
This can indicate a skin infection or disease, and if your Siberian is obsessively grooming an area of its body, it could be a sign that you need to contact a vet immediately.
5. Moulting Season
Siberians are built for comfort, not speed or agility, in their day-to-day life, which means that they spend a lot of time sleeping in the sun, which also causes them to shed more than usual during certain seasons such as spring and autumn.
This can result in excessive shedding around this time, so there is no need to worry about anything happening with your furry friend; they will get over it just like any other cat would!
As long as nothing out of the ordinary happens, such as lumps on the skin or behavioral abnormalities, then there should be nothing to worry about.
6. Predisposition to Feline Hair Loss Syndrome
Studies have shown that the Siberian cat has a predisposition to hereditary feline hair loss syndrome, which results in cats having a double coat of fur.
This means that there is a shorter guard hair and undercoat, so it appears as though they are shedding more than usual, but this is just a side effect of their double coat structure, not from any illness or disorder which could put them at risk of infection.
7. They Are Not Hypoallergenic
Hypoallergenic means that it produces fewer allergens than other breeds, which results in people not having allergic reactions towards it, such as sneezing or watery eyes, etc.
However, Siberians do produce allergens and therefore should not be labeled hypoallergenic as this isn’t true.
Siberian cats shed heavily because their undercoat is shorter than other cats, which means their coat is incredibly warm and dry throughout the whole year.
They do this for both mating periods when hormones are high, resulting in lots of overgrooming, but it also helps with their double coat’s ability to insulate against cold weather.
As well as this, Siberian cats are heavy shedders because of how much they groom themselves, to the point where they spend hours grooming each other before receiving any attention from humans to keep them looking at their best.
It’s important to note that even if Siberians shed all year round heavily compared to other breeds, which only shed heavily in different seasons, there still will be shedding going on, so it can’t be avoided.
8. Siberian Cats Shed A lot Because Of Their Double Coat Structure
One of the major reasons Siberian cats shed so much is their double coat structure, which means that the undercoat is lighter and shorter than other breeds and denser.
The different layers work together to protect them from extreme weather conditions and cold weather by providing insulation against the elements.
However, this comes at a cost because although it prevents cold from getting into their bodies through a thick coat, a lot of fur that would normally be there to keep them warm falls off, meaning more shedding is required.
9. Siberian Cats Shed A lot Because Of Their Love For Cushions And Pillows
Much like most domestic cats, Siberians love to sleep on sofas or chairs because of how comfortable they are and the fact that it’s warm inside.
Even if your Siberian cat is an outdoor hunter meaning that they should be spending more time outside than in, there’s still nothing better than curling up with a good book with them next to you, purring away with their body pressed against yours.
Unfortunately, Siberians prefer plush surfaces instead of scratching posts, which means that their claws need to go elsewhere (definitely not on the furniture).
10. They Are A High Maintenance Breed
Siberians are very much like dogs in their personalities which means that they need regular grooming and attention as well as lots of love and attention throughout the day, or they can become aggressive towards humans around them, especially during mating periods when hormones start to kick in for both humans and cats.
Overall, Siberian cats are very high maintenance, so if you want to own one as a pet, you need to be prepared for lots of fun and games throughout the day and lots of furs all over everything, including furniture, because there will always be shedding going on.
Conclusion
Why does my Siberian cat shed so much? To answer this once more, There are many reasons why Siberian cats shed so much. The main reason is that they have a double coat that traps air and even dirt particles. They also produce more oil than other breeds of cats which can lead to increased shedding. Lastly, the breed has less fur on its paws, which means that when you pet your cat with your hand, you’re rubbing off their hair.