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Cats/Clumps of cat hair can be pulled out

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Expert: - 1/14/2010


Question
Hi Norm

I noticed the fur towards the back end of my female tortoishell looked matted together, and so gently pulled on some of it.  I was very distressed to find that I cld pull clumps of the hair out.  I pulled out a good handful.  It didn't seem to be upsetting my girl at all, however.

She has been shedding masses of fur - two brushes past my legs and I am covered in what wld look more like two day's worth of brushing past!

There is also a white dust visible on her fur at present.  Cld that be dandruff?

What wld be causing her fur to be pulled out so easily?  

She eats a regular diet, jelly meat and biscuits.  I have her on biscuits for a sensitive tummy, as I noticed a couple of months ago that her poo was runny, but this seems to have cleared up nicely now.  

Other than that, she seems to be in good spirits.  I took her to the vet recently and had a blood test done, and it was all clear.  

Any suggestions wld be greatly appreciated

Many thanx
Rebecca (New Zealand)

Answer
Rebecca,

In New Zealand, it is shedding season. So, having lots of hair coming out is not abnormal.  The dandruff usually means he coat is dried out.  If she is not matted and not knotting, I would bath her to help with getting the dead hair out.

Also, I would supplement her diet with some fish oils (like Halo Dream Coat or Dermcaps Liquid). This should help keep her coat from drying out.

If she has never been bathed before, it could be exciting and, I would make sure you clip her claws first.

Best regards... Norm.  

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Norman Auspitz

Expertise

I can answer most non-veterinary questions about cats. My particular expertise is pedigree cats, breeding and showing. However, I am versed in feline behavior, cat breeds and their characteristics, general feline husbandry, and the like.

Experience

I judged for the Canadian Cat Association from 1975 until 1982. I am currently an approved allbreed judge for the Cat Fanciers'' Association (the world''s largets cat registry), and have been judging for them since 1991. I have been breeding pedigreed cats since 1971 and have been exhibiting pedigreed cats in shows since 1970. I obtained my first pedigreed cat in 1970 and have never looked back. In 1971, I obtained my first Abyssinian which has become my primary breed. In addition, I have bred Manx and Persians. Currently, besides the Abyssinians, I am also breeding Maine Coons.


Organizations
Cat Fanciers'' Association, inc. (CFA) and the Manx, Maine Coon, and Abyssinian breed councils. I am currently Abyssinian breed council secretary.

Publications
Cat Fancy Magazine, The Abyssinian Chapter in The Cat Fanciers'' Association Complete Cat Book, and Articles for various editions of The Cat Fanciers'' Association Yearbook

Education/Credentials
I received a B.S. from Drexel University in 1968, a M.Math from University of Waterloo, in 1970, a Ph.D. from University of Waterloo in 1975, and a MBA from McMaster University in 1980. I received my approved allbreed judging status in the Cat Fanciers'' Association in 1999.

Awards and Honors
We have produced a number of Cat Fanciers'' Association (CFA) National winning Abyssinian and Maine Coons. We have produced a number of Abyssinian and Maine Coon Distinguished Merit females (an award for a top producing cat), including the first Distinguished Merit Abyssinian in the red (sorrel) color. I am the CFA Abyssinian breed council secretary and belong and/or hold office in a number of cat clubs. I am also a member of the CFA Judges Association.

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