Cats and dogs may be notoriously different in temperament, but they have one thing in common: both of them shed. When they do, it can be a huge nuisance for both pets and their owners. The animals become itchy and irritable, and fur gets everywhere. There is no way to prevent shedding, as it is a natural occurrence for both species, but there are a few ways to help keep the associated problems under control.
Daily brushing is the first step. It certainly won’t prevent additional hair from being shed, but it will remove fur that is already dead and falling out. Be sure to buy the right brush, as cats and dogs and even different breeds of cats and dogs have different coats and thus require different specialized brushes. Regular baths also help to remove some of the excess fur and improve the animal’s coat.
There’s no getting around the need for daily vacuuming and cleaning. If an animal is shedding, the fur will end up everywhere. The best way to combat this problem is to deal with it before it gets to bad, because really who enjoys sitting in chairs covered in fur, sleeping in beds covered in fur, and eating meals covered in fur? No one. It’s worth taking the extra 20 minutes to vacuum daily.
It may sound far fetched, but the food pets eat is often responsible for excess shedding. Be sure that they are eating high quality food with enough protein, and consider adding just a touch of vegetable oil to their morning meal to further cut down on shedding. Again, it won’t stop dead fur from flying off of pets and sticking to everything in their immediate vicinity, but it will cut down on how much of it there is and will help to keep their coats shiny and healthy.
Simply put, though, the most effective and efficient way to deal with both cat shedding and dog shedding is to employ the services of a professional pet groomer. Groomers have necessary equipment and experience that the average owner simply doesn’t possess. Most pet salons charge reasonable prices, and owners find that it is well worth spending the extra money to ensure that their pets are comfortable and their houses are not completely covered in fur.
