Autumn shedding in dogs and cats: what is normal and when it is not

Print my Pet · 02. September 2026 · 5 min read·Updated 28.09.2026

Dog being brushed in autumn with falling leaves in the background

When hair suddenly lies everywhere in September, in the coat itself or on the sofa, that is completely normal for most dogs and cats. The autumn coat change is a natural process by which animals prepare for winter. Still, it is worth knowing what is normal, what you can do to help and when increased hair loss is actually a reason to go to the vet.

Why dogs and cats change their coat in autumn

The coat change is triggered not primarily by temperature but by the length of daylight. As the days get shorter, the body registers this through the retina and adjusts the hormone balance. In response, a denser winter coat with more undercoat grows in, while part of the summer coat falls out. In purely indoor animals, which barely notice changes in daylight and are also exposed to heated rooms all year round, this rhythm can shift or weaken, but it rarely stops altogether.

The autumn coat change differs from the spring one in its direction: in spring the dense undercoat of winter is swapped for a lighter summer coat, in autumn the opposite happens. Both processes are demanding for the body, because alongside the visible shedding the metabolism is also being readjusted. That explains why some animals seem a little more tired or eat more than usual during this time.

What is normal

Increased shedding over a period of four to six weeks
Noticeably more undercoat when brushing, especially in double-coated breeds
An overall denser, often also slightly duller coat during the transition period
In cats, a slightly increased risk of hairballs, because more loose hair is swallowed when grooming

When you should look more closely

Not every hair loss in autumn is a harmless coat change. You should take notice of bald patches with no regrowing fur, of reddened or flaky skin, of constant scratching or licking of one particular spot, and when the hair loss continues undiminished for longer than six to eight weeks. Possible causes are parasites such as fleas or mites, food allergies, thyroid problems or simply stress, for example from a move or a new family member. In all these cases no guide replaces the vet's eye, but an early appointment often stops a small thing from turning into a lengthy one.

How to sensibly support the coat change

The brush does most of the work. Short-haired dogs and cats get by with brushing once or twice a week. With dense undercoat, that is German Shepherds, Huskies or Maine Coons, three to four sessions are needed during the coat change, otherwise the second layer mats before the first has come out. The tool is what matters: an undercoat rake pulls the loose hair out from deep down, an ordinary brush only skims the top. In cats this has a benefit that has nothing to do with the sofa. What you comb out, she does not swallow while grooming. Frequent retching with no result is the typical sign in autumn that too much of it is ending up in the stomach.

When it comes to food, the idea persists that something must be added during the coat change. In most households that is not true. A food declared as a complete feed already covers the need for protein and fatty acids by definition; that is exactly what the label stands for. Extra oil or biotin therefore only has an effect where there is a real deficiency, and nobody spots that at the sofa, the vet does, from blood values. More fat in the bowl is also not a harmless surplus but extra energy, which in an animal with little exercise anyway goes onto the ribs. If the coat stays dull even though the feeding is good, that is a reason for an appointment, not for a new powder.

From October a factor comes in that you cannot see in the animal. As soon as the heating is on, the humidity in the home drops, and dry air makes skin and coat brittle. Regular airing by opening the windows wide helps, and so does a humidifier. What rarely helps, on the other hand, is bathing: an extra bath washes out exactly the sebum that the skin needs right now. Against the hair in the home, vacuuming and wiping down the resting places work better than any shampoo anyway.

With old animals everything takes longer. The metabolism works more slowly, the new coat grows back more stubbornly, and the change is often more pronounced than in younger years. With them it is worth keeping an eye on weight and activity, because both can quietly tip during this time. At the other end is the first real coat change, which puppies and kittens usually only experience in their second year of life, when the soft baby coat gives way to the adult coat. It looks dramatic and is not.

Dogs and cats differ less in substance than in pace. A Husky visibly loses tufts within a few days. An indoor cat sheds a little all year round and looks hardly more conspicuous in autumn than in June, because she lacks the daylight changes. Four to six weeks are the rule in both cases. With very dense undercoat or the start of matting, a one-off thorough brush-out at the groomer noticeably shortens this time. The appointment is not necessary. It is pleasant all the same.

And for the portrait?

By the way, the autumn coat change is not a good time for the source photo of a pet portrait, because the coat often looks unsettled and dull during this time. If possible, wait until the winter coat has fully grown in, usually a few weeks later. The denser coat looks noticeably more harmonious in photos in terms of volume, especially in Watercolour.

Once the winter coat is fully in, the moment for the photo has come: a dense coat looks fuller in a portrait than the thin summer coat. Our pet portraits for dog, cat and horse come in a wooden frame, on canvas, on acrylic glass and as posters.