A Guide To Grooming A Long Haired Cat

Grooming a long haired cat needs to be done on a daily basis. There are various grooming methods that you can follow to take care of your cat. The most important of these methods is combing and brushing your cat's long hair.

You can start with using a wide or fine toothed comb to untangle any knots that you may find in the cat's fur. Start from the head and work your way downwards. Remember to comb the hair in the direction that it grows. Once you've combed the cat's fur, you can use a soft bristled brush. If you find knots that are very big, you should get help from a vet or a professional groomer.

Trimming the nails is another important aspect of cat grooming. In fact, you should do this before you brush your cat. Get a pair of nail cutters made especially for cats. Be careful while trimming the cat's nails. If you don't do it right, you could injure your cat. If you're not sure about the procedure, you could ask the vet to give you a demonstration.

Bathing a long haired cat can sometimes be important. It can help in the prevention of matted and knotted hair. Before you bathe the cat, brush its fur properly. Get rid of any knots that may be present. Once that is done, wet the fur of the cat properly. Use shampoo that is meant just for cats. Rinse the shampoo off properly. While drying the cat, just wrap it in a towel. Don't rub the fur. That will create knots. Let the towel absorb all the extra moisture. The use of hair dryers is greatly debated among people. Some say it is okay to use them on cats and others say it isn't. The decision is really up to you and the cat. If the cat is comfortable with the sound of the dryer, you could use it on a low temperature. But if it isn't, then, do without the hair dryer.

Cleaning the eyes and ears is another step in the grooming of a long haired cat. Eyes can be cleaned using a damp cotton swab. To clean the ears, you can use tissue or cotton wool. With the ears, remember to clean only as far as you can see. If you go in too deep, you might injure some part of its hearing mechanism. Never use cotton buds to clean its ears.

It is best to start grooming a long haired cat when it is a kitten. That way it gets used to the different grooming methods. If, at any time during grooming, the cat moves away or shows signs of irritation, stop what you are doing. You don't have to go through the entire range of grooming steps in one day. The important thing is that both you and your cat feel safe, comfortable and relaxed.