While long-haired cats may be beautiful, sometimes people
are apprehensive to have one because of the extra work they might think will be
involved. Long-haired cats have a certain appeal to them and if you look past
the grooming, they can make a great choice for a companion.
1. The softer the coat, the more grooming required
This is a general rule of thumb that you can apply to
long-haired cats. While some coats never seem to develop tangles, cats with
softer and silkier coats seem to tangle easier and will require a bit more
grooming. To properly upkeep and prevent against tangles that can become
painful mats, daily brushing is recommended. And you will find that most cats
enjoy being brushed or combed so don’t be surprised if you get a rise out of
your cat each time you break out the grooming tool.
2. Older cats may need more assistance
Although cats are thought to be self-grooming, an older cat
may have a trying time keeping their fur looking sharp. With age comes lack of
energy and the task of grooming may prove too much of a chore for a tired,
aging cat. Help them out with daily brushes so they can look and feel good all
the time regardless of age.
3. Flat-faced cats may need help in hard to reach spots
Brachycephalic breeds, such as Persians and Himalayans,
have distinct “pushed in” faces and will need assistance grooming the areas
around their eyes to prevent from tear-staining and eye infections. If
practiced routinely your cat should become accustomed and not seem to mind too
much with repetition.
4. Overweight cats need a little extra
If your cat is significantly large, they may have
difficulty contorting their bodies to get those hard to reach places around
their tail and buttocks. By helping them out with brushing in this area this
works to eliminate the possibility of excess clumping or tangles. For heavier
cats bathing might be a necessity to keep them sanitary and avoid the risk of
infection.
5. Bathing for your cat
Yes, it’s true that cats bathe themselves routinely, but
giving your cat a bath about once per month may be needed to help with keeping
kitty fresh. The more hair a cat has means more grooming, and for older or
overweight cats they may need some extra help keeping themselves tidy. If you
would like your cat smelling fresh all of the time, start from a young age
implementing a bath into their routine so that they can get used to taking
regular baths.
6. No need to hire a professional
Contrary to what some might believe, grooming for
long-haired cats can be done at home and doesn’t require professional grooming
unless absolutely necessary. With regular grooming this will keep your cat
looking great and not have to worry about being transported to the
groomer–which if it’s anything like the vet, your cat will not be particularly
fond of.
7. More grooming by you, less hairballs for them
Every cat is prone to the occasional hairball, but with all
that hair long-haired cats are more susceptible to these unpleasantries.
Regular grooming will help reduce the number of hairballs a long-haired cat
produces as their digestive systems can only break down so much hair at a time.
Which will also be nice as cats love leaving these unsightly cat byproducts in
the least desirable of places… directly under your feet where you walk.
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