The hair has a special role in protecting the skin against cuts, scrapes, temperature extremes, and chemical substances. The hair follicle is an invagination in the epidermis that generates hair from a matrix, or bulb.
These three follicles are surrounded by some fifteen secondary follicles that produce the down hair.
Undercoat, down hair, underfur: thin, wavy, very dense hairs are involved in thermal insulation.
The tactile hairs and vibrissae are special types of hair found primarily on the muzzle. They are connected to nerve cells and play a sensory role.
Hair growth is constant and cyclical. Each cycle consists of three main phases (anagen, catagen, and telogen). - During anagen, or the growth phase, approximately 0.3 mm of hair is generated per day (guard hairs). - Catagen is a transitional phase preceding the telogen "rest" phase. - Telogen is the longest phase, especially in winter. Grouped entry into the anagen phase is observed at certain times of the year.
This is seasonal shedding, which is regulated essentially by the light-dark cycle. Grooming occupies much of a cat's time and is facilitated by its very agile, scraping tongue with cornified papillae. During grooming, cats ingest a large quantity of hair, especially during periods of shedding. This can lead to the formation of hairballs in the intestine and cause digestive disorders.
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