Excessive Shedding?

[MaddyG]

Has anyone else experienced excessive shedding with their SV? I could brush my (1.5 yo, neutered) boy all day, and still take off enough fur to stuff a pillow every time. When i pick him up or we snuggle, i leave completely covered in fur. I have another cat (medium to long length coat), and she doesn't shed nearly as much. Could this be a sign of a health issue? I've read that SVs are light to minimal shedders, so I'm becoming concerned. He's otherwise in excellent health and behavior is normal. ONE THING i did change/ am in the process of changing recently: he came to me addicted to Friskies wet and Iams dry, and I've slowly been switching him over to Earthborn wet and Orijen dry with Honest Kitchen Prowl gravy.

Any thoughts?
Thanks all!
MaddyG

 

[admin]

Mine don't shed and sometimes this can be a sign of illness...or something could be lacking in his diet...or he could be stressed...but when did this start? is it getting warmer in your area?

 

[Trish Allearz]

I'd try adding fish oil to his diet, I'd think. My SVs don't shed excessively.

 

[Patti]

I have a couple of Savannahs who shed a lot, one excessively. I think it has to do the the outcrosses used in them, but I couldn't tell you which one...

 

[shelby]

Mine rarely lose a hair;>)

 

[MaddyG]

Thanks for all of the replies and insight! I'll try the fish oil. We're in NJ, so it's getting warmer slowly, but not so drastically as to warrant the rate at which he sheds.

 

[SV Dad]

It is shedding season.. My cats are shedding to various degrees..... (DSH especially)

 

[Per Lausund]

Mine only shed when I'm dressed in contrasting clothes and don't need the "have you got a dog, or a cat?"kind of comment. Seriously, cats shed when stressed or uncomfortable, or it may be dietary, remember though: individual differences and if nothing else is wrong it may be normal!

 

[Sourek]

Both my cats are shedding excessively. This thread just got me worried. They leave a lot of hairs on my duvet. I sit with them once every few days with a furminator and end up with handfuls of fur from either cat. I add Salmon oil that I ordered from Hare Today to their food once in the morning and once in the evening. I've been dealing with some other issues up until now, but I'll bring this up at the vet visit I have this week.

 

[Per Lausund]

Both my cats are shedding excessively. This thread just got me worried. They leave a lot of hairs on my duvet. I sit with them once every few days with a furminator and end up with handfuls of fur from either cat. I add Salmon oil that I ordered from Hare Today to their food once in the morning and once in the evening. I've been dealing with some other issues up until now, but I'll bring this up at the vet visit I have this week.

If you use a furminator that often you may actually be encouraging extra growth: furminators remove both loose and growing hair, and should not be used instead of a microfibre cloth or soft brush!