14.06.2022

Do Siamese cats shed? Find out here!

Siamese cats are fantastic companions but require your time and attention, especially when it comes to their grooming needs. 

Do Siamese cats shed a lot? How much time will you spend de-fuzzing the sofa, linen, and clean clothes just removed from the dryer? In this article, you’ll find out all about Siamese cat shedding frequency and learn how to care for their fur to ensure it’s healthy and shiny!

Do Siamese cats shed a lot all year round?

Shedding is a natural process for any furry animal, and Siamese cats are no exception. While this breed sheds regularly, they lose much less hair compared to other cat breeds, such as Ragdolls and Maine Coons. Keep in mind that some variations of Siamese cats (e.g. the long-haired Balinese or Himalayan) might shed more.

My hair is all over your bed… Sorry, not sorry. 

Source: Simona Sergi

Siamese cats go through two moults per year:

1. In spring, when they lose all the extra hair that kept them warm during winter
2. In autumn, when they start growing a new, thick undercoat in preparation for cold days

Siamese cat grooming requirements

Siamese cats require regular grooming, ideally once a week. During the moulting seasons, you should brush your Siamese cat every day. Otherwise, every inch of upholstery in your home will be covered in cat hair. 

Besides keeping your home cat-hair-free, regular grooming is beneficial for your cat. It will remove dead hair and debris, help you spot parasites, and take steps to prevent skin irritation. 

You useless human. I’ll take matters into my own paws and groom myself.

Source: Hana Oliver

You should start brushing your Siamese kitty from an early age so they can get used to the sensation. 

A proper brushing technique explained

Here is how to care for your feline’s coat:

1. Use a soft-bristled brush
2. Brush in the direction of the hair growth
3. Wipe the cat's coat with a soft, damp towel

Don't forget to reward your feline friend for their patience by giving them some catnip or healthy treats. Small pieces of liver or ham are always a good idea. 

Reasons behind excessive shedding in Siamese cats

All I want is some peace and quiet (and mice to chase).

Source: Andreas Jozepović

While changes in shedding due to weather fluctuations are normal, if you notice that your feline friend is losing too much fur for no apparent reason, there could be some underlying issues causing it. These include:

1. Air-conditioning and heating
2. Allergies
3. Hormonal issues
4. Stress and anxiety
5. Parasites
6. Illnesses 
7. Dietary issues

Air-conditioning and heating

If your cat lives indoors, you may notice that they shed continuously. The reason behind that might be the constant temperature in your home, which makes it impossible for your cat’s organism to detect seasonal changes. 

Allergies

Cats can be allergic to certain ingredients in food, such as dairy, eggs, or grains, and ingesting them can cause your feline to lose hair.

Excessive shedding could also be a reaction to a medicine or environmental factors, such as insect stings. They manifest as skin irritation that leads to excessive licking, biting, and aggressive scratching, resulting in hair loss. 

Hormonal issues

Shedding can be one of the symptoms of hyperthyroidism—a condition that typically affects older cats (more commonly females) and involves the excessive production of thyroid hormones. 

The initial symptoms are so subtle that they can go unnoticed. As the disease progresses, the symptoms become worse. Besides hair loss, your cat might also experience:

• Weight loss
• Increased appetite
• Increased thirst
• Frequent urination

Stress and anxiety

Cats can respond badly to environmental changes. This can lead to obsessive-compulsive disorders, such as overgrooming, which can cause them to lose hair in patches or shed excessively. Some of the most common stressors include:

• Moving to a new home
• Loneliness
• Lack of mental stimulation
• Excessive noise
• Frequent changes in daily routine
• New family members
• New pets

Parasites

Parasites such as fleas, Demodex mites, ear mites, and burrowing mites can cause allergic reactions in cats. The cat will try to relieve the pain by licking and even biting the affected areas, which can lead to hair loss. 

Illnesses

If your feline companion’s hair falls out in clumps, they might be suffering from an illness. Some of the common health problems that cause hair loss in Siamese cats are:

• Liver issues
• Kidney diseases
• Bacterial infections
• Fungal infections
• Cancer

Dietary issues

Improper nutrition is the most common culprit behind abnormal shedding. If a cat doesn't receive all the necessary nutrients through their diet, they can experience excessive hair loss and many other health problems, such as:

• Heart disease
• Diabetes
• Obesity

A well-balanced diet that meets your cat's nutritional needs can help reduce shedding and hairballs and prevent many other health issues. 

To make sure your Siamese cat is healthy and their coat is shiny, you should feed them adequate portions of food similar to what they would eat in the wild (felines in the wild hunt small animals, such as mice, birds, slugs, and similar, but high-quality meat and fish will do the trick for domesticated cats). This means that each meal should contain animal protein, animal fat, and essential micronutrients.

You don’t expect me to catch my own food, right?

Source: Antonio Gabriel

Animal protein in cat food

The most important nutrient in your Siamese cat's diet is animal protein. Amino acids that cats need to stay healthy, like taurine, are only found in meat, and they are essential for:

• Maintaining normal levels of energy
• Building muscle
• Promoting organ function
• Promoting hair growth and repair

Vegan and vegetarian diets are not suitable for cats as plant proteins can be hard on a cat’s tummy, and they don’t provide the essential amino acids cats require to stay healthy. To keep your cat’s shedding and overall health in check, you need to make sure their daily meals contain at least 50% animal protein (ideally from lean meat and fish, such as chicken, tuna, salmon, turkey, and similar).

Animal fat in cat food

Animal fat is necessary in a cat’s diet because it contains essential fatty acids that help with healing processes and regulate inflammation.

Food that contains up to 20% fat will help your cat overcome skin and coat problems faster. Besides being beneficial for your Siamese cat’s health, fat is also super tasty, which means that your feline will gladly devour the food you serve them.

Micronutrients in cat food

For your cat to have a healthy coat, you need to provide meals that contain all the important micronutrients. These include:

Ingredients to avoid

Many cat food manufacturers use ingredients that can cause allergic reactions in cats, leading to skin issues and excessive shedding (among other health issues). It's best to avoid any cat food that contains:

• Grains—The purpose of this ingredient is to increase the volume of the product. Your Siamese won’t be able to absorb the nutrients from grains, and they might even experience stomach issues and weight gain because of the high calorie content
• Unspecified source of meat—If you notice phrases such as "minimum 4% meat," "meat derivatives," or "animal byproducts" on the ingredients list of your cat’s food, it's time for a change. Since you don't know what exactly is in the food, you increase the chances of gastrointestinal issues, food allergies (and, consequently, excessive shedding), and lower nutrient intake

Whatever food type your Siamese prefers—dry, wet, semi-moist, raw, or homemade—you must ensure that it's made of high-quality ingredients and perfectly balanced.

How can Untamed help keep your Siamese cat's coat healthy?

Ensuring your Siamese gets all the necessary nutrients to keep their coat strong and healthy is simple with Untamed!

We created all recipes in collaboration with vets to make our food complete and balanced. By choosing Untamed, you will feed your Siamese meals that are:

• High in top-quality animal protein—We only use human-grade whole meat and fish in our recipes, ensuring felines get the best of the best
• Tasty and easily digestible—Our paw-licking recipes are approved even by fussy eaters and cats that don't care for wet food. Thanks to the gentle steaming process, we make sure that:
• All the nutrients and natural taste and aroma stay locked in 
• Our food is easy on your kitty’s tummy
• Free from known allergens—Our dishes are free from grains, vegetables, artificial colouring, flavouring, additives, and any other harmful ingredients. We also offer single-source-protein options, such as Chocka Chicken and Tuck-in Tuna in Jelly, so even the most sensitive kitties can enjoy our food risk-free
• Ethically produced—Besides providing the best nutrition for your kitty, we also care about our planet’s well-being. That’s why we only work with cruelty-free, sustainable suppliers and use 100% recyclable packaging!

Try Untamed and see your Siamese thrive!

The best way to show your Siamese you care is with good food.

Image (c) Untamed

Sign up for a trial package!

Ordering nutritious and tasty food for your Siamese feline is as easy as one-two-three. All you need to do is follow these steps:

1. Visit our TRY NOW page and tell us more about your feline
2. Create a meal plan
3. Place an order

The trial pack will arrive in a day! If your kitty likes our dishes, you can receive supplies of Untamed food each month, and you can change the plan or cancel or postpone an order whenever you like.

Many cat parents have reported amazing results within a few weeks of feeding their Siamese companions Untamed gravies and jellies. Here’s what they noticed:

Are Siamese cats hypoallergenic?

Although Siamese cats are often considered hypoallergenic because they shed less than other breeds, that is not true.

People who are allergic to cats are not hypersensitive to their hair. What they react to is the Fel d 1 protein that can be found in felines’:

• Dander
• Saliva
• Urine

Hair can spread the allergen around the house, which is why it’s crucial to groom your cat regularly. The good news is that Siamese cats don’t produce a lot of the Fel d 1 protein, so if your allergies are mild, you shouldn’t have issues grooming them (as long as you wear gloves and brush your feline companion outdoors). In case your allergies are severe, someone else in your household should handle the ritual.