Best Cat Food for Excessive Shedding

One of my friends adopted a little kitty who had ringworm at the time. She assumed he would be a sleek short-haired cat, boy, was she wrong; he grew up and developed an extravagantly long coat with thick underbelly fluff.

The best cat food for shedding are organic brands that don’t contain allergens such as grain, artificial flavors and colorants. Your cat’s diet should also contain adequate amounts of protein, vitamins and fatty acids. Aging, pregnancy and skin allergies may also cause excessive shedding.

In this post you’ll discover the reasons why your cat may be shedding excessively, how to keep your home clean, grooming tips, and of course, the best wet and dry foods you can feed your cat to keep shedding under control.

My very fluffy cat (well, technically, my daughter’s cat) Gingie is featured throughout this post.

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Royal Canin Feline Care Nutrition Intense Beauty Canned Cat Food Blue Buffalo True Solutions Perfect Coat Dry Cat Food Royal Canin Indoor Adult Dry Cat Food

Table of Contents

Find the Best Food for Your Cat

✅ Why Is My Indoor Cat Shedding So Much?

First of all, it’s important to understand that shedding is an entirely natural — and necessary — phenomenon.

Cats generally shed twice a year in sync with the changing seasons. Their summer coat gets shed in the fall to prepare for their thicker winter coat, and then in the spring their winter coat sheds in favor of a lighter summer coat.

If your cat is a pampered indoor cat, he might only shed small, consistent amounts of hair right through the year as your air conditioner and heating system will help regulate his body temperature. He won’t really have seasonal sheds; just enough shedding to allow for healthy new growth in his coat.

Excessive shedding could indicate that your cat may be experiencing some deeper issues. You should try to note when this problem started and what other symptoms he may be displaying. Look out for small bald patches developing or sections of his coat that have thinned out.

Cat Alopecia, the medical term used to describe a consistent shedding and thinning of your kitties coat, can be caused by several possible medical conditions. Make sure that you observe your cat’s behavior and symptoms closely so that you can take the appropriate cause of action.

Ringworm Can Cause Shedding In Cats

“Ringworm” is kind of a mis-nomer. (Well, at least to me it is) because it doesn’t mean that there are actual worms inside your cat. Instead, it’s a fungal infections that’s fairly common amongst pets.

To check for ringworm, inspect your cat’s coat for small, round bald patches. The skin may have developed some scaly round rings, which are characteristic of ringworm.

The bad news is that, unfortunately, this is a very contagious fungus, and the chances are that it may spread to everyone else in the household — including you. So make sure that you get a treatment plan in place as soon as possible. Get your cat to the vet, where they can give a proper diagnosis and treatment, which will probably include and oral anti-fungal medication and possibly a topical anti-fungal cream and anti-fungal shampoo.

Why Cats With Skin Allergies Will Shed More

Now, skin allergies may be linked to your cat’s diet. Skin allergies may be pretty harsh on the skin, and you may notice some skin infections developing, causing open sores and further aggravating hair loss.

A process of elimination may help figure out exactly what your cat may be reacting to. Don’t rule out any food or substance your cat may have access to that may not be suitable.

Metabolic Disorders That Cause Shedding In Cats

Metabolic disorders refer to any condition that affects the body’s ability to break down food into chemicals so that the body can process and absorb all the nutrients it needs. Hyperthyroidism and kidney disease are both examples of metabolic disorders.

Psychological And Emotional Stress Causes Shedding In Cats

If your kitty is having a bad hair day, there is a possibility that she may be having a pretty bad day too. Stress is a significant factor in your cat’s hair loss. When nervous, anxious, or stressed, a cat may have the habit of over-grooming.

Psychogenic alopecia is the term experts use to describe hair loss because of stress. The constant licking and overgrooming will result in your cat essentially ripping out sections of fur, resulting in bald patches.

Over-grooming is a cat’s way of trying to comfort and soothe itself when feeling high levels of anxiety. Try to think of things from your cat’s perspective to understand this behavior better. Has anything changed in his environment lately? Have you introduced a new pet to the family, perhaps?

Why Aging Cats Are Prone To Shedding

Another reason your cat may be shedding more is that older cats may neglect their grooming routine, which means old fur never gets removed as often. Cats ingest a surprising amount of hair into their system when grooming, which usually results in a complimentary hairball vomited up to expel it from their system.

Older cats will need some extra love and attention, and you may need to get a regular brushing routine to rid their coat of any old fur they would shed. You can select many specialized grooming tools and brushes to get the job done. Remember that getting a grooming routine in place is a great time to bond with your cat.

You may notice other changes in your older cat’s fur, such as the lack of shine, more tangles in the undercoat, and if you have an outdoor cat, you may notice that bits of dirt stay stuck in the coat for longer.

Why Shedding In Cats Causes More Hairballs

Hairballs are an unpleasant reality when you own a cat. Your cat’s regular grooming habits would inevitably lead to your cat ingesting a fair amount of hair. These accumulative hairs will gather in the gut and, because a cat is unable to digest these fur fibers, they’ll eventually get vomited up in the form of a hairball. Gross. Right?

If your cat produces a hairball roughly once a month, there is no need for concern. But if they are throwij[ng up more hairballs lately, it may mean that they are shedding excessively. Another clue would be that you need to vacuum more often to get the fur out of your couches, blankets, off clothes, etc.

If you are struggling specifically with this problem, there are dry food formulations that you can try to help. These ingredients help food pass through the digestive system faster and easily allow the hairball to pass through the digestive tract so that elimination is easier.

You can also help your cat ingest less cat hair and therefore develop fewer hairballs by upping your grooming sessions with him.

I absolutely love this pet brush that I use regularly on our fluffy Norwegian Forest Cat, Gingie.

Check out the photo at the top of this post — that’s the typical amount of fur it collects when I brush him. You can see another great photo of a cat and his fur collected with this brush here.

Gingie likes it when I brush him, too (except for when I hit a knot). He’ll curl up and purr, and his coat looks and feels great when we’re done.

petgle Cat Brush & Comb for Shedding

✅ Can Cat Food Affect Shedding?

In short, yes- feeding your cat the wrong cat food can result in excessive shedding. In general, less expensive cat food may exclude some much-needed nutrients and make use of fillers that are bad for your cat’s skin and fur. Look out for allergens in cat food that may make your cat’s coat dull and shed.

Knowing which nutrients are suitable for your kitty’s skin and fur will help you select the right types of food. There are some vitamins, minerals, and amino acids to look out for. Ideally, the formulation you choose needs to have all or most of these components for the best results!

Animal Protein In Cat Food Helps With Shedding

It is not surprising that cats require a large amount of protein in their diets. Cats are carnivores, and in the wild, they would survive by hunting. Domesticated cats still need their food to have a high protein content.

The critical thing to look out for here is to ensure that the cat food contains animal protein and not plant protein. There are essential amino acids such as Taurine present in animal protein absent in plant proteins.

Amino acids like Taurine play a vital role in the metabolic processes needed to keep your cat healthy. This essential amino acid deficiency may result in a lackluster coat and excessive shedding.

More severe disorders such as Dilated Cardiomyopathy (an enlarged heart), blindness, gastrointestinal problems, and diabetes can develop due to the lack of Taurine in your cat’s diet.

Another tip is to avoid brands that use cheap fillers that they may advertise as protein. Grains, sugar, rice, corn, and soy are not suitable for your cat! So make sure that you avoid them.

Some brands are specifically formulated to help with excessive shedding in cats, such as Hills Science Plan and Royal Canin. Some of these brands will only be available at your vet’s office, but they are well worth the trip as your vet will be able to get to the heart of your cat’s shedding problem.

Which Fatty Acids In Cat Food Help With Shedding?

A good dose of Omega 3 and 6 ensures that your cat’s skin remains healthy and supple. Linoleic Acid is an Omega 6 fatty acid found in vegetable oils, and Arachidonic Acid found in animal tissues like chicken fat will also ensure a shiny coat and less shedding.

Cheaper cat foods may have fewer natural ingredients and way too few animal products incorporated into the formula, and over time, the quality of your cat’s beautiful coat will suffer.

Essential Vitamins To Look Out For In Cat Food

Vitamins such as A, C, E, and B2 (also known as Riboflavin) are essential as they help support immune system health.

Best Dry Cat Food For Shedding

Royal Canin Indoor Adult Dry Cat Food

The Royal Canin Indoor Long Hair Dry Cat Food is our best recommendation for indoor cats between one to seven years old. Royal Canin is a trusted brand and has been in the market for around fifty years.

This dry food formulation takes care of weight management good digestion, all while promoting a stunning coat and healthy skin.

Pros:

It helps with healthy poop as the proteins used are highly digestible.
This formula contains a blend of fibers that helps with digestion and better hairball maintenance.
The proper amount of vitamins, minerals, and fatty acids promotes beautiful fur and healthy skin.

Cons:

Be prepared to pay a bit more for this brand.

Open Farm Homestead Grain-Free Dry Cat Food

If you have a household of cats of different ages and breeds, the best game plan is to select a product with as many natural products and none of the bad stuff. In this case, Open Farm Dry Cat Food is a great pick to ensure healthy skin and plush fur coats all around.

Reviewers loved how this is was a “sustainable” food made from animals who are raised in a humane environment. And the taste must be a huge difference, because countless reviewers said their cats went wild over it!

Pros:

No artificial colorants, preservatives, and fillers
Natural, locally sourced ingredients that are GMO-free.
A great source of protein- 37 percent protein content in this kibble

Cons:

It’s possible that picky eaters may not appreciate the recipe’s chickpea, lentils, and dandelion greens.

Blue Buffalo True Solutions Perfect Coat Adult Dry Cat Food

Blue Buffalo True Solutions Perfect Coat will be a great pick if your cat has sensitive skin. This kibble contains high-quality salmon, which means it is an excellent source of Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids.

Pros:

No by-product meals
No artificial preservatives
It contains vitamins and minerals that also support immune health.

Cons:

The price tag is heftier than other store-bought brands.
Only available in salmon flavor

Click here to see Before & After photos of a cat who was losing his fur due to allergies before trying this food.

Best Wet Cat Food For Shedding

Feeding your cat a mixed diet of dry kibbles and wet food ensures that your cat gets enough hydration in his diet. I feed my cat regular wet food treats to supplement his dry food diet. It also ensures that all-out war doesn’t break out.

Your cat may have his preferences as to how much wet food vs. dry food he prefers in his diet. Feeding your cat a complete wet food meal and kibbles as a snack or vice versa would work as long as he gets a nutritionally balanced diet coupled with enough fresh water.

The benefits of wet food are that it can help prevent urinary tract problems, diabetes, and kidney disease. It would be best to look for wet food that contains all the protein content, vitamins, and fatty acids mentioned for dry food.

Hill’s Science Diet Wet Cat Food, Urinary & Hairball Control

This formulation is best for mature cats as it takes care of the skin and coat while keeping urinary tract infections at bay, common in older kitties. There is ample protein content and added vitamin E and antioxidants, ensuring a healthy, shiny coat.

Hill’s Science Adult- Urinary & Hairball Control is a significant boost for senior cats who may be grooming less, shedding more, and suffering from more frequent hairball episodes.

Pros:

The balanced protein content helps to maintain senior cats’ muscle mass.
It contains a good dose of Omega 6 and Vitamin E to ensure healthy skin and coat.
Vitamin B12 and Riboflavin supplements are added to the food, promoting healthy skin and fur.

Cons:

The formulation has a lower moisture content, and the texture of the food is more firm and dry than wet.
There are only three different flavor variants available for your cat to choose from.

Amazon reviewer Trish the Dish said using this food made a big difference for her cats:

Excellent product to deal with hairball issues. Have three tabby cats – one seems to have slightly more hair than the others and when there is a change in season (from Winter to Spring) and he starts to shed his heavier coat – the coughing becomes an issue.

I use the usual tuna flavored jelly type hairball treatment but find using this food product in addition makes a BIG difference. In addition, all three of my cats enjoy eating this particular hairball control food – can’t say that about other brands I’ve tried. Will definitely use this product again.

Wellness CORE Hearty Cuts Natural Grain Free Wet Canned Cat Food

Wellness CORE Hearty Cuts Grain-Free Wet Cat Food is the best wet cat food for adult cats and kittens. Starting with a well-balanced diet right from the beginning helps to avoid any shedding problems further down the line caused by allergens and insufficient nutrition.

Pros:

This formulation contains no artificial flavors, colorants, or preservatives.
Allergens such as wheat, corn, soy, and grain are left out, and only natural products like lean meat cuts, fruits, vegetables, and healthy fats.
This wet food has high hydration, which helps maintain urinary tract health.

Cons:

This food does not come cheap, unfortunately!

Royal Canin Feline Care Nutrition Intense Beauty Canned Cat Food

The Royal Canin Feline Care Nutrition Intense Beauty Canned Cat Food is an excellent choice for sterilized adult cats one year and older. With rave reviews on Amazon, the chances are that your cat, too, will enjoy the taste. Customers have reported a marked improvement in skin condition as well.

Apart from the fact that this cat food contains all the essential vitamins and minerals with a proper amount of protein, it has a moderate level of calories which helps with weight management.

Pros:

You have two different serving options: loaf in sauce or thin slices in gravy.
A decent amount of moisture in the food.
An excellent choice for picky eaters.

Cons:

This formula does have wheat gluten and wheat flour listed under the ingredients, which may be an allergen for some cats.

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