Guide
How to stop cat hair getting on your clothes
The short answer
Cat hair reaches your clothes in one of three ways: you sit where the cat has been, you get into a bed they sleep on, or you hold the cat. Each needs a different fix. If you don't know which, spend three days noticing before changing anything.
If it comes from the sofa or chairs
Clothes pick up hair on contact with a surface the cat has lain on. Fix the surface and the clothes mostly fix themselves.
Before you sit, throw any washable fabric you own over where the cat lies. Check after three days whether your clothes are cleaner. If not, they're lying elsewhere too.
What you can stop doing
- Vacuuming floors to fix clothes. Hair on clothes comes from where you sit and sleep, not from the floor.
What comes next
- Before you leave the house: wet your palms and wipe down your clothes, top to bottom. Faster than a roller and never runs out.
- Laundry: run clothes in the dryer on no heat for a few minutes before washing, lint filter emptied. It shakes hair into the filter instead of the drain.
- Comb with whatever you have for now — a damp rubber glove or even a damp hand lifts some loose coat — and see the buying section for what suits this coat, starting at a couple of times a week, if the cat tolerates it. Loose hair on the brush is hair that doesn't land in the house. If the skin looks pink afterwards, you're pressing too hard or going too often.
Only if you decide to buy something
We don't sell products or earn commissions. These are things to look for; the shopping is yours.
If it comes from the bed
Clothes pick up hair on contact with a surface the cat has lain on. Fix the surface and the clothes mostly fix themselves.
Tonight, lay any washable fabric you own over where the cat lies on the bed, or close the bedroom door. Nothing short of a closed door keeps a whole bed clean for long.
What you can stop doing
- Vacuuming floors to fix clothes. Hair on clothes comes from where you sit and sleep, not from the floor.
What comes next
- Before you leave the house: wet your palms and wipe down your clothes, top to bottom. Faster than a roller and never runs out.
- Laundry: run clothes in the dryer on no heat for a few minutes before washing, lint filter emptied. It shakes hair into the filter instead of the drain.
- Comb with whatever you have for now — a damp rubber glove or even a damp hand lifts some loose coat — and see the buying section for what suits this coat, starting at a couple of times a week, if the cat tolerates it. Loose hair on the brush is hair that doesn't land in the house. If the skin looks pink afterwards, you're pressing too hard or going too often.
Only if you decide to buy something
We don't sell products or earn commissions. These are things to look for; the shopping is yours.
If it comes from cuddles
If it's cuddles and laps, cleaning the house won't do much for your clothes; the hair transfers at the moment of contact. What you can change is how much loose hair is in the coat, and what you're wearing when it happens.
Comb tonight with whatever you have for now — a damp rubber glove or even a damp hand lifts some loose coat — and see the buying section for what suits this coat. Then keep one 'pet jumper' by the door and put it on for cuddles; take it off before you leave.
What you can stop doing
- Lint-rolling every outfit. Deal with the coat and the cuddle layer first, then see how much rolling is left.
What comes next
- Before you leave the house: wet your palms and wipe down your clothes, top to bottom. Faster than a roller and never runs out.
- Laundry: run clothes in the dryer on no heat for a few minutes before washing, lint filter emptied. It shakes hair into the filter instead of the drain.
Only if you decide to buy something
We don't sell products or earn commissions. These are things to look for; the shopping is yours.
If you're not sure
Hair gets onto clothes at one or two moments: sitting down, getting into bed, or holding the animal. Each needs a different fix, and guessing wrong means doing all three.
Each time you spot hair on yourself, think back to what you just did. By day three the answer is usually obvious. Come back and pick that option.
What you can stop doing
- Cleaning more in the meantime. You don't yet know where it's coming from.
What comes next
- Before you leave the house: wet your palms and wipe down your clothes, top to bottom. Faster than a roller and never runs out.
- Laundry: run clothes in the dryer on no heat for a few minutes before washing, lint filter emptied. It shakes hair into the filter instead of the drain.
- Comb with whatever you have for now — a damp rubber glove or even a damp hand lifts some loose coat — and see the buying section for what suits this coat, starting at a couple of times a week, if the cat tolerates it. Loose hair on the brush is hair that doesn't land in the house. If the skin looks pink afterwards, you're pressing too hard or going too often.
Only if you decide to buy something
We don't sell products or earn commissions. These are things to look for; the shopping is yours.
Which coat are you dealing with?
| Coat | What the hair does | Brushing, as a starting point |
|---|---|---|
| Short-haired cat Domestic Shorthair, Tabby, British Shorthair, Siamese | Fine, light hairs that cling to fabric and clothes | A rubber brush or grooming glove, a couple of times a week, if the cat tolerates it |
| Long-haired cat Domestic Longhair, Ragdoll, Maine Coon, Persian | Long fluff that drifts and winds into carpet and the cat tree | A wide-tooth comb, then a slicker, a few minutes most days — it also means fewer hairballs |
Starting points from long experience and published grooming and allergy guidance, not veterinary advice. Sudden heavy shedding, bald patches or sore skin: see a vet.