Emma Jones
Whether it’s a fluffy Angora cat or a smooth Siamese cat: the coat must be well-groomed at all times. The cat usually does this itself. It spends much of the day cleaning itself with its tongue and paws and tidying up its coat. As the owner of animals with very long fur due to their breed, you cannot avoid assisting them. But breeds with short fur are also happy about massage and care units. Coat care also has tangible advantages: parasites find it too restless in a well-groomed coat and you can recognize skin changes or inflammation at an early stage.
How is cat fur structured?
would you have known The skin is a cat’s largest body organ and can account for up to 24 percent of its weight? The skin protects the organism and protects against environmental influences and germs. In order to be able to fulfill this task, the astonishing organ achieves impressive things. Dead hair is shed every day and new ones are constantly being created – the notorious cat hair. Light-colored cat owners who like to wear dark clothes know what that can mean. Cat fur consists of a dense undercoat and long outer hair, with large differences in the amount and density of the wool and the length and texture of the outer hair depending on the breed. Twice a year, the fur exchange is particularly intense: with decreasing daylight length and falling temperatures, the velvet paw develops its winter fur and, conversely, sheds it again in spring. Some cats can hardly keep up with cleaning during this time and appreciate it when their human stands in as a hairdresser.
How do I care for cat fur?
The most important accessories for grooming cats are combs and brushes. For cats with very short fur and a little undercoat, you can use a baby hairbrush; specialist retailers also offer various brushes and fur combs with different bristles. Brushes with fine but not too hard bristles are particularly suitable for fine work and detangling of the cat’s fur. You should carefully untangle knots in the fur with your fingers, never comb out with force.
It is best for the cat to get used to the brush in a playful way as a kitten so that it recognizes and enjoys the treatment as wellness. Schedule at least 15 minutes a day for grooming. Make sure the atmosphere is relaxed, sit the cat on a table or your lap and always brush and comb with the line from the ears to the tail. You should never comb the tail itself, just brush it over it. Carefully care for the cat’s belly by reaching under the cat from above.
By the way: The more carefully you comb the cat, the less loose hair the animal will spread on the carpet and furniture. In particularly hairy times, also cover the cat’s favorite places with blankets that fur fluff can get caught in. You can save yourself a lot of work with a lint roller and careful beating and washing. You can also support the cat’s coat health from the inside.
You should only bathe your cat in absolutely exceptional cases: Only the prescribed use of medicinal shampoos or emergency help in the event of a mishap with sticky substances justifies a careful lukewarm shower.
What should be considered when grooming long-haired cats?
The fur of long-haired cats has become uncomfortably long as a result of deliberate breeding for lushness for self-care. For breeds such as Angora or Persian cats, daily intensive grooming by their owners is essential: the animals cannot cope with the fullness of their fur on their own. Combs with long teeth and soft wire brushes are particularly suitable for grooming a long-haired cat. Tangled knots that cannot be untangled with the best will in the world must be carefully cut out.
What can I do about hairballs in cats?
Hairballs form in the cat’s stomach as part of grooming: hair catches on the cat’s tongue and is swallowed. As indigestible foreign bodies, they accumulate in the stomach and are regurgitated in a compressed form. A natural instinct helps to make the natural process more enjoyable. The cat looks for plant fibers that will strengthen the consistency of the hairball and make it more “choke cable.” That’s why cats occasionally eat grass. Be sure to offer your indoor cat grass to meet this need and to prevent the cat from attacking indoor plants. Seed mixtures are available from pet and garden shops. Alternatively or even better: You should also offer the cat dry food with fibers and malt paste.