Cat Shedding: Why Your Cat Is Shedding So Much (And How to Reduce It)

If you’re finding cat hair on your clothes, furniture, pillows, and somehow inside the fridge (don’t worry, it happens to all of us), your cat might be shedding more than normal.

Some shedding is totally natural, but excessive shedding can be a sign that your cat needs a different kind of grooming routine.

Here’s what causes the extra fluff… and the one simple change that can make a huge difference.

1. Cats Shed for a Reason – Here Are the Big Ones

✔ Seasonal shedding

Cats naturally “blow” their coat in spring and fall, swapping insulation for warmer or cooler weather.

✔ Indoor light cycles confuse their bodies

Indoor cats often shed year-round because artificial lights trick their internal clocks into thinking it’s always shedding season. (Source: VCA Animal Hospitals)

✔ Stress or anxiety

Moves, loud noises, renovations, new pets — it all adds up. Stress = more grooming. More grooming = more loose fur. (Source: ASPCA)

✔ Wrong type of brush

This is the biggest hidden cause.
Metal or overly hard brushes often scratch, tug, or irritate the skin — which makes cats shed more, not less.

✔ Sensitive skin or allergies

Some cats have delicate skin that reacts to friction from rough materials. Redness, dandruff, or excess grooming are all signs the brush might be wrong for them.

2. Why Traditional Brushes Don’t Solve Shedding

Metal pin brushes and bristle brushes have been around forever, but they weren’t designed for:

• long-haired cats
• curly or dense coats
• senior cats
• sensitive-skin breeds
• cats who hate being brushed

Most of these brushes don’t pull loose hair out — they just skim the top layer. That’s why you often get hair after brushing instead of during.

And if the brush irritates the skin, guess what happens?

more grooming → more shedding → more hair everywhere.

3. The One Thing That Actually Reduces Shedding

Switching to a soft silicone grooming brush.

Here’s why silicone works (and why it’s becoming the #1 recommended type by groomers and vets):

✔ Gentle friction removes loose fur without pain

Good silicone brushes don’t tug. They glide.

✔ Even picky cats tolerate them

Some cats who hate grooming will sit still for silicone.

✔ Helps reduce hairballs

Because more loose fur comes off during brushing — not during licking. (Source: Humane Society)

✔ Massages the skin

Healthy skin = healthier coat = less shedding over time.

✔ Safe for sensitive skin

Silicone is naturally soft and flexible, so it won’t scratch the surface of the skin.

4. How Often You Should Brush (By Coat Type)

Short-hair cats:

2–3 times per week

Medium-hair cats:

3–4 times per week

Long-hair cats (Maine Coons, Ragdolls, Siberians):

4–7 times per week
Yes — daily helps prevent matting.

Senior cats:

4–5 times per week
Older cats groom less effectively, so brushing helps a lot.

5. The Best Way to Brush for Less Shedding

Follow this simple routine:

1. Brush gently in long strokes from head to tail
2. Use small circular motions around shoulders/neck
3. Brush the chest and belly very lightly
4. Finish with a top-coat sweep to smooth everything down
5. Wipe your brush clean and store it dry

It takes 3–5 minutes — and you’ll see the difference within a week.

6. Why Silicone Brushes Are Becoming the New Standard

Modern silicone brushes (like The Bailey Brush™) are specifically designed to fix the problems old-style brushes caused:

• no metal
• no tugging
• no scratching
• no stiff bristles
• no discomfort

Instead, they offer:

• soft massaging
• deeper loose-fur removal
• a calming effect
• easy cleaning
• safe daily brushing

For cats with sensitive skin, this can be life-changing.

Final Thoughts

Cats shed — that’s normal.
Excessive shedding? That’s fixable.

Switching to a soft silicone brush, brushing a few times a week, and supporting the skin with gentle grooming can dramatically reduce:

• shedding
• hairballs
• dander
• mats
• stress

It’s simple, it’s effective, and it helps keep your home (and your clothes) much cleaner.

If your cat has been shedding more than usual, this is one of the easiest changes you can make to help.

Ready to Help Your Cat Shed Less?

The Bailey Brush™ is a soft silicone brush designed for gentle, effective shedding control that cats actually enjoy.

👉 Shop the Bailey Brush