How to cut a Maine Coon haircut at home, or grooming a Maine Coon at home

Our John has grown up, he is one year old and we are faced with the problem of tangles. They wanted to cut his hair, but they say that Maine Coons cannot be cut. So is it possible or not?

Breeders do not recommend doing this. This procedure should not be carried out on semi-long-haired animals, including Norwegian forest cats, Siberian and Maine Coons. The reasons for the ban are:

Violation of thermoregulation. Since the main function of wool is to maintain a stable body temperature, cutting it will disrupt everything. The breed's two-layer coat creates a layer of air between the skin and the external environment. It protects the animal from heat and frost. That is, without fur, a cat can both freeze and overheat.
Navigation impairment. By cutting the fur, the owner deprives his ward of some of the whiskers. These organs are located throughout the Maine Coon's body and help him navigate in space. They represent a specific navigation system of the animal. Without whiskers, a cat's orientation deteriorates not only at night, but also during the day.

Some owners shave their pets under anesthesia because they do not like haircuts, resist and can scratch. But the use of anesthesia, even the lightest, can greatly harm the cat’s body. You should not do this under any circumstances.

There is an opinion that grooming improves the condition of a cat's fur and helps it grow back strong and elastic. And that's not true. This human hair is treated by cutting. But cat hair needs to be combed out, to facilitate the shedding process, using furminators for this. And then there will be no problem of mats at all.

WHY YOU CAN’T GET A MAINE COON CUT

WHY YOU CAN’T GET A MAINE COON CUT

A haircut will completely disrupt the structure of the hair. Your cat will never have a smooth guard coat again. The fur will become fluffy and your Maine Coon will look like a Persian. Owners explain their pet's haircut by the appearance of tangles, and also by the fact that the animal is hot in the summer. We have already talked about tangles in the article HOW TO FIGHT Tangles.” But it’s worth talking about the heat in more detail.

By cutting a Maine Coon's coat during the hot season, you are not making his life one iota easier. What you think is extra hair that is just bothering your pet actually plays a huge role in your cat's thermoregulation. The Maine Coon's rich fur coat, on the contrary, protects it from temperature changes: in cold weather it protects from hypothermia, and in hot weather it protects from overheating. By trimming your Maine Coon's fur, you are reducing the animal's ability to withstand low and high temperatures. Lack of fur reduces the cat's body's ability to withstand high temperatures. A short-haired Maine Coon can overheat, even get heatstroke, while a cat with normal natural fur is not at risk.

So, by cutting your Maine Coon's hair, you will inevitably harm him:

you spoil the structure of the coat, it becomes soft, fluffy, unruly;
disrupt the cat’s sense of touch;
disrupt heat exchange;
You undermine the psyche and health of your pet.

Remember that the best grooming procedures for a Maine Coon are bathing and brushing, not cutting. Act in the interests of your Maine Coon, otherwise he will pay the price for your frivolity.

How to be?

For the Maine Coon, the best grooming procedures are bathing and brushing. They are the basis of grooming for the Maine Coon, and in no way a haircut.

Contact nurseries, where they will tell you how to properly bathe an animal. Preserving your cat's beautiful fur is in your best interests and strengths. Turn to professionals in animal grooming, and not to those who mercilessly trim the Maine Coon's holy of holies.

Walk past grooming salons. This is not a cat place. Real professionals work from home. Over the years, the vicious practice of cat grooming in salons has been formed due to the well-known approach: do not say “no” to the client, the client is always right.

For some reason, no one thinks about the interests of the cat, but in the end it is she who pays the price (lost sense of touch, impaired psyche and behavior).

Our verdict: Say no to Maine Coon grooming. “Yes” to proper bathing!

Maine Coon Grooming

The coat of coons allows them to withstand high and low temperatures without compromising their general condition and health, but cutting and grooming are required. This American breed is considered native. Farmers from Maine fell in love with these big cats for their hunting qualities, fearlessness in the face of danger and docile nature. Today they have become popular all over the world, successfully perform at exhibitions and delight their owners with their behavior and appearance.

Read in the article:

General information

Many groomers are inclined to think that removing excess hair with scissors is completely unnecessary and sometimes even harmful. Another common opinion is that a haircut makes the wool look cottony, and after it a large number of tangles will appear. In addition, a cat without hair is in a state of stress that does not go away for weeks. Arguments in this vein are refuted by experience. If a cat has naturally healthy fur, with the correct structure, then no manipulation is scary for her. A similar rule applies to the psyche.

The pedigree coat of Maine Coon cats is medium length with a thick undercoat. The guard hair is noticeable in each representative, repels water and protects the cat from getting wet. Therefore, it is quite difficult to wet such a pet to the skin. The tips of the ears are framed by tassels, but if there are none, then it’s okay. A real fur collar grows around the neck, and the tail of adult cats and cats should be very fluffy. The structure of the wool can be seen in the photo, as well as other characteristics.

The standard for this breed does not require working with hair with scissors. In general, before the exhibition, it is enough to wash and comb the undercoat of the coon, properly drying the entire coat. However, there are little tricks that grooming experts talk about.

Professional care

Both during normal times and during the molting period, cats definitely need grooming - it will help keep their coat healthy and silky. All grooming procedures must be selected individually. Pets may vary in fur length and structure. Some cats have hair that is too oily and prone to matting, while others, on the contrary, are dry and brittle.

The best option is to go to a hairdresser for cats and dogs. An experienced specialist will always advise what procedures should be carried out and how often, and what cosmetic products to use. Salon care for show pets is indispensable - a professional groomer in a pet salon will be able to highlight the beauty of the animal, give the coat a structure that is as close as possible to the breed standard, and lay the fur beautifully. After the hands of a professional, the pet will conquer the judges of the exhibition with its beauty, grace and grooming.

Step-by-step description of preparation

Most coons have a favorable attitude towards water. There are specimens that are very difficult to wash, but the majority tolerate the procedure calmly. Some even like to splash around in the bath.

The first stage of preparation that a haircut requires is a thorough wash. First, water is collected into a large basin with high sides or to the bottom of the bathtub. It is very difficult to wet the undercoat of giant cats using a shower; water will roll down the guard hair. It is important to prevent any liquid from getting into your eyes or ears. Tearless shampoos are used to wash your hair. A little trick for owners of Maine Coon animals - dilute the shampoo with water in the palm of your hand and apply directly to the undercoat. This way the product is better distributed. When it comes to shampoos, it’s best to choose three options: deep cleansing, color-maintaining, and texturizing. Use them in the same sequence. Special gloves with rubber massage attachments are suitable for soaping the Maine Coon.

Without balm, the scales on the hairs do not close, so a small amount of the product will make the hair shiny and moisturized. All conditioning and nutritional products are selected for a specific animal. They won’t change the structure, but they will make the coon a real handsome man. However, before the exhibition, experts advise doing without air conditioning. Otherwise, the wool will seem greasy to the touch to the expert.

In order for the haircut to be successful, the shape does not change afterwards, and the wool is thoroughly dried. You can arm yourself with a hairdryer, a professional compressor, or resort to wrapping yourself in a towel. There are a lot of devices on sale now. Then each area is combed, the tangles are sorted out or cut. Dry in the direction of hair growth. In advance, you can familiarize yourself with the patterns of unique styling designed for the Maine Coon. Only after complete drying do they begin to process the wool with scissors.

Grooming according to veterinary indications

Grooming of cats and kittens as a necessary measure is carried out only for two reasons:

dermatological diseases;
large tangles that fit tightly to the body and cannot be combed out.

Matted fur is the cause of dermatitis in coons. The skin under the mats becomes irritated and itchy.

It is dangerous to cut off tangles that are close to the skin with scissors, as this can injure your pet. The cat will stop trusting and may even become aggressive. Therefore, Maine Coon grooming is carried out with a machine. However, the device is not suitable for cutting human hair. The machine should be more powerful.

If tangles begin to form frequently, then the animal should be washed more often - once every 2-3 weeks and follow some recommendations:

Wash your Maine Coon in a bathtub or basin. It is difficult to wet and rinse thick fur in the shower.
Particular attention to the tail. It begins to become greasy at 4 months, so you need to use a specialized degreasing shampoo.
In most cases, to wash a Maine Coon, you have to secure it with a harness - there are special ones with a suction cup.
The wool must be washed thoroughly otherwise it will quickly roll into icicles. And be sure to use conditioner.
Dry with a towel. You can't rub or ruffle it.
Comb all the fur: in the groin, on the paws, tail, head, body. Disassemble all the tangles that give in. There is a special device - a tangle cutter.
Dry the wool completely. You can use a hairdryer if the cat is not afraid of it.

Exhibition grooming of large cats

For connoisseurs of Maine Coon cat beauty and experts, the natural beauty of the animal is important. In this format, you can better see the proportions of the body, the true condition of the coat, health and natural color. The pet cosmetics industry is constantly evolving and offers customers a wide range of products. Coloring shampoos for coons in several shades, gloves, brushes, balms and powders have appeared in almost every pet store. Everyone can find a suitable option.

If the cat is healthy, then regular washing with shampoo (about two to three times a month) and combing all layers of fur is enough for her. To ensure a proper haircut, groomers are armed with regular and thinning scissors. This set is acceptable for preparation for zootechnical activities.

The scheme is simple - first remove excess volume, and then thin out the affected areas. This is necessary to create a natural effect. They try not to touch the tail and tassels on the ears. The silhouette of a cat should not cause any complaints from the expert or those around him. They cut off as little hair as possible, since it takes a very long time to grow on the coon’s tail if you resort to any method of removing it.

Powder will help give volume and external gloss to the Maine Coon. Previously, breeders took talc and beat it into the root zone. Today, powder is widely used to fix volume, especially on the paws.

Groomers cut the Maine Coon's so-called smile by thinning the hair around the mouth. In cats, before washing, it is necessary to clean the area around the reproductive gland with a special paste. It is applied with a brush to remove greasy deposits and eliminate odor. The paste is also used to remove traces of fat, fuel oil, and stubborn dirt on other parts of the body, avoiding getting the product on the face and ears.

Grooming a Maine Coon before a show

The master performs the following manipulations:

removes excess volume;
fillets the affected areas, creating a natural effect;
leaves the tail and ear tufts intact;
trims the Maine Coon’s famous “smile” in the mouth area;
A minimal amount of fur is removed to preserve the natural silhouette of the cat.

At home, tangles are usually cut off. Before the procedure, be sure to wipe the scissors with a disinfectant (peroxide, chlorhexidine). The difficulty lies in the fact that large, knocked down lumps lie close to thin skin. Extreme caution or the help of a specialist will be required so as not to injure the pet.

At home

Here it is important to determine exactly the reason why a haircut was needed. Eternal tangles, thin hair, dull fur, and endless shedding indicate poor health of the pet. Some individuals among the Coons do not tolerate heat well, then you can resort to the help of a furminator, slicker brush, and other combs. Most often, owners do not know how to properly remove dead undercoat or hair. The furminator must be used very carefully, otherwise the animal risks being left with torn tufts instead of the luxurious fur coat given by nature.

The condition largely depends on genetics. Parents with poor health, dull color, and thin hair rarely give birth to strong, beautiful coons. An examination at a veterinary clinic can help to understand the reasons for such data. The doctor will make a diagnosis and select the correct treatment.

Typically, a haircut is needed when a large number of tangles appear. It is advisable to reserve such drastic measures for exceptional cases. If the need arises, then the head, tail, and paws are practically not touched. Hair growth sometimes slows down, but after a certain period of time everything grows back. In castrated male and female cats, the structure may change. This is due to hormonal changes.

If there is an unhealthy appearance, many experts recommend changing the food. So, even with complete order in the body of white cats, they try to provide food that does not cause the appearance of yellowness. In black Maine Coon animals, improper nutrition can lead to a brown color change.

In domestic conditions, both shaving and haircuts are allowed. Compliance with all of the above conditions is a guarantee of high-quality results. Use only sharpened scissors, periodically sending them for maintenance. Before each use they must be disinfected.

Wide bracelets made of durable leather on your wrists will help avoid cuts from claws. You can also trim the main weapon of the Coons before all procedures, taking into account the structure of the plate with the location of the vessels.

Grooming in the salon

If a DIY haircut turns out to be unsuccessful, then pet salons are open to everyone. It is enough to choose a specialist with a good reputation, extensive experience, and make an appointment. In practice, cats may be anesthetized because their behavior during grooming can cause injury to both the groomers and the animal itself. Today, a wide range of sedatives for the Maine Coon breed are offered, which are harmless and have a short-term effect.

There are masters who do without temporarily putting clients to sleep. They equip the washing and grooming tables with special holders in the form of collars with fastenings, reminiscent of dog rings. They are completely harmless, but reliably fix the animal in the desired position. The groomer will quickly determine the degree of neglect of the coon and put him in order using high-quality, proven shampoos and conditioners. After drying, the wool will become lush and shiny. In the salon, the haircut will turn out natural, few people will guess about it.

Shaving involves removing hair from the body. There are several sizes of attachments for the cat master and owner to choose from. It is not recommended to use a razor often, because the double-layer wool helps to properly regulate body temperature. The groomer will never remove the whiskers (the long, single whiskers on the sides of the muzzle). Cats without them will begin to get nervous and have difficulty oriented in space. For claws, cutting must also comply with the rules.

Consequences of a bad haircut

Almost all animals need fur. It serves as protection and decoration. Its complete removal has a lot of negative consequences. Skin diseases and allergic manifestations may develop. A competent haircut allows you to remove excesses and make life easier for the cat. Consistent grooming consists of washing, combing, removing tangles, complete drying and minimal trimming of the coat with scissors.

For a Coon in good health, there is nothing wrong with shaving. However, frequent procedures lead to an increase in tangles, the wool may become somewhat thinner and softer. Cutting your hair on your own sometimes results in injuries, so to remove matted areas, products similar to hair oil or balm with a narrowly targeted effect were invented.

Contrary to popular belief, frequent washing does not wash away the mythical protective substances on the animal’s skin. On the contrary, it removes dirt, cleanses pores, and reduces the amount of hair that gets into the esophagus due to licking.

The main disadvantage of home manipulations with scissors on a cat is the incorrect silhouette, for which ratings at exhibitions are reduced, or even removed without description. In this case, it is better to turn to a professional, sparing no expense on the beauty of your pet. When a cat is not adopted for exhibitions, you can design the silhouette using photos from popular pet magazines or the Internet.

Cat and scissors - keep away from each other

There are two good reasons to introduce your cat to scissors: cutting out mats and show grooming. It’s better not to bring it to the first point; the second has nothing to do with Maine Coons. Haircuts to shape the head according to the standard are done in breeds such as Persians and Highlands. It would seem that the specific style of Persian grooming should not go beyond the scope of this breed - but the Highlands, due to their large numbers, adopted their style and brought it to the people, and there other breeders saw enough of the beauty and refinement of grooming and decided: why are we worse? We too can create the illusion of a proper head with the right haircut. And away we go.

But this is the most harmless haircut option. It does not affect the general appearance of the coat and does not change the texture or structure. Although any cutting of the wool of native breeds is prohibited. They are not grown for the purpose of presenting a neat, trimmed beaver at an exhibition instead of an overgrown wild animal.

MAINE COON (AMERICAN RACCOON CAT) (haircut, combing)

Grooming, washing, combing, removing mats from CATS without anesthesia.

The Maine Coon is a native cat breed of the United States of America that originated from cats living on the farms of Northeast America in Maine. Initially, only black tabby cats were called Maine Coons. Due to their coat color, powerful build and huge tail, these cats looked like raccoons (hence the name of the breed - literally “Maine raccoon”. “Maine” is the name of the state of Maine, “coon” is the second part of the word “racoon”, that is “ raccoon"). Maine Coon cats are distinguished by their friendly nature and especially large size. Among domestic cats, this is a large breed: males can weigh up to 12 kilograms, females up to 8 kilograms. Although Maine Coons have semi-long hair, cats of this breed do not require frequent brushing, like Persians.

The first Maine Coon is considered to be a cat named Captain-Jenks-of-the-Sea-Cavalry. It was shown at exhibitions in Boston and New York in 1861 and marked the beginning of the early popularity of the breed, but at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, Maine Coons were surpassed by the fluffier Persians. The Maine Coon as a breed managed to survive only because farmers paid tribute to its size and excellent hunting qualities. On the Isle of Man, in 1993, a coin was issued dedicated to the Maine Coon breed. The 1 crown (25 pence) coins were made from cupro-nickel, silver and gold. The history of the Maine Coon breed in Russia began with a pair of Maine Coons brought from Denmark by felinologist expert Olga Abramova in the early 1990s. It was a white cat Naria's Gorky and a black smoky cat Kukuns from the same cattery. Body and size: Large breed among domestic cats (some individuals reach 15 kilograms in weight). The maximum recorded body length is 1.23 meters. Large to very large, muscular, elongated and broad-boned body of a rectangular format. The muscular neck is of medium length. The limbs are of medium length, strong, muscular, the paws are large with tufts of hair between the pads. The tail is long, at least to the shoulder, tapering to a pointed tip, covered with flowing hair. Head: Large, massive, straight, sharp outlines. High cheekbones, medium length nose. Ears: Very large, wide at the base, pointed, set high, almost vertical. The distance between the ears is no more than the width of one ear. Brushes protrude beyond the edges of the ears; tassels on the ears make Maine Coons look like a lynx. Eyes: Eyes are large, round, slightly slanted, and can be amber, golden, green or yellow. Maine Coon fishing Correct display of the Maine Coon Coat: On the head and shoulders, the hair is short, except for the collar, and distinctly lengthens along the back, sides and belly. The thick undercoat, soft and fine, is covered with coarser, dense hair. The thick, free-flowing, water-repellent topcoat extends to the back, sides and top of the tail. Colors: Chocolate, brown and corresponding weakened colors (lilac and fawn) are not accepted in any combination, nor are acromelanic colors accepted. All other colors are recognized. Red Marble - Red Maine Coons are characterized by a bright red color, with a clear marbled pattern, distinguishing them from the paler “ginger” color characteristic of ordinary cats. Personality: Friendly, peaceful and flexible. Maine Coons are very careful - if there is an obstacle in the animal’s path, it will not throw it off, but go around it. If there is a scratching post, the furniture will be fine. The Maine Coon does not like narrow spaces, so it does not climb anywhere. Despite its large size and slightly menacing appearance, this breed has a particularly affectionate character. They easily adapt to the owner and the habitat in general. As a rule, they have a high level of “cat IQ”; They are easier to train and train than many other breeds. By nature, the Maine Coon is a good-natured and active pet. Very loyal to “their” family, but careful with strangers.

Now let's try to figure out how to cut our Maine Coons . Having more than 10 years of experience working with cats, I believe that if your Maine Coon is not a show dog, that is, does not currently participate in such events, then the haircut options can be absolutely anything. Dear Maine Coon owners, a cat is an addition, a piece of you and your style and taste, it is simply necessary to trim a Maine Coon. It is impossible to spoil a Maine Coon with some exotic haircut. Its fur is very similar to hair; the more often and shorter you cut it, the better and better the quality of the wool becomes.

Maine Coon body trim:

“Cut to the breed”, when everything is cut in accordance with the standards as for an exhibition (haircut with a light edge). The length of the coat varies depending on the wishes of the owner and the exterior of the Maine Coon.
“Lion haircut”, when the hair on the body is cut completely to 0.5 cm, and only remains on the paws, tail and mane like a lion. All remaining fur is trimmed with a smooth transition to the trimmed body.
“Dinosaur haircut” when the hair on the body is cut completely to 0.5 cm, leaving only a strip of hair on the spine, back, legs, tail and mane. All remaining fur is trimmed with a smooth transition to the trimmed body. The strip of fur on the back is cut into ridges like a dinosaur's.

Maine Coon head and face trim:

“Grooming according to the breed”, when everything is cut in accordance with the standards as for an exhibition. The length of the coat varies depending on the wishes of the owner and the exterior of the Maine Coon.
“Lion cut”, when the fur is left on the face, neck and sometimes shoulders of the Maine Coon. The remaining fur is trimmed and smoothly brought down to a short body.
“Dinosaur cut”, when hair is left on the Maine Coon’s face, neck and sometimes shoulders. The remaining fur is trimmed and smoothly brought down to a short body.

Tail clipping of the Kurilian Bobtail:

“Grooming according to the breed”, when everything is cut in accordance with the standards as for an exhibition. The length of the coat varies depending on the wishes of the owner and the exterior of the Maine Coon.
“Leo haircut”, when the entire tail is cut to 0.5 cm, and a tassel is left at the tip or left entirely.
“Dinosaur haircut” - the tail can be cut like a Lion’s or cut into a braid, herringbone or spikelet pattern.

Maine Coon paw trim:

When “Cutting according to breed”, only the paw pads and the fur on them are cut to “0” on the paw. The length of the fur on the paws most often varies depending on the wishes of the owner and the exterior of the Maine Coon.
When “cutting like a Leo”, “socks” are left on the paws, and the hair on the pads is cut to “0”.
When “cutting like a Dinosaur”, “socks” are left on the paws, and the hair on the pads is cut to “0”.

Dear Maine Coon owners, let’s move away from the stereotypes imposed on us that Maine Coons are cut like this, but not cut like that…. You and only you choose to be you and your cat as an “exclusive individual” or a “gray mass” like everyone else!

You just need to decide which master’s work you liked. We will do the rest. You don't even need to call yourself.

You simply sign up on the website to see the master, and send the application to us.
Or you can order a call back on the website, and we will call you back at a time convenient for you.

Well, when could we even dream that caring for our beloved CATS and further maintaining all this CAT beauty would be so simple. We decided to move away from the stereotypes of the past imposed on us. Now you don’t need to sign up for a beauty salon and go to a specialist whose work you sometimes don’t know and aren’t sure whether you’ll like the result. And then you will have to pay quite a small amount for the procedures at the cash register at the administrator. The result in most cases is the same:

Either you liked the master and you would like to continue to be serviced by him, but we all know that the prices are high in a good salon, where there are good, professional and experienced masters.
Either you didn’t like the master and you have to look for a new one...

We offer you, without leaving your home:

Choose a suitable master for yourself by looking at his work.
Agree on the place and time of the procedure (at your home or in the specialist’s office).
And get an excellent price, from what they can give you in any beauty salon, for high-quality, professional procedures.

We do not skimp on the quality of services ; we have been able to seriously reduce prices for procedures and services due to the fact that we do not rent expensive premises; all our specialists receive clients in their equipped offices. Or they come to your home. Pet salon in Zhulebino in Moscow Salon-Zoo.Ru offers the following services: Maine Coon haircut, Maine Coon show and home haircut, including Maine Coon haircut in Zhulebino, Maine Coon washing, Maine Coon ear cleaning, Maine Coon haircut and claw trimming , brushing Maine Coon's teeth, cleaning Maine Coon's glands. An inexpensive Maine Coon haircut in Moscow at home or in a salon is a vital necessity for animal owners; it allows you to keep the dog’s coat clean, especially if it participates in exhibitions and needs a model haircut. Our best professional groomers do their work inexpensively (reasonable price) and with high quality. We work in Reutov, Novokosino, Kosino, Nekrasovka, Saltykovka, Balashikha, Novogireevo, Zhulebino, Lyubertsy, Shchelkovo, Kotelniki, Lytkarino, Perovo, Vykhino, Zheleznodorozhny, Ivanovskoye, Golyanovo, Izmailovo, Tekstilshchiki, Kuzminki, Maryino, Brateevo, Kapotnya.

We really value each of our clients!

What Happens When Grooming Cats

Grooming any cat is a one-way ticket. After cutting, the process of keratinization of the hair is disrupted, and the new hair grows back plump, weak and tangled. The smooth guard hair no longer grows. The double, water-repellent coat of a Maine Coon or Siberian is something that you will irrevocably lose with the first sounds of the machine. And you will have to cut the beast again and again. You will become hooked on the machine like on a needle.

So why do Persians get their hair cut and nothing happens to them for it? Because, strictly speaking, they have nothing to lose. A completely different type of wool - light, fluffy and long, it grows exactly the same. And it gets just as tangled if you don’t scratch it every day.

This is how a Maine Coon grows after a haircut. There is no awn; cottony, weak hair grows all over the body.

There are two arguments that owners give for grooming Maine Coons: a) the fur gets tangled, b) the cat is hot. Both are insolvent.

Maine Coon care after the procedure

If your cat is groomed for the first time, she will almost certainly exhibit a stress reaction. At this time, while the Maine Coon gets used to new sensations, he may hide and even lose spatial orientation. It is necessary to support your pet and ensure that it is free from emotional stimuli.

Food is sometimes called one of the best ways to calm a trimmed Maine Coon a little - the cat is distracted by its favorite treats and life without fur no longer seems so terrible to it.

Some time after the haircut, the regrown hair will look like tow. This visual effect occurs due to the undercoat, which grows much faster than the outer coat. It needs to be combed out carefully and often - thin hairs get tangled easily and can form into one continuous “felt” tangle.

Otherwise, the organization of care for a shorn Maine Coon is no different from procedures for overgrown cats.

Tangles

Many cat grooming videos, mostly from American groomers, involve clipper shaving of the armpits, belly dewlap, groin and pants. It’s as if the cat doesn’t need fur there. A completely blasphemous approach from dog practice.

Yes, tangles most often form in these places. Why? Firstly, during shedding, and secondly, due to small debris and filler particles getting into the fur, and the pants can still get dirty with feces or urine. Small tangles need to be noticed and combed in time, medium ones can be sorted out using auxiliary products (for example, Pek from Iv San Bernard), and only large ones have to be cut off - very carefully, because the larger the tangle, the closer it is to the skin, and the worst thing is, that the skin in these places is thin. Dirty panties are not a reason for a haircut, but for a diet correction or a health check.

The cat is hot

Many owners believe that they will make life easier for their pet in the summer by removing “extra” hair. And they rob the cat of the last thing she could use to cope with the heat! The Maine Coon's thermoregulation mechanism is designed for temperature changes and is absolutely not designed for the absence of fur. On the contrary, a fluffy double fur coat, like an Uzbek robe, protects from high temperatures. It is much easier for a short-haired Maine Coon - or any other short-haired cat - to get heatstroke than even the most overgrown one.

The dangers of haircuts

A trimmed Maine Coon loses important qualities:

Heat exchange and touch are disrupted.
The structure of the coat changes - it becomes fluffy and soft, similar to the wool of a Persian.
The psyche is disturbed, the animal experiences stress and may hide.
The guard hair does not grow back for a long time.

Everyone knows that a cat's whiskers play an important sense of touch and will never be trimmed. But few people know that there are tactile points on wool too. Without them, the cat begins to perceive what is happening around differently, its behavior changes. A Maine Coon feels really stressed after a haircut.

Shaving, especially with a clipper, slows down hair growth. Plus, it changes its structure, becomes thin, fluffy and can begin to curl. In veterinary medicine there is a term “follicular arrest” - this is when, after cutting, the follicles go into hibernation and take a very long time to recover. In Maine Coons, as they have a thick undercoat, this type of alopecia is also possible. And if in young animals the coat is restored within 3-4 months, then in older coons the process is long.

What is bad?

There are several other harmful things that a Maine Coon's haircut can do.

Impaired perception. The main tactile “antennas” are located on the muzzle (whiskers, eyebrows) and front paws. But many secondary antenna hairs are scattered throughout the cat's body. The machine cuts them off, and the cat stops receiving important information about the outside world.

It is not only the volume and quality of external information that is changing. Even a Maine Coon that has faded to a “chintz dress” does not feel like it has been shorn. The cat stops feeling its size - it needs to re-adjust its perception of its own body. He was used to feeling big - but now he was suddenly reduced in size! Therefore, there are often cases of behavioral disturbances after a haircut, including puddles and piles in the wrong places.

Eternal shame. One of the cats somehow walked onto the gas stove and singed its bushy tail. Not completely naked - the burnt fur fell off evenly, and a “beaver” about a centimeter and a half long remained on the tail. The cat felt incredibly ashamed. He began to be ashamed of his substandard tail, to be cowardly, to hide - both from his relatives and from people. His self-confidence did not return even after his tail grew back to its previous length. He was a stud - he had to be castrated and given to a new home, where he began to feel more confident - because no one saw his shame. You can imagine what a humiliation it is to be completely deprived of hair!

When I was looking for illustrations for the article, I almost cried. A Maine Coon with a lion cut is not even an English queen with a mohawk. This is complete disharmony and shame. Cats know this, feel it, and they have no arguments, unlike you - neither to themselves nor to their comrades. They cannot justify or explain their shame, and their psyche breaks down. The cat may become downtrodden or aggressive.

If a cat does not live alone, his family may simply not recognize him after a haircut. This means that the cat will lose its status in the house and will be driven or beaten. The wool will grow, but the position in society will not be restored.

Deadly number. In grooming salons they like to cut hair under anesthesia to make their life easier. Because what cat in its right mind and strong memory can withstand this long, loud and shameful torture? No anesthesia improves health, and a cat may not wake up from an overdose. Sedation is little better - the cat understands everything, but cannot do anything. There have also been cases of death under the groomer’s hand without the use of anesthesia - from extreme fear. So trying to make your life easier may cost your Maine Coon his life.

What other harm does grooming a cat do?

In pursuit of a better life for their pet, owners sometimes do exactly the opposite.

Impaired sense of touch

Cats perceive the world around them a little differently than humans. Tactile “beacons” are located on the animal’s front legs, eyebrows and whiskers. Such “antenna hairs” are also located throughout the animal’s fur.

A pet that has had its hair cut ceases to receive the required amount of information about the surrounding reality. Now the cat feels like a smaller copy, because the dimensions feel completely different. And the animal takes a very long time to get used to this.

Don't be surprised if your cat's behavior changes dramatically after grooming. The Maine Coon may even begin to shit in places it has never done before.

Eternal shame

There was a case when a cat, having singed its tail, began to hide from people and relatives. Even his newly grown tail did not add to his self-confidence. Only after finding a new home did the cat become the same, because he understood that no one in this family saw his “shame.” Now imagine how a cat feels, completely devoid of fur?!

The Internet is replete with illustrations of Maine Coons cut like a lion, the king of beasts. But he looks like a king only in your eyes! The cat feels uncomfortable and shameful, and he cannot justify himself or explain to his relatives what happened to him! And this is a real blow to the psyche. Apathy or aggression that suddenly awakens is a completely normal reaction of a disgraced animal.

Fatal outcome

What animal can withstand the shame of shaving its fur and not give you a memorable performance? Therefore, grooming salon specialists often inject cats with anesthesia. This procedure cannot be called useful.

Anesthesia is a serious stress for the body. Incorrectly calculate the dose of the drug... and your pet may not recover at all. There have been cases of animal death not from anesthesia: the animal experienced such fear at the time of shearing that its body simply shut down. Are you ready to lose your pet in the fight for dubious beauty?

Shedding doesn't matter

The short, downy pile will still come out after cutting. Shedding cannot be avoided, even if you regularly shave the animal. Short hair is even more difficult to remove from sofa upholstery, flooring and clothing.

It won't get any easier!

Haircut and shaving do not cancel shedding! A short, downy hair will come out of a cut cat, and as it grows longer, it will grow longer, but just as downy. Get into your nose, get stuck in coverings, stick to clothes.

Disturbs natural heat exchange

Impairs tactile functions

Takes away self-confidence, provokes mental disorders

Damages health (especially haircuts under anesthesia)

Irreversibly damages the structure of the coat and provokes tangles

Any cat with a lion haircut does not look like a lion - it looks ridiculous. He feels bad, no matter how accustomed he is to the procedure.