Is this a bad year for....

Id agree. I don't remember such clouds of fluff building up before. We've never had to groom him either. He's not an old cat who's lost the ability to clean himself properly either.

Yes, I forgot to say she is fit and regularly grooms herself. Maybe it is the changes in temperature then, as I understood molting was a Spring and Autumn thing.

Proofread nina moulting

Both the cats are moulting, Digby especially. Of course, he doesn't like being brushed (Oliver Sprout loves it) but a really thorough stroking, with a bit of scratching on some areas loosens quite a bit of fluff that can then be gathered up.

A slightly damp rubber glove works well too.

All three of our dogs seem to moult all the time!! I'm permanently vacuuming (the floor not the dogs)!!!

Mine is a white long-hair and it's everywhere! Another thing that she's never suffered from is fleas, but to my horror, I discovered (today) that she does have them now. She's been scratching and running about as if something's chasing her . I think that perhaps she has become resistant to Frontline, which has worked well up to now. Have bought some spray from the pet store and some 'sweeties' to try to encourage her to agree to receiving the spray on her fur.....also looked out the gardening gloves to put on while the attempt is made to spray it on....

This thread is a wonderful reminder for me why we no longer have pets ...! My daughter and her husband and their cat lived with us for 8 months and moved out a month ago and I'm still finding patches of soft black fur in places where pussy cat would hang out. I do miss her, but ...

Marelli Do you have a cat basket ? If so put her in the basket and spray through the bars. This is what I was taught when I worked for a vet. Of course getting her in there may be problematic Also we always advised that pet shop flea treatment was pretty useless. As they are not allowed to sell the decent stuff. That could of course be vets after money did I just say that !

That stuff you put on the back of the neck always seemed to work for our cats.

I'd be worried about spraying a cat in a confined space because of the risk of it getting in the eyes or the cat inhaling it!

I think the change in weather ie rain has kick started the flea cycle as they need a certain humidity to get going [yuk]. My vet is recommending Stronghold at the moment; hope Frontline is still ok though as I've got some to use up from last year. You can also put diatomaceous earth [food grade] on their coats and comb it out [also sprinkle round the edges of carpets]#thejoysofpetownershipnot

Ana, Frontline is put on the back of the cat's neck. Goodness knows why it hasn't worked this time, though.
The fur has to be brushed backwards unfortunately, nina, so although that does sound like a good idea (putting her in her carrier), I probably wouldn't be able to get to the whole of the cat (if you get my meaning!) She's sussed me out, I think, because she's usually in by now.....

If it's a wire basket there is no more risk of the cat inhaling than if it's out in the open

True; but I bet you'd have onehelluvajob getting said cat into a basket again!

Think I'll call in at the vet's this morning to see what they recommend. Not happy about using the spray, as it has to be completely dry before the cat can be allowed to groom..... - ever tried to explain to a cat that they mustn't wash their fur? Or will I try and muzzle her . I'm awake in the wee small hours as Daisy's been scratching. I'm now also scratching...... all over.

Frontline isn't the only "drops on the back of the neck" treatment, we are currently using Advocate (or something like that!) but that's from the vets too and isn't cheap.

We don't have pets, but our DD pops in 3 or 4 times a week with her black lab. Said lab has hardly ever been a problem in the moulting department - we usually notice a few clouds of black fluff (she has a fine coat) on the laminate flooring in the hall and a few stray hairs elsewhere. This year that has changed dramatically. The living room carpet is coated within half an hour. My DD has had to stop her sleeping on the bed with her because she was having to vacuum her bed every day.

What amazes me is that the dog doesn't look any different. She should be bald by now

My mum used to brush her yellow lab outdoors and the sparrows came down and took bundles of hair for their nests. I have heard of someone who collected the combings from her dog (retriever?) and spun it into yarn!

Indinana
So it seems I could be right. It is a bad year for moulting.

I've certainly seen articles about sweaters knitted from dog fur yarn...

The hairdresser who tends my tonsorial requirements has his Salon attached to his house. He collects all the swept up cut hair (only cut after shampooing) and puts it out in a fine net bag for the birds, who all have very cosy nests thank you very much!

Definitely seems worse at the moment. We have daughter's dog here whilst they are on holiday. Vacuuming three times a day and using the vacuum on the dog as he loves it. Big black patches on the floor everywhere he sleeps. We have had to move the towels and tea towels higher up to avoid the hairs! Just stood talking to a
neighbour and she was moaning about her chocolate lab's hair moulting more than usual. Is it to do with the extended warm periods we've experienced recently as opposed to our usual few days warm, few days cold summers?
feetlebaum Dog fur sweaters sound interesting but itchy.

Just got up from the computer and there's so much hair on the mat this dog should be dipped in glue to keep his fur on! Only joking

My basset is moulting like mad. I hoovered three times a day at weekend and still my visitors had dog hairs on them. It's usually over by summer but this year they're everywhere, despite frequent brushing. Any good ideas welcome.

@nonnana - I know what you mean - but probably no worse than sheep fur... depends on the breed of dog? Saluki would be nice...

nonnana I keep threatening the black lab with hair spray

Though, come to think of it, I've got a large can of photographic fixative spray somewhere #wherethebleepinghelldidIputit