Which Cats Shed the Least?

Are you tired of cat hair around the house? Or maybe you suffer from cat allergies but dream of being a cat parent? Then non-shedding or light shedding cats may be a solution for you. One of the hardest things about owning a cat is the grooming and maintaining of their coats. However, breeds with short coats don’t tend to have this problem as they don’t shed much, and you won’t find yourself hoovering everything in sight constantly as cat hair will attach to almost anything. Light shedders are better for people with allergies although, some allergies are not caused by the hair but by the dander and saliva and all cats – including hairless and light shedders - produce dander. Dander is dead skin cells that are regularly sloughed off and replaced by new skin cells. Cats also produce a protein known as Fel d 1 which is present mainly in the skin, saliva and urine and can trigger an allergic reaction. If you come into contact with the allergens you may find that you have watery eyes, a runny nose or your eyes may become itchy and red. There is no domestic cat free of dander and protein Fel d 1 as all cats produce these, however, there are some breeds that are known to produce less dander than others.

Sphynx

This breed is known for its unique, hairless look but even they have hair follicles covered in very fine hair however, this can’t be felt or seen with the naked eye. Because of the fineness of this layer they tend to be quite oily as they don’t have an adequate amount of hair to absorb body oils. You should bath them weekly to keep on top of the oils coming of their skin so that it doesn’t mark your furniture or carpets and it is vital you always protect their skin from the sun as they can burn easily.

British Shorthair

An easy grooming routine of just regular brushing to remove dead hair and distribute any skin oils they may have. Their coat is dense and they have no undercoat which gives the fur a plush appearance with very minimal shedding.

Cornish Rex

Grooming is as easy as brushing your hand over their soft, wavy coat but if they have a longer, woollier coat then help from a soft bristle brush or comb may be necessary. They shed a lot less than other cats but when they are going through a shedding phase then they can look a little moth eaten.

Burmese

Bathing and grooming is rarely necessary for their short, satiny coat making them easy to maintain. Their coat is easily cared for with weekly brushing or combing to remove dead hair and distribute skin oils.

Russian Blue

With their dense, silky, double coats the Russian Blue is easy to groom and maintain. They shed over a two to three week period just once or twice a year and are known to produce less Fel d 1 which is one the main cause for cat allergy sufferers. When choosing the right cat breed it is important to remember that shedding and grooming is only a small aspect. Always do plenty research of the breed in mind to check that their personality and temperament are right for your family.