Not all owners have an idea of how to comb a cat. But such manipulations are very important for the animal. Thanks to combing, it is possible to remove excess hair and get rid of the fibers remaining on the clothes.
The importance of combing
This procedure is very important and useful for the pet. This helps to regularly examine the skin of the pet and, if necessary, take the necessary measures. When molting begins in cats, a large amount of hair is swallowed by it during cleaning, and this can lead to illness. Many people notice that during the period when the hairs fall out plentifully, the animal becomes more lethargic, sometimes even vomiting opens. These may be the consequences of improper grooming.
Varieties of wool
Different breeds of cats have different lengths and densities of hair, which means they will need to take care of the pets differently. If the pet has short hairs, then the procedure is practically not required, you can use a mitten.
To answer the question of how to comb a long-haired cat, you should first familiarize yourself with how to correctly do this. The procedure will take a lot of time, and it needs to be done often. The same rule applies to cats with half-length hair. If the pet has an undercoat, then comb it out with special care.
Proper execution of the procedure
How often you need to comb the cat, to answer this question is easy. Pets with short hair or smooth hair need to be freed from excess hair once a week, while long-haired ones will have to pay attention every day. Manipulations must be carried out competently so as not to harm the animal:
- If the coat is long, it is recommended first to pet the pet by wearing a rubber glove first. This will help get rid of excess hair. You can use a special mitt-brush.
- Initially, you need to stroke the growth of wool, and then against it. Koltuny need to be combed out with accuracy.
- It is better for the animal to be accustomed to these manipulations from childhood. Since sometimes adults are not allowed to comb out.
- Many owners do not know how to comb out a cat if it does not want to. The main thing is to be patient. The action should be done carefully. With strong resistance of the animal, the procedure will have to be stopped. After some time, addiction will occur, and this will give pleasure to the pet.
It takes 15 minutes to comb out an animal with short hair, but if it is a long-haired creature, then the manipulation usually lasts about half an hour.
How to carry out the procedure
You should not use a regular comb, you will need a special scallop for cats. You can purchase a suitable tool at a pet store, where there is a wide range of similar products.
- Furminator comb. This device has a rectangular shape and a handle with a rubberized base. The tool is perfect for combing your pet when the coat is shed plentifully. Thanks to the furminator, you can massage the animal, as well as get rid of tangles.
- Mitt. It is equipped with cloves or pimples. A very convenient device that you can put on your hand and hold on the pet’s fur.
- Slicker. This cat scratcher has cloves that can be straight or curved.
- Scallop. A very convenient tool for combing hairs, and also helps to rid the pet of parasites.
- Double-sided brush. Depending on which side to use, you can massage or comb out the animal.
Wool Care Literacy
In practice, the period of molting becomes a test for each owner, it is then that the question arises sharply of how to comb the cat correctly. Pet with a short coat will need to be freed from excess hairs every 2-3 days. A furry animal will need to be taken care of daily.
To make the process more efficient, you need to take action against the coat. To begin with, you should arm yourself with a brush with rare cloves, gradually moving to those in which they sit denser.
Some people wonder how to comb out the undercoat of a cat. If you direct the movement against the wool, then for some breeds this approach will be ideal. However, if we talk about the Scottish one, then such a decision will turn out to be wrong, as well as the application of the slicker. This can lead to damage to the dense undercoat, and sometimes to the formation of a bald spot. If the cat has this area prone to stall, then it will be necessary to carry out regular processing with a brush or mitt.
After the procedure, it is important to wet your hand in water and run it over the animal against the growth of hairs. Thus, it will be possible to get rid of the remnants of wool. Accustoming to such manipulations should be done when the kitten reaches six months of age.
When you can not comb out
It is very important to comb out the hair so that the pet is always healthy. However, there are situations when it is not necessary to use a furminator, while it is better to give preference to the most sparing options. Do not use such a device if there are the following problems:
- skin diseases or irritations on the integument;
- scratches or abrasions.
It should be very neat with existing tricks, combing is done carefully so as not to hurt the pet. It is forbidden to use the furminator if the cat does not have an undercoat or if it belongs to a curly breed.
Do-it-yourself haircut
Animals with thick hair periodically need a haircut, because sometimes lumps of hair can form, bringing some concern. It is not always possible to comb out such areas, and leading an animal to a hairdresser will be expensive, so many people prefer to carry out the process on their own. Grooming cats at home should be carried out according to certain rules:
- To begin with, you need to slightly shorten the claws of your pet, while using a clipper.
- For the first time, it’s better to invite a master who knows how to hold the animal correctly, and it will be easier to deal with a four-legged friend. The cat is laid on its side and holds on to its paws.
- Next, you should arm yourself with a machine and carefully carry out the shearing of the wool. After the sides are over, go to the back and front. It is very important to act very carefully, since there are nipples on the stomach.
- In order not to injure the pet, it is better to cut off the lumps with scissors, since it will be problematic to do this with a machine, and the cat will begin to get nervous.
- In order not to cut the animal, it is necessary to stretch the skin of the creature.
- At the end of the procedure, you will need to wash the cat using clean water, after which it is dried with a hairdryer.
If the animal is always at home, a haircut can be done at any time. However, this does not apply to pets occasionally on the street. Such cats should be sheared only before the summer season.
Some Care Tips
If you are interested in how to comb a cat correctly, then you should know certain rules that should be followed. Thanks to them, taking care of your pet will be much easier. Experts recommend sticking to some basics:
- To really help your pet, combing should be done with a regular procedure.
- The choice of combs must be done, focusing on the features of the coat.
- It is required to carry out the process, guided by the length and density of the hairs.
- Accustoming to manipulation is done at a young age, while it is better in a playful way.
- It is advisable to avoid the appearance of warlocks, and when they are formed, remove them with great accuracy.
- During the procedure, it is imperative to inspect the pet for timely disposal of existing problems.
It is important that the cat is in a good mood, it should not be pulled out during the combing period. If the animal will twitch and break out, then a positive result is not expected. This can only lead to tearing of shreds of hair or damage to the skin of the pet. In addition, the cat will remember this procedure for a long time, which means it will be afraid of it.
Tricks for combing
Brushing wool should be done before giving food. If, after manipulation, the animal is offered a tidbit, then this will be regarded as an encouragement, so the pet will already be prepared for the next process. Do not be aggressive and scold the cat, it is better to caress her more, this will calm the pet.
The main thing is to stay calm yourself and try to show maximum patience for your pet. If the animal will resist very actively, then it is better to stop the process for a short while and continue after calming the cat, otherwise you can damage the hands and trust of the pet.
Any pet needs regular grooming, because the hair falls almost constantly. If you do not comb out the pet, then this can adversely affect his health, so it is important to show maximum care.