Maine Coons have a luxurious, lush coat, which consists of two types of hair - a thick undercoat and a long, hard outer coat. Because of this structure, the appearance of the coons is very impressive. A cat that meets the standards has short hair on the head, thick and long hair on the collar area, on the belly and sides, and a fluffy tail. Thanks to the well-developed undercoat, the animal appears even larger.
Types of rulers
Coons shed for several reasons:
- Hormonal changes in the body.
- Seasonal changes.
- Health problems.
The first two are considered normal and natural for cats. The average lifespan of a hair is 25 days. By the time it matures, it moves away and falls out, but in animals with medium or long hair, the hairs usually become tangled and remain in the main coat.
With a very thick undercoat, shedding is accompanied by tangles; the situation is similar with a thin non-pedigree structure. Therefore, during this period it is important to take proper care, without neglecting special cosmetics or visiting a salon. In coons, the type of coat largely depends on the breeding lines, you should pay attention to this. In cats, the process is more intense. Each molt lasts about one month, sometimes more or less.
Seasonal
[ads-pc-1] This type of molting occurs when the animal independently regulates heat exchange.
In street pets it usually appears twice a year. Within a month, cats shed excess hair. The onset depends on temperature changes in nature. In domestic coons, the boundaries may be blurred, and more reasons appear. For example, dry and warm air in the apartment activates the process, which helps to avoid overheating. Sometimes diaper rash forms under a layer of old wool, tangles, which become a good environment for the development of various fungal diseases. But Maine Coons with the breed's coat structure are not prone to such manifestations, provided they receive sufficient care.
Some hairs die off constantly. Coons have hair that grows all year round, and they shed it regularly, but in small quantities. The hairs “come out” of the bulb. Seasonal shedding is easily recognized - the cat becomes less furry, and this is very noticeable. In addition, lumps of hair may appear in the stool, and the animal also regurgitates hair that got into the stomach after licking. This is a normal process for coons, but it needs to be monitored and, if anxiety occurs, help remove shed hair from the cat’s body.
Age
Coon kittens have a fairly thick undercoat, but the true color often appears after puberty.
At the age of 7-12 months (individually), cats exchange delicate fluff for adult “clothes”. This is how the junior molt begins. Under the influence of hormones, children's hair falls out. In their place, others grow, the cat’s spine becomes longer, the color is brighter, and the general appearance of the animal changes. During this period, hair loss can seem like a real disaster. In cats the intensity is less. This first coat change begins from the head. Complete renewal of the cover can occur only by 2 years. Much depends on the body’s abilities, genetic predisposition, and the conditions under which the coons are kept. Until this moment, the pet will not have strong hair growth.
Hormonal stress in cats also includes pregnancy, estrus, and the period of feeding offspring. It happens that an animal sheds almost to a bald state where the hair is initially thin (armpits, belly). After recovery, cats quickly return to their previous appearance.
When is a haircut needed?
A domestic Maine Coon needs a haircut only if there are problems with hair, skin diseases, or a large number of uncombable tangles in the animal. You should not cut your pet's hair thinking that it is hot in the summer, or simply to improve its appearance. For a good haircut effect, it is recommended to contact a professional groomer. But some owners prefer to groom their cats themselves at home.
Preparing for the Maine Coon grooming process
To prepare a Maine Coon for grooming at home, you need to follow a certain algorithm of actions:
- Bathe using a special shampoo to deeply cleanse the coat. Cats, for the most part, do not like water at all, so when bathing it is worth providing your pet with the most comfortable and calm conditions possible. You need to make sure that shampoo and water do not get on the animal’s face, especially in the eyes and ears.
- After shampoo, you can use conditioner to make it easier to comb the coat.
- It is necessary to thoroughly dry the animal's fur and, after drying, comb out all tangles.
Only after completing all these steps will you be able to start cutting.
Grooming a Maine Coon at home
In order to cut your Maine Coon's hair yourself, you need to have at home several combs with different tooth frequencies, scissors and an animal clipper. The most popular home haircut for cats is the lion haircut. In the area of the animal's head and neck, the hair is left untouched to form a mane. The rest of the fur is shaved as short as possible. Only the tassel on the tail and the hair below the elbow and knee joints on the paws are left.
After grooming, be sure to remove short cut hairs from your pet’s coat using a comb or a damp towel.
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