Animals, like little children, need affection, care and proper care. The pride of cats is, of course, a shiny and soft fur. By the age of two months cats tend to keep their coats clean. But without the help of the owners in this “intimate” matter the animal can’t do without.
During licking, hair falls into the stomach of the furry pet, where it accumulates and forms lumps, causing discomfort and threatening to block the intestines. Hair can also accumulate behind the bottom canines and cause inflammation by growing into the gum. That’s why it’s so important to brush cats regularly.
Rules for taking care of a cat’s fur
There are three types of cat hair:
- short-haired with a single coat (British short-haired, Siamese, Rex, Burmese);
- short-haired with double coat (American short-haired, Russian blue, Abyssinian);
- long-haired and half-long-haired (Angora and Persian).
It is easy to look after the “coat” of a short-haired cat. It is enough to brush your pet once a week, and during the moulting period (in spring and autumn) at least twice a week.
Combing a long-haired cat requires a more thorough approach. The procedure must be carried out every day, otherwise hair tangles will form.
During the combing it is necessary to carefully remove the dead hair. At the same time the massage of the animal’s skin stimulates the growth of new hair.
Combing procedure
**The sides and belly should be combed out in the direction of the tail. The neck is brushed toward the muzzle and the breast is brushed from the paws toward the chin.
The tail of the animal should be combed very carefully, as accidentally torn out scraps take a long time to recover.
It is better to start with a fine-toothed comb and then go with a fine-toothed comb.
You can give a healthy shine to the coat with a special conditioner sold at the pet store.
Tools for hair care
The choice of tools for grooming cats depends on the length and thickness of their hair.
There are three categories of tools:
- Short hair grooming tools:
- frequent comb;
- a brush with soft bristles;
- a brush - a mitten.
- Grooming for long hair:
- wide flat brush for tail;
- a small brush for the hair around the eyes and ears. Even a regular toothbrush will work for this purpose.
- Universal:
- a metal comb with sparse and frequent teeth;
- bristle brush.
Brushing won’t be torture for your pet if you get them used to this kind of grooming from childhood. The best option is to do it before feeding. The animal will remember that he will be rewarded for his patience in the form of a meal or treat.
Love, understanding and patience ensure a harmonious existence for you and your pet.