Moisturize cats to cut down on shedding

Question: I live in a studio with two cats, and it seems no matter what I do, I’m surrounded by cat hair. I brush the cats regularly, vacuum, change coverings, use a sticky roller on my clothes, but I still end up with cat hair floating in the air -- and into my food. I’ve thought of getting an air purifier, but I keep my windows open all the time (no air conditioning -- landlords won’t allow it), so I’m not sure that would work. I’m not the best housekeeper, but I try. Any suggestions?

Rachel Olivier
Los Angeles

Answer: You’re doing all the right things to deal with your cats’ fur once it has been shed and become a problem. But according to pet and interior decor expert, Julia Szabo, author of “Animal House Style: Designing a Home to Share With Your Pets,” there are things to do before the problems begin.

In warm, dry climates, she explains, cats tend to shed a lot because their skin -- like ours -- becomes dry. “Installing a humidifier will help alleviate this problem,” she says. But if your windows are always open, this may only help to a certain degree.

“Switching your cats’ diet from dry kibble to canned food may help too,” Szabo says. If your cats refuse to switch, she suggests using an oil mister, like those made by Misto, to spritz the kibble with flaxseed or olive oil immediately before serving. “This will introduce more moisture into the cats’ skin from within.”

Humans use moisturizers to keep skin hydrated, but we usually don’t think about “moisturizing” our cats. Szabo suggests trying a new product called Petal Cleanse (available at www.allergic2pets.com), an all-natural cleanser-moisturizer, to hydrate your cats’ skin. Designed to help people with allergies by reducing pet dander, it also helps control excess shedding.

Follow Szabo’s advice, and cat-hair soup should be a thing of the past.