Lengthy-haired cats, with their luxuriously mushy fur and delightful look, generally is a pleasure to have in your house. However in addition they require a little bit extra consideration within the grooming division.
You’ll have to be ready to brush them incessantly and maintain mats from forming. Despite the fact that long-haired cats groom themselves like some other cat breed, they nonetheless require some additional assist from their people.
Listed here are just a few tricks to maintain you and your long-haired cat as completely happy as potential.
Particular grooming wants for long-haired cat breeds
How a lot grooming your long-haired cat wants actually relies on the kind of lengthy fur they’ve. A cat with mushy, skinny, silky fur might hardly ever have tangle issues. However cats with thicker fur might run into issues incessantly.
Persian cats, for instance, have luxuriously thick, lengthy fur they usually have to be brushed on daily basis and bathed as soon as a month. Their fur tangles simply.
Turkish Angora cats, against this, haven’t any undercoat, so their fur hardly ever tangles, they usually barely shed. They solely want weekly brushing.
Selkirk Rex cats are a particular case as a result of their lengthy fur is curly like a Poodle’s fur. You need to comb their fur a few instances per week to stop tangles and minimize down on shedding. Once you’re accomplished, run your fingers gently by means of the fur to fluff the curls.
Brushing and brushing
Earlier than you begin, be sure you buy brushes and combs designed particularly for cats for the perfect outcomes. You will get these at any pet retailer, and you may ask your vet or groomer for ideas.
Most cats completely love being brushed, so you might discover that your cat begins head-butting your brush or comb the second you get it out. Cats who’re extra delicate will usually develop to like brushing after just a few tries.
Even when your long-haired cat doesn’t develop to like brushing, it’s nonetheless essential to brush them commonly as a result of long-haired cats are extra liable to hairballs if you happen to’re not commonly eliminating additional fur.
When you’re introducing a cat to brushing for the primary time, listed here are just a few ideas to assist:
- Let your cat scent the comb first to allow them to be acquainted with it.
- All the time brush within the route of the fur so the feeling isn’t disagreeable.
- Begin at their head, and go slowly to assist them modify to the sensation.
- Preserve the primary session to just some minutes, rewarding your cat with a deal with on the finish, and steadily improve the size to fifteen minutes over time.
Bathing a long-haired cat
Cats with lengthy fur might have bathing, particularly in the event that they find yourself with the unlucky drawback of getting litter or feces caught of their fur.
Some cats will chew or claw you if you happen to attempt to put them in a shower, however different cats, resembling most Maine Coons, will completely find it irresistible, particularly if you happen to make the bathtub water heat sufficient.
When you can introduce your cat to bathing after they’re a kitten, you’ll have the perfect outcomes.
Coping with mats
Lengthy-haired cats are particularly liable to matted fur. In case your cat’s fur will get matted, you may have to clip away the mats.
Accomplish that gently, being cautious to not pull too laborious on the fur. Keep in mind to make use of particular cat clippers that you just purchase out of your native pet retailer.
Don’t ever use scissors, since your cat might react unexpectedly and presumably minimize themselves!
In order for you, you need to use a comb to attempt to brush out the mat very gently first. If the mats are actually dangerous, you might have to take your cat to a vet for skilled grooming.
Tufts of fur between the paw pads
Cats with lengthy fur can also develop lengthy tufts of fur between the pads on the underside of their paws. Turkish Vans, for instance, are liable to growing these lengthy tufts.
These tufts can get tangled, caught onto issues, or may even make utilizing the litter field uncomfortable for them. If the tufts get too lengthy, you possibly can trim them with clippers. Watch out to be sure you don’t by chance minimize your cat’s ft and trim solely to the extent of the pads.
Though grooming and brushing your cat could appear daunting, it’s crucial for long-haired kitties. Your cat might develop to like being brushed, and the time you are taking to comb them may flip right into a enjoyable bonding time between the 2 of you.
