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Cats are amazing creatures, they’re cute and fluffy and always have the perfect balance between being your best friend and hating your guts.

They are the perfect balance between needy and independent, ensuring you always know you’re wanted but requiring less work than a dog.

That’s why it’s unsurprising that cats are the second most popular pet in the USA. 

But one not so good thing about cats is the fact that they shed. All cats shed, but this is particularly common in fluffier breeds.

Today we’ll be taking a look at whether or not domestic shorthair cats shed and ways you can help reduce your cat’s shedding. 

What are domestic shorthair cats?

Before we go any further, we must establish exactly what a shorthair cat is.

If you have bought a cat without specifically going out of your way to buy a certain pedigree breed, the likelihood is that you own a domestic shorthair.

Of all the different breeds, domestic shorthair is the most common breed of cat in America, accounting for up to 95% of the domestic cat population in the US. 

Domestic shorthairs are also commonly referred to as house cats or even just shorthairs due to their popularity among people. You may also have heard of tabby cats. These are the 

same breed of cat as domestic shorthairs but have specific markings which are why they are known as tabbies. 

Unlike most pedigree breeds of cat, domestic shorthairs have no set markings and are born in lots of different color patterns.

Some domestic shorthairs will come with specific markings, others may have different splodges of color across their coat, and some may just be one color all over.

The term domestic shorthair covers a variety of different sizes, colors, and markings of cats, which could account for their popularity among the US population.

The breed is used throughout the world, however, it is not uncommon for domestic shorthairs in the US to look completely different from domestic shorthairs in Asia or Europe.

The domestic shorthair breed covers a wide spectrum of cats, but the real question is ‘do they shed?’

Do domestic shorthair cats shed? 

So now let’s move onto the all-important question, ‘do domestic shorthair cats shed?’

As we’ve already mentioned, all breeds of cat shed, so the answer is yes, domestic shorthair cats do shed fur.

However, that being said, of all the cat breeds out there, domestic shorthairs are one of the breeds which shed the least.

But it is worth noting that shedding is something which cannot be decided simply by the breed, the amount that a cat sheds will change from animal to animal. 

Aside from breeds like the Sphynx cat which has no fur at all, domestic shorthairs are one of the lowest maintenance cats when it comes to brushing.

However, it’s important to understand that this doesn’t mean they require no maintenance at all. All cats will need help with their fur coat. But if you want a cat that will require brushing less often, the domestic shorthair might be the right choice for you. 

However, it’s not only brushing you need to consider. If your cat has fur, the likelihood is that they will shed fur throughout your home.

As any cat owner of a kitty with long hair will be aware, some cats will shed as much as dogs do so it is highly likely you will encounter shed fur throughout your home.

But as their low maintenance coat suggests, the majority of domestic shorthairs will not shed an excessive amount of fur. Please note that this is not true of all domestic shorthairs. 

Ways to reduce shedding in cats

If you’re a cat owner you will have accepted that cleaning up your cat’s shed fur just becomes part of your routine. But if your cat seems to shed an excessive amount of fur, there are some ways you can try and reduce the amount of fur that your kitty sheds. 

One great way to reduce the amount of fur your cat sheds is through regular brushing. While our cats regularly wash themselves, a process that produces furballs, we can also help reduce the amount of shedding by brushing their coat.

Unfortunately, a lot of cats actually hate being brushed. It is not uncommon for your cat to try and fight the brush while you run it through their fur, and more often than not you will end up with scrammed arms in the process. 

If you have a domestic shorthair kitten, one way to make the brushing process easier is to start brushing them when they are small. This will allow the cat to become used to the brushing process and lead to fewer scrams as they grow older.

Alternatively, you could brush your cat once a month to reduce the amount they shed. No cat is going to enjoy a bath, in fact, most cats hate water but it is a good way to reduce their fur shedding. 

If brushing or bathing does not sound appealing to you, you could also change your cat’s diet to reduce the amount that they shed. A common cause of excessive shedding in cats is dehydration.

If a cat does not drink enough, its skin will grow dry and their fur coat will lose its shininess. Dry skin will increase the amount of fur that is shed, so ensure your cat’s bowl is always full to reduce shedding. 

Alternatively, you could change the cat food that your cat consumes. For a perfect coat, a cat requires a balanced diet which includes lots of omega and fatty acids.

If you think your cat is shedding fur excessively, there are lots of different companies that manufacture food that will give your cat a balanced diet. Switching to one of these options could help improve the quality of your cat’s coat and reduce the amount that they shed.

Summary 

In short, the answer is yes.

Domestic Shorthair cats do shed fur, all cats shed fur (apart from the hairless breeds of cat, of course), it is just part of the experience of being a cat owner.

However, if you want a cat that does not shed fur excessively, a domestic shorthair cat could be a good choice for you as they only shed a small amount. 

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