Like tumbleweeds in the desert, cat hair gathering in balls in every corner goes hand-in-hand with cat ownership. Finding a cat that does not lose fur is many people’s dream.
The Devon Rex cat with its enormous ears and cheeky face has a short coat with a slight curl. This gives it the appearance of a shaved poodle! Poodles don’t lose much fur so do Devon Rex cats shed less than other breeds?
Devon Rex cats do shed but no more or less than any other cats. Each shed hair is short so less noticeable than the fur from a longer-haired cat. There are ways to control a Devon Rex’s shedding to prevent too much from falling out to adorn your carpets and furniture.
Central heating can cause more shedding from a Devon Rex but, naturally, they will shed more in spring and autumn. The amount of shedding can vary from cat to cat and each cat’s shedding cycle differs because of external factors which mean some lose more hair than others.
If you envisage leaving your house each day with a fine coating of Devon Rex fur on the seat of your black pants, there’s a good chance you will!
When Devon Rex cats lose more hair than usual
Most cat hair loss can be attributed to seasonal shedding. If you’re finding more lost fur than usual and your Devon Rex begins to look patchy or bald in places, this isn’t the norm. It can be quite concerning but there’s generally a cause that can be cured.
If your Devon Rex cat is losing more hair than you expect, it could have alopecia which causes bald spots or thin, patchy fur. Alopecia occurs for two reasons: either your Devon Rex is pulling out its fur deliberately or it is falling out because of an underlying medical condition.
The following are common causes of alopecia and excessive hair loss in cats:
Poor nutrition
A Devon Rex’s diet should consist of a balance of protein from meat and a variety of minerals and vitamins. Good quality, pre-prepared cat food has this worked out for you.
If your Devon Rex’s diet is lacking vital nutrients this may cause hair loss. Check the ingredients list of its food and that you are feeding it the correct amount of food for its size.
If you make your own cat food, follow recipes that cater to a cat’s needs. Poor diet can affect the condition of a Devon Rex’s coat and lead to hair loss. Ensure you are feeding your cat correctly.
Parasites
Parasites, such as fleas, cause cats to scratch incessantly and this can lead to hair loss. Fleas irritate a cat’s skin and in an attempt to feel relief, your cat may literally scratch and chew out fur, creating bald patches.
Check for signs of fleas and if there are any, get a flea treatment from your vet. I find the type that you spot on between their shoulder blades is very effective. One treatment lasts for about a month.
Stress
Stressed cats are known to pull out their hair and it can be difficult to determine the underlying cause. Consider if anything has changed in your home environment.
Have you recently had a baby or introduced a new pet? My mother-in-law’s cat pulled his hair out in clumps when a new dog moved in.
Are you away from home more or have you moved house? Sometimes a Feliway room defuser can help to calm a cat down in these situations.
Our article, 15 signs that your cat might be stressed, will help you determine if you Devon Rex is suffering.
Allergies
If your Devon Rex has an allergy to something in its environment or diet, it may scratch until its skin is sore and its hair falls out. A vet is an ideal person to help diagnose the cause and prescribe a treatment to ease any inflammation.
Imbalanced hormones
Your cat could have a hormone imbalance. If you’ve ruled out other hair loss causes, make an appointment with your vet to have your cat’s health checked.
Poor self-grooming
If your cat isn’t grooming itself very well, make sure you regularly give it a helping hand.
I don’t mean get in there and start licking cat-style! Even a short-haired cat like a Devon Rex can need assistance to keep its coat in tip-top condition.
Your cat may be attempting to pull out a knot and in the process be removing fur from all the site resulting in a bald spot.
How to reduce shedding by grooming your Devon Rex
Grooming is an excellent way to reduce the amount of hair a Devon Rex sheds around your house.
Brush as much loose hair out as possible on a daily basis to prevent it your cat swallowing lots of hair whilst grooming itself.
This will help prevent your cat from developing hairballs and save you the unenviable task of cleaning up cat-fur-laced vomit. If a cat ingests large amounts of hair and a large hairball develops in its digestive tract it can cause a blockage and make the cat seriously ill.
Some Devon Rex cats like being groomed and some don’t. The best way to get a cat used to being groomed is to brush one a little bit every day when it is a kitten and make it a gentle and fun experience. It can be a great bonding experience for you and your cat.
If you tackle the job wearing the type of leather gauntlets used to handle birds of prey you are definitely starting off with a negative attitude! Your cat might sense this too if it hasn’t already run a mile at the sight of you.
Always use the correct grooming tools and take your time. If you accidentally hurt your cat whilst grooming it, it will be very difficult to ever groom it again.
Make sure your cat is in a good mood before a grooming session. Make a fuss of it and ensure it is calm.
Feel your cat’s fur all over first to see if there are any knots or matted areas that may snag on the brush and take extra care with these areas. Try to hold the hair between the skin and a knot before attempting to brush it out.
If your cat isn’t a lover of being groomed try a rubber brush first and then progress on to a firmer brush. You may have to let your cat stand and you may have to follow it about with the brush – go with whatever works.
If your cat is cooperative it may roll over and let you brush its tummy … if you’re lucky!
If for any reason your cat’s fur is too matted for you to groom, you may have to visit a vet or a professional groomer. Never try to snip knots and matted fur with scissors as they can be so close to the skin that you end up cutting your cat.
A professional groomer or vet will use clippers if necessary, and any shaved areas will soon regrow. A really knotty cat will feel uncomfortable because knots pull at their skin and cause sore spots.
Really matted cats will not usually like being held. Once a cat has been relieved of its knots you can really notice a total change in its demeanor from painful misery to happy relief.
This Hertzko self-cleaning slicker brush is perfect for preventing knots and mats.
Keeping your Devon Rex’s coat clean
Some owners help to reduce shedding by bathing their cat to remove loose hair and dirt. You may find your Devon Rex is quite happy to be bathed but I’ve never known one that appreciates a bath.
If your cat does like a bath and a situation arises where it is a necessary step, then make sure the water is warm, not hot or cold, and use a pet-friendly shampoo.
If your Devon Rex hates water but needs to be cleaned above and beyond a cat lick wash (for whatever reason), you can attempt to clean it with wipes specifically designed for cats – I’ve heard some smell like catnip but have never used them. Pogi’s Grooming Wipes are extremely popular and are conveniently available on Amazon. Here’s a link to see more about them.
As a rule, a cat should not require a bath or a wash. It should be able to keep itself clean enough. Bathing a cat can remove the natural oils that protect its skin and fur.
Do Devon Rex cats shed wherever they go?
Will you be forever cleaning? That depends on how house proud you are. If you imagine a Devon Rex leaving a tell-tale trail of hair behind it wherever it walks, well it shouldn’t do.
Cleaning up hair goes with the territory when you own any furry animal and let it have the run of your house. Shedding is normal for Devon Rex cats and is something you should be prepared to accept.
Losing hair is a perfectly natural process and shedding cycles can vary depending on your cat’s living conditions. Some Devon Rex’s will only shed during warmer months whilst some will shed throughout the year.
Central heating can cause cats to shed hair even in the winter months. If your cat is a house cat it may lose more hair than average because it will not be affected by cold weather and won’t need a thicker winter coat.
If you have wood or tiled floors you will notice balls of fur collecting around the edges. On carpets, you will notice a fine layer that’s more concentrated where your cat spends the most time.
Some Devon Rex’s cats have finer coats and you may notice more shedding from this type than from those with slightly courser coats. So be prepared to groom a Devon Rex cat right from the start. Even kittens should be gently brushed so they get used to the feel of it.
How to keep your house as free from Devon Rex fur as possible
You can try to encourage your cat to sleep in its own little bed – good luck with that – but in all likelihood, your cat will sleep wherever it wants to. So containing cat hair in one area sounds like a plan but it doesn’t usually work.
I recommend investing in a cordless vacuum cleaner so that you can have a quick and easy vacuum-up as necessary without the hassle of hefting a large machine out of the cupboard, unwinding the cable, and finding a spare electric socket to plug it in to.
I have this Dyson cordless vacuum and you can more about it on Amazon by following the link. I thoroughly recommend it.
Also, when you own any cat, you can never have enough lint rollers. Keep them all over the house, in the car, and at your place of work (you may want to invest in shares in a lint roller company!) We use the sticky paper type – it’s great.
Devon Rex fur care summary
Devon Rex cats do shed and a fair amount too. Grooming a Devon Rex goes with the territory of owning one.
Going out with cat hair on your clothes (and stuck in your beard – if you have one) is something you will have to adjust to. You may occasionally find cat hair in your food but hopefully, you won’t ingest enough to develop a furball!
Grooming your Devon Rex daily is the best method of reducing shedding around your house and investing in a cordless vacuum cleaner will help you clean up fur in a trice.
Do Devon Rex cats shed? – Conclusion
Like all cats, a Devon Rex will shed. Their hair loss doesn’t have to be a problem as regular grooming and vacuuming easily keeps shedding under control – and I recommend you keep a constant supply of lint rollers, of course.