Glossary
Guard hairs
The long, coarse outer hairs of a cat's coat that shed water and dirt and carry its colour and pattern.
Also called: guard hair, topcoat, primary hairs, outer coat
Guard hairs are the longest and stiffest hairs in a cat's coat. They stand above the softer undercoat and form the surface you stroke. Each is thicker at the tip and stays straight, which makes them good at shedding rain and dirt. Their colour and banding produce the tabby, ticked and solid patterns we see.
Some breeders divide the coat into three types: guard hairs, awn hairs of medium length and the fine down hairs of the undercoat. In practice most owners only notice the difference in how a coat feels. A coat rich in guard hairs feels sleek or coarse, while one that is mostly down feels soft and plush.
Rex breeds are unusual. Cornish Rex cats lack true guard hairs, and Devon Rex cats have only a few, which explains their unusual feel. When guard hairs stand on end, in a puffed-up tail or arched back, the cat is afraid or startled, see piloerection. Patchy loss of guard hairs, a dull or greasy coat or a sudden change in texture is a reason to ask your vet to check for parasites, skin problems or illness.
Last reviewed November 7, 2026