Is My Cat Losing Too Much Fur?

Hi everyone! I adopted a cat, 3 months ago or so? He was so, so fluffy when I got him but that was back in Spring and now that summer is around, I wasn't surprised he was losing some fluff. But, he's probably 50% less fluffy now. I brush him everyday as the rescue claimed he had issues with hairballs and mats. I think maybe that the rescue didn't groom him nearly enough? And that most of that fluff might have been dead hair that wasn't being dealt with? Can you guys look at these photos and maybe give me some opinions? First one was the day that I got him, second one is one I took just now.

He seems like he's in good health, certainly doesn't struggle with hairballs often anymore and I never find any mats at all since the first couple weeks. I do think he's lost a bit of weight living with us too, he was confined to one room at the rescue, and here with us he has lots of time out of the room (90% of the day out of the room, in when we're at work but is almost ready to be out all the time) and has a very playful cat brother now. They spend loads of time wrestling and chasing each other so I think that might be some of it?

Hi!
Do you know what he weighed in that top photo, or at the shelter? I'm seeing a roly poly cat as opposed to a hairy/fluffy cat.

By the way, are you feeding canned in addition to dry? Is he eating enough?

Also, has he been to the vet recently?

How Much Food Should I Feed My Cat?

Cat Weight Chart | Judging Your Cat's Body Condition

Furballsmom said:

Hi!
Do you know what he weighed in that top photo, or at the shelter? I'm seeing a roly poly cat as opposed to a hairy/fluffy cat.

By the way, are you feeding canned in addition to dry? Is he eating enough?

Also, has he been to the vet recently?

How Much Food Should I Feed My Cat?

Cat Weight Chart | Judging Your Cat's Body Condition

Click to expand...

Not sure his exact weight at the time, but the vet said he was at a healthy weight, at the higher end of a healthy weight but healthy. He was literally all fluff, bigger than my resident cat but certainly not fat.

He has round the clock access to dry, and I feed him wet at meal times. I'm certain he's getting enough food.

Hasnt been to the vet for 3 months-ish. I do need to get his rabies up to date soon so he will be going but not until next week, probably. I was just curious if anyone else had a floofer that tends to lose the fluff in the summer.

Longer-haired cats seemingly lose sooooo much more hair in the summer than shorter-haired cats to cool themselves down. I'm not sure if they lose more in amount but their longer hair makes it appear like they lost so much.

If he overgrooms himself or scratches himself too much, that might be a sign of allergy or parasites which are more common in hot weather with more allergens and parasites around.

Also reminder other people's experience might get misleading since not everybody lives in the same climate/temperature. Typically hotter or more humid a place is, more hair shedding there will be. Even some indoor-only cats shed more or less depending on the weather outside.

I also noticed in my own cat, sometimes they shed at a higher speed. Like one year mine changed her coat to the spring evenly through like two months. Another year though I promise it was like she changed it in 2 weeks. I had to clean hair every morning and evening

Has he been treated for parasites? Fleas, worms, mites can cause hair loss.

maggiedemi said:

Has he been treated for parasites? Fleas, worms, mites can cause hair loss.

Click to expand...

Hi, yes! He has a clean bill of health as of 3 months ago and he doesn't go outside. I'm taking him into the vet on Monday just to be sure but I dont think its bugs!

Oliver a persian cat loses a ton of fur in the summer, his winter and summer pictures are vastly different

One of our long hairs lost a lot of fur in the summer also.
He had a big fluffy tail that got pretty skinny in the summer.

Maybe you can start weighing him once a month or so and keep track of what's happening under the fur