Long-haired cats are beautiful to look at and even more wonderful to hold and pet. However, long-haired cats are known for being quite high maintenance because of the length and texture of their fur and all the extra care that comes with it. That’s why we’ve created this guide to help you better understand how to care for long-haired cats and the importance of understanding why they need more care compared to a short-haired companion. From learning how to bathe a long-haired cat (if you so dare!) to routinely grooming them with a pet hair grooming brush, we have all the tips and tricks you need for your furry friend. Keep reading to learn about care tips for long-haired cats, and we’ll also provide some popular FAQs on caring for these adorable pets.
- Tips for Caring for Long-Haired Cats — Here are some important general tips for taking care of your long-haired cat. Because of their long hair, you’ll want to carefully check for any mats or knots on your cat’s fur. Knotted fur should be brushed gently but thoroughly with a pet hair removal tool. Your cat already does a great job of grooming themselves regularly. That means you don’t need to give your cat frequent baths like you would do for a dog. Bathe them only when necessary — and even then, you may want to enlist the help of a professional groomer.
- Why Are Long-Haired Cats Considered High Maintenance? — Don’t you just love your cat’s soft and luscious coat? Their fluffy tummy is so fun to look at and feels so nice and soft to the touch. However, all that fantastic fur makes it difficult for even the best self-groomers to get to. As a cat parent, you’ll need to assist your kitty with brushing and ensuring their fur stays in tip-top shape. Make sure that when you do groom your long-haired cat, you’re brushing more than just down their back. You should brush their hair with a portable pet hair remover through all of their body, including their tail, sides, chest, head, and belly.
- Trimming the Fur of Long-Haired Cats — As an extreme solution, you could do a complete shave of your long-haired cat if you feel like caring for your cat’s luscious locks just feels like too much maintenance. As an alternative, trimming their hair down a bit can actually work better than resorting to shaving. Continuously trim the long hairs around your cat’s bottom where fecal matter often sticks to the hair around that area, leading to bad smells, grooming issues, and potential health hazards.
- What to Expect with a Long-Haired Cat — According to VetStreet, if you haven’t gotten your long-haired cat just yet, or are new to being a long-haired cat parent, here are some things to keep in mind. First of all, you’ll want to consider your own lifestyle and remember that you’ll need to take time to groom your cat or else hire a professional groomer to do it for you. Frequent grooming sessions will help your cat stay healthy, and both you and your cat will enjoy the bonding session as you two build trust.
- How to Bathe a Long-Haired Cat — Most people don’t bathe their cats, and that’s because domestic cats don’t enjoy bathing in a bathtub. Taking a bath is a stressful situation for cats, so you usually only need to give a bath if your cat gets extremely dirty, such as if they have diarrhea or they’ve come into contact with a toxic substance.
- Checking the Skin of a Long-Haired Cat — Because your long-haired cat has such long hair, we often forget to check the skin underneath all that hair. It’s important to do routine checks on our cat’s skin as well. The hair closer to the skin can tend to mat and tangle, so be on the lookout for that as well.
- Helping Your Cat Relax — If your cat is feeling stressed out, they’re much more likely to shed excessively. Stress-related hair loss can occur for any variety of reasons, such as new people moving into the environment, a new cat or baby, or any sort of abrupt change that can stress out your cat.
Keep in mind that compared to short-haired cats, long-haired cats need a little more TLC and special attention. A long-haired cat comes with a lot of hair. That’s why when you’re grooming your cat, you should use a special tool that can help not only groom them on a regular basis but also remove all that excess fur from your clothing. It can get messy, so try a handy cat hair removal tool to remove pet hair from your long-haired cat and your own clothing. Plus, your cat will love any excuse to snuggle with you and feel like they’re getting a nice massage.
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