My longhair Nipsy really doesn't shed much at all. In contrast, my
shorthaired Espy sheds just standing there. I can watch him and see
hair falling off. I can't believe he isn't bald yet.

I can believe that!  At the time I posted this, I had yet another
cat with a paw problem.  I don't mean claws (I can either clip
them, or wait and have the vet do them -- I don't stress that).  I
just had Rhett in for a paw flare-up (his yearly, it is turning out
to be. Must be seasonal for him) and then Scarlett started licking
one of her paws more than usual. You can tell when it isn't normal
grooming.  I looked over her paw and found what I thought was a
piece of kitty litter stuck on her paw, wiped it off and thought
that was the end of it.  Well, she still wasn't leaving it alone.
No redness, no swelling, but obviously something bothering it. She
isn't limping, is playing, and nothing else seems amiss. The other
day I worked from home and could observe everyone, but of course
everyone slept during my work hours.  Ah, must be the life being a
cat. Then yesterday she was still licking it alot. I've been
flushing it with a cleaning agent I got from our vet for Rhett's
paw problem.  Her licking it is calming down, and if it didn't I
would suspect something other than a skin problem; something like a
twist or sprain because the vet mentioned that at Rhett's last
visit.  That sometimes they will lick when it's something like
arthritis.  

LOL, very true
sheelagh