Many cats enjoy brushing their hair. Then they relax and treat the treatment as a form of caress. Unfortunately, it often happens that for a cat brushing with a brush appears to be a real hell on earth. How do you find a middle ground and convince your cat that combing isn’t all that bad? Why do this at all? We advise!
Brushing a cat – why is it so important?
Prevention of tangles
Brushing a cat is a very important part of its care. Most often, keepers of long-haired purrs know that this is an essential activity to prevent the formation of knots. Some breeds, such as Persians, have a great tendency to get matted. A cat’s undercoat can also be problematic, especially if it is very dense. In such cases, neglecting to comb the hair usually results in felting the hair and the need to shave it.
Prevention of distortion
Brushing your cat is also a great way to get rid of excess dead hair. Animals, like humans, lose a certain amount of hair every day. This phenomenon is significantly increased during the moulting season. Cats, which are extremely clean animals, swallow large amounts of hair during the daily toilet. It is usually removed from the body by the gag reflex, but too much hair in the digestive tract can cause distortion.
Hair balls accumulate in the large intestine and lead to unpleasant ailments such as diarrhea, constipation and abdominal pain. In extreme cases, hair blocks the digestive system, creating hard stones – bezoars that must be surgically removed.
Help toddlers and older cats
With age and declining physical fitness, an older cat may have problems washing its fur thoroughly. The pet cannot reach anywhere, so in such situations it is a good idea to help it with a brush. In this way, we will remove excess fur and be well-groomed when the cat cannot cope on its own.
It is also very important to brush toddlers who lost their mother early. In the first weeks of life, cats start trying to care for their hair on their own. They usually handle it very well, but their washing reflex is stimulated by their mother. Without it, a toddler may have a problem with taking care of his hygiene. You can help him by using … a clean toothbrush. It is enough to comb the delicate fur with quick movements from time to time. Usually this is enough for the kitten to start washing itself.
Brush or comb? How to comb a cat?
How to brush a cat so that it is not only effective, but also acceptable to the pet? Choosing the right tool is very important! Ideally, it should be matched exactly to the type of cat’s coat.
Long-haired cat hair care
In the case of longhair cats, such as Persians, it is very important to comb the fur thoroughly in order to avoid tangles. A comb is best for this. It is worth choosing a metal one with relatively widely spaced teeth. Remember not to buy plastic combs and avoid ones that have sharp teeth. Not only are they unstable, they also scratch the pet’s skin and thus build a negative association with combing.
A comb with very dense teeth is best for combing out dead hair. Some accessories have reversible ends, so you can only buy one combs instead of two.
Another obligatory accessory is a comb, i.e. a cat brush with metal wires bent at the ends. Choose one that ends with plastic balls. This allows you to arrange the coat and give it an aesthetic look.
In the case of extremely problematic cat fur, you can use conditioners or powders that make combing easier. The tearing of the hair is painful and will quickly discourage your pet from grooming.
The undercoat is also very important. In this case, a furminator version for long-haired cats will be the best solution. It is unmatched in removing dead, fluffy hair, which most often falls out during the shedding period. However, the furminator should be used wisely and not more often than once every two weeks.
Grooming the coat of a short-haired cat
While short-haired cats are not in danger of tangles, it does not mean that they do not need to be groomed regularly. Which accessories are the best for them?
A good solution will be to get a so-called box brush. It is able to effectively and gently remove dead hair. In the case of cats with a dense undercoat, a furminator will also work, this time intended for short-haired animals. The principle is the same as in the case of cats with long hair – we use the trimmer wisely and not more often than once every two weeks. Otherwise, we can completely strip the undercoat, which has many important functions.
Cats without an undercoat, but with very fine hair, can be combed with a special rubber glove that collects loose hair and at the same time does not damage the hair.
Cat hair care – how to make it a pleasure?
Brushing a cat is usually not his favorite activity. Some pets like this process very much, but it is usually impatient at best. Is there anything you can do to prevent a cat brush from frightening?
Build positive associations the moment your cat arrives at your home. Small cats, especially short-haired cats, have very fine baby hair that does not require brushing. However, from the very beginning, it is worth familiarizing them with the presence of the brush and the brushing process itself. If you have a very small kitten at home, you can use a soft toothbrush or a baby brush. It’s best to combine your toddler’s brushing with a moment of stroking and relaxing, when the toddler, for example, falls asleep on your lap.
What if an adult cat comes to your home, and it has never dealt with combing before? The situation may be different here, as a brush or a comb are terrifying in some animals. So at the beginning, it is worth tame your cat with the mere presence of a grooming tool.
A cat brush, comb or trimmer should not be an element of terror that appears on the wallpaper only when the terrible moment of combing comes. Let the accessory lie in a place where the cat has access – this way, it will become familiar with its shape, smell and presence.
Cat brush – how to choose the right one?
Combing your cat will be effective only when you use a suitable brush. How to choose the best one? First of all, pay attention to the following criteria:
- the way of finishing the teeth,
- the length and spacing of the teeth,
- production quality,
- the length and type of cat’s hair.
Cat’s skin is quite delicate and it is easy to irritate it. This is why you should choose combs with rounded teeth and brushes with plastic ball ends. This way, you will avoid the pain of brushing, which can quickly discourage your cat from doing this.
The spacing and length of the serrations are important for both brushes and combs. Combs with widely spaced teeth are designed to detangle the hair. Long haired cats need brushes with longer teeth.
It is quite important not to save on combing accessories. Usually, the cheaper a brush or comb, the less durable it is to make them. Meanwhile, good accessories must be resistant, solidly made and fit well in the hand. For combs, it’s best to choose those made of metal, not plastic. The latter are less durable and, in addition, they can electrify the hair, which is very unpleasant for cats.
Combing a cat – how to do it?
Always start combing in a calm atmosphere, preferably when the cat is already falling asleep on your lap. Do it gently from head to tail. It’s best to leave the tummy at the end and brush it very gently. Some cats, even if they like to groom, get nervous in this part of their body.
Longhair cats are best combed with a wide-toothed comb at the beginning. This will allow you to comb out any tangles. In short-haired cats, it is best to start with a comb. The exception is when you want to use a furminator.
A cat brush is a very important element of the pet’s layette. It is worth getting him used to it from an early age and building positive associations around combing. Importantly, not only longhair cats should be combed regularly. Even short-haired animals without an undercoat should be given a suitable accessory once in a while.