Tips for allergies in the spring season

Many allergy sufferers who want cats and kittens turn to Russian Blues due to their low production for FD1 protein and the dense, double layered coat (that is majestic and soft!) that helps manage allergies. However, one time of year that can cause havoc for any cat lover is, SPRING! In the NSW Central West we have found this to also be worsened by the intense winds we seem to get from September through to October!

This can also be similar in other regional areas such as the ACT, Orange and Wagga Wagga where the flat, yet hilly surrounding terrain tends to cause strong winds and gusts. During this time many cats will come into a malt to shed the thicker and more dense winter coat as they prepare for the summer hear. This can last from about two weeks but will vary from area to area, pending the cold and location.

You can readily check this by gently ‘picking’ at the coat with your finger and thumb. If hairs easily loosen and come away, it is a sign malting might be occurring. Sometimes you may pull a few hairs (often, some will naturally come loose as per the looser undercoat hairs) but when you start seeing small tufts, it can be a good sign! There are also some instances where we have been told cats don’t malt, especially in more temperate areas such as Wollongong and Central Coast onwards. We often find those in Melbourne of Victoria can get them due to being prone to hard winters.

If there is a mass malt, we recommend purchasing a ‘Shed Exe’, small variety. This can be good to then take your Russian Blue out each day and give them a gentle combover to release and remove some of those loose hairs. Often, when I have done this a mass amount of hair can come out that seems almost impossible to come off of a small cat! This goes to show how dense their coat is. Doing this outside on a harness, in a cage or on a balcony where your cat is safe and the wind can carry the excess away is usually best.

This can help reduce rogue hairs around the house and ongoing dander build up, often reducing the need to use antihistamines during this time around the house. Usually, the malt lasts for 2 weeks so this is also a good time to brush and deepen that bond with your Russian Blue, as ours always love the attention and comb over!