Cat's Hair

The cat's hair, as with that of humans, grows, dies and renews constantly. In cats of long hair, the change of hair is continuous during all the year; on short hair cats, on the other hand, the process is more active in spring.

The change of hair is less evident on short hair cats that live in houses with a heating system.

The pilous follicles have a vital secondary function for the cats health and it consists in the secretion of fats, and oleaginous substance that covers their hair and makes it shine.

The fact contains cholesterol that transforms itself through the action of the sun into vitamin D.

The cat extracts part of its reserves of this nutrient from fish oil and from the animal fats, present in all the cats foods that are sold today, but the action of the sun gives them a basic additional source.

The pilous follicles also lodge sweat glands, that discharge an intense distinctive odor with which they mark their territory and, in case of the non-sterilized, they emit sexual signals.

They are located overall on the chin, ears and on the base of the tail.

The coat conserves its heat thanks to the action of the sweat, and the only sweat glands that are similar to that of humans are the ones that can be found in the skin without hairs of the claws, that get moisten in situations of intense heat or fear. When a cat leave wet moisten in situations of intense heat or fear.

When a cat leaves wet tracks behind him or pants deeply, is a signal that he has to much heat and you have to help him reduce his corporal temperature. Usually, cats are capable of regulating their own temperature by evaporating the saliva they use when cleaning themselves.

On determine parts of the body, their hair suffers from specific variations. A more clear example of it are that of their whiskers, ultra-sensible hairs that serve as a radar for identifying the atmosphere and, depending on the position, to express emotions. He also has hairs like that behind the front legs, surely they are responsible for the silent walking of the cat when crossing unknown territory.