Cats, like humans, also have characteristics of hair cycles and shed hair every year. However, the season and amount of shedding vary greatly for each cat. So, in which months do cats shed hair?

1. Hair Cycle

The hair cycle refers to the process where cats’ hair grows twice, falls off, and the cells are renewed, which is a normal physiological phenomenon. The hair cycle is divided into three stages: growth phase, resting phase, and shedding phase. During the growth phase, the hair quality is good and the color is bright; during the resting phase, the hair quality is average and the color is relatively dull; during the shedding phase, the hair quality is poor, the color is dull, and shedding is heavy.

2. Spring Shedding

Spring is the shedding season for cats; most cats shed hair during this time. Because the temperature in spring is relatively low, more hormones are secreted in cats’ bodies, causing internal climate changes that trigger the hair cycle, resulting in new hair growth. In addition, cats are also affected by seasonal stress in spring, leading to more active hormone secretion and more obvious hair shedding.

3. Autumn Shedding

Autumn is also a shedding season for cats, but the amount of shedding is much less than in spring. Cooler temperatures in autumn reduce hormone secretion in cats, which hinders hair growth and disrupts the hair cycle, causing cats to shed hair. Moreover, autumn is when cats’ antiviral activity is at its lowest, making them more susceptible to diseases, which also affects hair growth.

4. Summer and Winter Shedding

Summer and winter are also seasons when cats shed hair, but the amount of shedding in summer is much less than in winter. The higher summer temperatures reduce hormone secretion in cats, disrupting the hair cycle and hindering hair growth, leading to shedding; in contrast, the lower winter temperatures increase hormone secretion, disrupt the hair cycle, and cause cats to shed hair.

5. Care and Nurturing

The shedding season of cats is actually related to the normal hair cycle. Besides this, care conditions also affect cats’ hair growth. The health of a cat’s coat depends on its nutrition and environment. Caregivers should provide sufficient nutrition to ensure a balanced diet; at the same time, they should keep the cat’s environment clean, maintain humidity, and provide a comfortable sleeping environment to balance hormone secretion and normalize the hair cycle, thereby preventing excessive shedding.

In summary, cats generally shed hair in spring and autumn, with less shedding in summer and winter. In addition, the care conditions also affect hair growth. Caregivers should provide adequate nutrition, keep the cat’s environment clean, maintain humidity, and offer a comfortable sleeping environment to ensure healthy growth.