How to get rid of cat hair in the house

Sofa, black clothes, rugs… when you live with a cat, their hair turns up everywhere. The good news: you can cut it down considerably. If you're wondering how to get rid of cat hair, the key is to work on two fronts: limiting shedding at the source with good grooming, and using the right techniques to remove the hair that has already settled around the house. Brushing, diet, cleaning tips: here's the complete guide to getting on top of cat hair.

Why is my cat shedding?

Shedding is perfectly natural: a cat renews their coat constantly, with heavier moults in spring and autumn, when they swap their winter coat for their summer one (and vice versa). The amount varies with breed, age, health and diet. Worth knowing: indoor cats often shed all year round, because heating and artificial light disrupt the natural moulting cycle.

On the other hand, sudden, excessive or patchy hair loss (bald areas) is not normal: it can be a sign of stress, parasites, an allergy, a poor diet or illness. In that case, a trip to the vet is a must.

Solution no. 1: cut shedding at the source

Even before cleaning, your best bet is to stop the hair spreading in the first place. And for that, nothing beats brushing: every dead hair caught by the brush is one less hair on your sofa. It is by far the most effective thing you can do.

How often, and with which tools, for each coat type

Match the routine to the coat: brushing once or twice a week is enough for short hair, while long or dense coats need brushing daily or close to it, especially during moulting season. As for tools: a slicker brush for detangling, a fine-toothed comb for long hair, a curry comb or deshedding tool to remove the undercoat from dense coats, and a rubber grooming glove, ideal for cats who don't like the brush. Take care not to overuse the harshest deshedding tools, which can damage the coat and skin. A worthwhile bonus: brushing also reduces the amount of hair swallowed, and so the number of hairballs.

The breeds that shed the most

Not all breeds are equal when it comes to hair. Long-haired or dense-coated cats naturally shed more and need more thorough brushing: that's the case with the Maine Coon, the Siberian, the Norwegian Forest Cat, the Persian — the most demanding of all — and the British Longhair. Even short-haired breeds such as the British Shorthair shed a lot during the seasonal moults. If you're still weighing up a breed, our series of guides covers coat care for each one.

Looking after diet and coat health

A healthy, firmly rooted coat sheds less. A good-quality diet rich in omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids supports a healthy coat and can reduce excessive shedding. Make sure your cat stays well hydrated, too. For the hair your cat swallows while grooming, hairball-control foods or pastes help it pass. And if shedding stays abnormally heavy despite everything, talk it through with your vet: diet, parasites, stress or a health problem may be the cause.

Removing hair that has already settled around the house

However hard you try, there will always be some left. Here's how to shift it, surface by surface.

On sofas and fabrics

The most effective trick is also the simplest: put on a rubber glove (a household washing-up glove), dampen it slightly, and run your hand over the fabric. The hair instantly gathers into small clumps that are easy to pick up. A damp sponge or a rubber squeegee does the same job. Lint rollers and pet hair brushes also work very well for a quick result.

On floors and rugs

Vacuum regularly, ideally with a brush head designed for pet hair; a robot vacuum is an excellent ally for effortless daily upkeep. On hard floors, forget the ordinary broom, which only moves the hair around: go for a microfibre mop or electrostatic wipes, which actually trap it. For rugs and carpets, a rubber squeegee or rubber broom lifts embedded hair before you vacuum.

On clothes

The lint roller is still the classic, as is the damp rubber glove. A little-known tip: put your clothes in the tumble dryer for a few minutes before washing — the heat and movement loosen a good deal of the hair, which ends up in the filter. Anti-pet-hair laundry balls are also available for the washing machine.

Limiting the spread

The smartest move is to concentrate the hair where it's easy to clean. Put a washable blanket on your cat's favourite spots (sofa, armchair, bed): the hair builds up there, and you simply put it in the washing machine. Microfibre throws on furniture do the same job. Finally, good ventilation, or even an air purifier, helps limit airborne hair and dander.

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What about hairballs?

When grooming, a cat swallows a large amount of hair, which sometimes forms balls that they bring back up. Regular brushing remains the best prevention, backed up if needed by a hairball-control diet or paste. However, frequent regurgitation or repeated vomiting should prompt you to see a vet.

In summary

Against cat hair, the winning strategy combines two fronts: reducing shedding at the source with regular brushing and a good diet, then removing the remaining hair with the right tools — a damp rubber glove on fabrics, a vacuum cleaner on floors, a lint roller or the tumble dryer for clothes. With a regular routine, the battle quickly becomes manageable. And because regular brushing is also a moment of closeness and well-being for your cat, it's one of those small everyday rituals worth keeping up. Browse our breed guides to find out exactly what their coat needs, and discover our harness to look after them every day.