Lengthy-haired cats, with their luxuriously comfortable fur and lovely look, generally is a pleasure to have in your house. However in addition they require a bit of extra consideration within the grooming division.
You’ll wish to be ready to brush them incessantly and stay mats from forming. Despite the fact that long-haired cats groom themselves like another cat breed, they nonetheless require some further assist from their people.
Listed below are a couple of tricks to stay you and your long-haired cat as glad as conceivable.
Particular grooming wishes for long-haired cat breeds
How a lot grooming your long-haired cat wishes in point of fact is dependent upon the form of lengthy fur they have got. A cat with comfortable, skinny, silky fur would possibly hardly have tangle issues. However cats with thicker fur would possibly run into issues incessantly.
Persian cats, as an example, have luxuriously thick, lengthy fur and so they wish to be brushed each day and bathed as soon as a month. Their fur tangles simply.
Turkish Angora cats, in contrast, haven’t any undercoat, so their fur hardly tangles, and so they slightly shed. They simply want weekly brushing.
Selkirk Rex cats are a different case as a result of their lengthy fur is curly like a Poodle’s fur. You must comb their fur a few instances every week to stop tangles and minimize down on losing. Whilst you’re completed, run your hands gently during the fur to fluff the curls.
Brushing and brushing
Earlier than you get started, you’ll want to acquire brushes and combs designed particularly for cats for the most productive effects. You’ll get those at any puppy retailer, and you’ll be able to ask your vet or groomer for ideas.
Maximum cats completely love being brushed, so chances are you’ll in finding that your cat begins head-butting your brush or comb the instant you get it out. Cats who’re extra delicate will regularly develop to like brushing after a couple of tries.
Even though your long-haired cat doesn’t develop to like brushing, it’s nonetheless essential to brush them frequently as a result of long-haired cats are extra at risk of hairballs for those who’re now not frequently eliminating further fur.
In the event you’re introducing a cat to brushing for the primary time, listed below are a couple of tricks to assist:
- Let your cat scent the comb first so they are able to be aware of it.
- All the time brush within the course of the fur so the feeling isn’t unsightly.
- Get started at their head, and cross slowly to assist them modify to the sensation.
- Stay the primary consultation to only some mins, rewarding your cat with a deal with on the finish, and progressively build up the duration to fifteen mins through the years.
Bathing a long-haired cat
Cats with lengthy fur would possibly want bathing, particularly in the event that they finally end up with the unlucky downside of having muddle or feces caught of their fur.
Some cats will chew or claw you for those who attempt to put them in a tub, however different cats, akin to maximum Maine Coons, will completely adore it, particularly if you are making the tub water heat sufficient.
If you’ll be able to introduce your cat to bathing after they’re a kitten, you’ll have the most productive effects.
Coping with mats
Lengthy-haired cats are particularly at risk of raveled fur. In case your cat’s fur will get raveled, you could wish to clip away the mats.
Accomplish that gently, being cautious to not pull too laborious at the fur. Keep in mind to make use of particular cat clippers that you just purchase out of your native puppy retailer.
Don’t ever use scissors, since your cat would possibly react swiftly and most likely minimize themselves!
If you wish to have, you’ll be able to use a comb to check out to sweep out the mat very gently first. If the mats are in point of fact unhealthy, chances are you’ll wish to take your cat to a vet for pro grooming.
Tufts of fur between the paw pads
Cats with lengthy fur may additionally develop lengthy tufts of fur between the pads at the backside in their paws. Turkish Vehicles, as an example, are at risk of growing those lengthy tufts.
Those tufts can get tangled, stuck onto issues, or will even make the usage of the muddle field uncomfortable for them. If the tufts get too lengthy, you’ll be able to trim them with clippers. Watch out to you’ll want to don’t by accident minimize your cat’s ft and trim most effective to the extent of the pads.
Even if grooming and combing your cat would possibly appear daunting, it’s crucial for long-haired kitties. Your cat would possibly develop to like being brushed, and the time you’re taking to brush them may just become a amusing bonding time between the 2 of you.