Lengthy-haired cats, with their luxuriously smooth fur and delightful look, could be a pleasure to have in your house. However additionally 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. Though 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 blissful as potential.
Particular grooming wants for long-haired cat breeds
How a lot grooming your long-haired cat wants actually is determined by the kind of lengthy fur they’ve. A cat with smooth, skinny, silky fur could hardly ever have tangle issues. However cats with thicker fur could run into issues incessantly.
Persian cats, for instance, have luxuriously thick, lengthy fur and so they have to be brushed each day 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, and so they 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. It is best to comb their fur a few instances per week to forestall tangles and minimize down on shedding. Once you’re accomplished, run your fingers gently by way of the fur to fluff the curls.
Brushing and brushing
Earlier than you begin, be sure to buy brushes and combs designed particularly for cats for one of the best outcomes. You will get these at any pet retailer, and you may ask your vet or groomer for recommendations.
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 typically develop to like brushing after just a few tries.
Even when your long-haired cat doesn’t develop to like brushing, it’s nonetheless necessary to brush them often as a result of long-haired cats are extra liable to hairballs when you’re not often eliminating additional fur.
In case 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 conversant in it.
- At all times brush within the course of the fur so the feeling isn’t disagreeable.
- Begin at their head, and go slowly to assist them modify to the sensation.
- Maintain the primary session to only a few minutes, rewarding your cat with a deal with on the finish, and progressively enhance 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 downside of getting litter or feces caught of their fur.
Some cats will chew or claw you when you attempt to put them in a shower, however different cats, equivalent to most Maine Coons, will completely like it, particularly when you make the bathtub water heat sufficient.
In case you can introduce your cat to bathing after they’re a kitten, you’ll have one of the best outcomes.
Coping with mats
Lengthy-haired cats are particularly liable to matted fur. In case your cat’s fur will get matted, you would possibly must clip away the mats.
Accomplish that gently, being cautious to not pull too exhausting on the fur. Bear 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 could react unexpectedly and presumably minimize themselves!
If you need, you need to use a comb to attempt to brush out the mat very gently first. If the mats are actually dangerous, you might must take your cat to a vet for skilled grooming.
Tufts of fur between the paw pads
Cats with lengthy fur may develop lengthy tufts of fur between the pads on the underside of their paws. Turkish Vans, for instance, are liable to creating 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 to don’t unintentionally minimize your cat’s toes and trim solely to the extent of the pads.
Though grooming and brushing your cat could appear daunting, it’s essential for long-haired kitties. Your cat could develop to like being brushed, and the time you’re taking to comb them might flip right into a enjoyable bonding time between the 2 of you.