Taking Care Of Long-Haired Cats

Is your feline companion sporting long hair? While all cats are adorable, longhaired kitties are typically extra cute. Fluffy can wear a variety of colors and patterns, but she looks truly adorable with flowing locks. There aren’t many drawbacks to owning a super cute pet, but you will need to help your furry buddy with her grooming routine. Continue reading to learn how to care for a longhaired cat from a local Holly Springs, MS veterinarian.

Is It Hard To Care For Long-Haired Cats?

Long-haired cats, for the most part, require the same level of care as regular cats. Fluffy will require nutritious food, a clean litterbox, a comfortable home, and, of course, regular veterinarian care. That’ll cover the fundamentals. To get that engine running, you’ll need to supply love, toys, and lap space. (Catnip, sunbeams, and boxes will all delight your feline master.) The only difference is that Fluffy will require help with grooming. 

Cats are naturally highly clean creatures. This is one of the best aspects of having kitties, in addition to the fact that they are adorable, cuddly, entertaining, and fun. Your kitty companion will take time out of her hectic daily resting schedule to clean herself and keep her coat tidy. Long-haired cats may find it difficult to maintain their beauty routine. That’s a lot of fur to deal with!

Brushing your pet on a regular basis is all that’s required. This will not only make things easier for Fluffy, but also for you, because cat fur will not be getting everywhere. You’ll use a brush to remove any loose fur before it sticks to your sofa. Your bed, too. Also, consider your clothing.

How Do You Groom a Longhaired Cat?

Brushing Fluffy isn’t hard, but you should wait until your feline companion is comfortable and relaxed. (Given how much time cats spend napping, this shouldn’t take long.) If your feline friend is a lap cat, you can wait until she has draped herself across your lap. Simply begin stroking her, going in the direction of her fur. Then, you can add the brush.

Many cats like having their coats groomed. It most likely recalls Fluffy of when she was younger and her mother groomed her. Do not be startled if your pet begins purring or maybe licking your hand. Bonded kitties often groom one another. Cats are not the only animals that do this; horses, primates, and birds do as well. 

Of course, our feline friends are all unique. Grooming can be enjoyable for some cats. Others? Not much. You don’t want to impose it. If your pet can only endure a few brush strokes at a time, try spacing them out. If she struggles, don’t restrain her. That will make her even less willing to be groomed in the future. (It’s also an easy way to get scratched.)

Aside from that, we’d like to point out that you should strive to brush your pet’s full body rather than just her back. Long-haired kitties often get tangles in their ‘armpits,’ so your pet may require additional assistance there.

How Often Should You Groom Your Long Haired Cat?

Once or twice per week should work for most cats, but this will vary a little. If your cat has a lot of fur, brush her every day. Older cats require further assistance and may require more frequent brushing. 

Should I Give My Feline Buddy A Bath?

You should not have to bathe your cat companion. However, if you have a kitten, it’s a good idea to familiarize him with the process. That way, if something gets stuck in her fur, you’ll have an easier time of it.

There are a few rules here. The most important thing is not to bathe your pet too frequently. This would cause her skin and fur to lose their natural oils. This could result in her looking dry and frizzy. Also, it may irritate her skin.

Be sure to use the proper products and practices. Get a mild shampoo specifically designed for cats. Ours are too strong for Fluffy. Also, use lukewarm water instead of boiling water. Finally, avoid getting suds in your cat’s eyes, ears, nose, or mouth. To rinse, use a pitcher. Simply use a face cloth to clean your cat’s head.

Something else to consider? Never bathe a matted cat. That will only make things worse!

What Can I Do If My Cat Gets Matted?

Mats are not uncommon in fluffy cats. Older cats are more likely to develop them. There are a couple of reasons behind this. For starters, as your pet ages, it will become more difficult for her to bend and stretch. Furthermore, the skin of elderly cats may produce more oil than that of younger cats. This can also lead to matting.

However, matting can sometimes indicate medical problems. If your kitty companion is getting a lot of mats, speak with your veterinarian.

Gently remove any mats from your cat’s fur. You should avoid pulling too hard. Cat skin is highly sensitive and easily ripped. You may have to put forth some effort. Pet and treat your cat to reassure her.

Begin at the mat’s end. You could wish to apply a detangling spray. We propose purchasing a specialty mat-removing comb.

Shaving may be necessary for severe matting. You might be able to get a little one, but larger mats would necessitate a call to your doctor or groomer. When cutting mats, be extremely careful. It’s simple to inadvertently cut your feline friend!

Should My Cat Be Shaved?

Sometimes kitties require a shave. This is frequently the case when cats become too elderly or ill to care for their fur. Chubby cats also struggle to bend and extend far enough to reach their full bodies.

This is not something to do at home. Consult your vet or groomer. 

Are Long-Haired Cats More Likely To Get Hairballs?

Hairballs are an unintended consequence of one of Fluffy’s best characteristics: her cleanliness. When washing herself, your furry little diva will invariably ingest some of her own fur. Unfortunately, cats are unable to digest their own hair. We won’t go into detail about what occurs next, except to say that it’s not the best part of having a kitty.

Hairballs are more than simply an unpleasant inconvenience. They can be dangerous. Kitties are sometimes unable to get rid of hairballs in the usual way. If the hairball becomes caught in Fluffy’s gastrointestinal tract, it may create a blockage, which may be excruciatingly painful and hazardous.

This is another reason why it’s critical to groom longhaired cats. Also, make sure that your feline companion receives sufficient nutrition and has access to fresh water at all times. If your pet seems to be having a lot of hairballs, consult your Holly Springs, MS veterinarian.

What Are Some Long-Haired Kitties?

The International Cat Association now lists 73 different cat breeds. We think they’re all cute!

Here are some of the floofers on the list.

• Siberian
• Ragdoll
• Maine Coon
• Norwegian Forest Cat
• Birman
• Persian
• Himalayan
• Turkish Angora
• Turkish Van  
• British Longhair
• Persian

Of course, there are plenty of fluffy crossbreed kitties, as well as several with medium fur.

Schedule an Appointment at Our Holly Springs, MS Pet Clinic

Do you have any queries about taking care of a longhaired cat? Call us, your Holly Springs, MS veterinary clinic, today!