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.
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.
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:
Cat-dog or the whole truth about Maine Coons
Ten years ago I saw this cat on TV and literally fell in love. At that time, there were not yet such a huge number of breeders of this wonderful breed, and there were also fewer owners. Now my family has a full-fledged member, Philip (red solid color). In a simple way, we call him Kuzka, our “little” brownie!
I would like to tell you a little about this breed, maybe you will also love it as much as I do.
Origin story.
Literally, “Maine Coon” translates to “raccoon from Maine.” The history of the origin of this breed is a little mysterious, there is a romantic assumption, most likely based on appearance, and there is a scientific one, from the point of view of zoology. The state of Maine in the USA is considered to be the place of origin of this breed, but the variants of its appearance are different. The first myth is natural. Cats brought to America from Asia were crossed with raccoons or lynx. Accordingly, this version is primarily responsible for the appearance - the tail, tassels on the ears, size and color.
However, from a genetic point of view, such a connection between animals cannot exist.
The second myth is sea stories. According to one of them, there was a captain Kuhn from Maine, nicknamed “Raccoon”. He loved cats very much and took them with him on voyages so that they would destroy mice and rats on the ship. His cats were distinguished by their large size and long hair. And in every port where he stopped, he gave offspring from these cats to his friends and acquaintances. According to another, Scandinavian sailors took on board the largest and hardiest cats, which came onto land in ports and left behind offspring. Scandinavians visited the shores of America long before Columbus. The Vikings deified cats, this is connected with the goddess Freya, who rode a chariot drawn by huge cats.
The third myth is mysterious. There is a legend that the ancestors of Maine Coons were cats that survived the destruction of Atlantis.
The fourth myth is royal. Marie Antoinette, Queen of France, who was later executed, wanted to escape to America while she was in custody. She asked that her property be loaded onto ships, including her beloved cats (large and fluffy). As a result, she did not have time to escape, and the ships arrived in America, where the royal favorites crossed with local cats.
Let's dispel the myths, although they are very unusual, I prefer the one about Atlantis, but biologists, having studied the genes of Maine Coons, came to the conclusion that this breed appeared naturally in the course of evolution.
Character and features
Now we can move on to the most important thing: I, and my whole family, fell in love with Kuzma not only for his “brutal” appearance. In fact, this is a cat with the habits of a dog. The character of Maine Coons is completely different from that of ordinary cats. The phrase “a cat that walks by itself” is not about them. “A cat that follows you everywhere” would be more appropriate here. Maine Coons cannot stand loneliness, require the constant presence of their owner and are very curious. Kuzma, for example, participates in all household chores, he cannot do without him, excuse the expression, not a single visit to the restroom, and the cooking process is sacred, help will be provided immediately.
The stern appearance of these cats is surprisingly combined with their affectionate and very sociable character. These are sanguine cats, they will never lie around and relax all day long, they need action, every minute the Maine Coon must do something. They have an active and playful character even in adulthood. For example, our favorite toy is a ball, from the “series” - you throw it, I’ll bring it. Maine Coons are highly intelligent and intelligent, have excellent memory and are very trainable. Kuzya understands a lot of gestures, he even knows the commands “come to me”, “sit”, “lie down”, “eat” and much more. We have a huge Maine Coon in our yard who walks with his owner on a harness. Kuzma masterfully knows how to open any door and goes to the toilet, loves to watch TV, and actively helps with cleaning. Our cat sleeps in an embrace.
By the way, Maine Coons do not meow like ordinary cats, they have a very peculiar, specific language, characteristic only of this breed, it is somewhat reminiscent of a bird’s chirping or purring. Their attitude towards children is also not entirely ordinary; a Maine Coon will never attack a child, even if he is accidentally hurt, he will simply leave.
Maine Coons also have an unusual habit: they are not at all afraid of water, but rather, on the contrary, they love to swim and play with water. They also drink very interestingly, first they touch it with their paw, lick it and only then lap it, although mine, for example, drinks only from the tap, i.e. he likes flowing water.
Maine Coons are very gentle with their owners, but are completely indifferent, and sometimes even negatively disposed towards guests. The Maine Coon will withdraw with dignity from the squeezes of random people, in his opinion, or will not come out to “say hello” at all.
In life, Maine Coons, like dogs, choose one owner and, like a dog, remain devoted to him until the end of their lives.
That's what they are, Maine Coons, good-natured giants who don't like loneliness, affectionate and loyal. If you want to have a friend and a pet in one, this breed is for you.
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.
Unpleasant consequences for shaved and bald people
Unfortunately, it is the loving Maine Coon owners who, trying to do the best, harm their pets, without thinking or suspecting the unpleasant consequences that grooming representatives of this breed entails.
Navigation
Vibrissae are located throughout the Maine Coon's body.
These are hard hairs that represent a kind of navigation system and help cats navigate space day and night.
Cats also use whiskers when getting acquainted with new objects, while playing or hunting, trying to crawl through a hole, experiencing fear, etc. After grooming, Maine Coons lose part of their whiskers, which impairs their ability to navigate, since they can no longer receive the full amount of information about the world around them, and their perception of their own body changes. The behavior of a shorn Maine Coon may change for the worse.
Loss of thermoregulation
The main function of the Maine Coon's coat is to maintain normal body temperature, which is vital for all warm-blooded animals. A cat's fur coat, consisting of undercoat and outer hair, creates a layer of air between the pet's skin and the external environment that has a stable temperature. This air cushion protects the animal from cold and heat, so a Maine Coon, devoid of hair, is susceptible to hypothermia and overheating.
Socialization
The loss of the ability to confidently navigate in space caused by a haircut inevitably entails a sharp decrease in the pet’s activity.
This happens because the animal begins to feel uncomfortable and insecure.
Clipped Maine Coons experience stress and tend to hide under the sofa, in a closet or any other dark and inaccessible place so that no one can see them. If there is another cat in the house, he will definitely begin to dominate. Claims by another animal to be the leader can lead to long and rather brutal fights, which will become another stress for the Maine Coon, especially if he is defeated.
The Maine Coon can return to normal behavior and lifestyle only after the fur has completely grown back.
Fatal outcome
Grooming a Maine Coon is a source of great stress and not a single cat will calmly endure all the manipulations. Therefore, many employees of specialized salons, and sometimes cat owners themselves, insist on using anesthesia. It is important to realize that any anesthesia puts a serious burden on the animal’s body, and if the dosage of the drug is incorrect, the risk of death increases. Sedation as an alternative to anesthesia is also not the best solution - the cat is aware of everything that is happening, but cannot in any way influence the situation and protect itself. This is a huge burden on the animal’s psyche.
There are cases when a cat died during a haircut even without the use of any drugs: the animal experienced such strong fear that its body could not stand it and shut down.
There will still be shedding
Even regular haircuts will not relieve the cat from shedding - short downy hairs will still fall out, and it will be much more difficult to clean clothes, furniture and carpets from them.
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.
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.
Recommendations for Maine Coon coat care
Caring for Maine Coon fur is not difficult, the main thing is to comb out the thick undercoat in a timely manner and prevent the formation of tangles. It is also important to know how to bathe a Maine Coon correctly.
Combing
Maine Coons need to be brushed every day. To do this, you can use a wide-toothed metal comb and a special wool brush. As a rule, Maine Coons are taught to be brushed from childhood, so the daily process of brushing their coat does not cause problems for owners.
Furminators should not be used, because they are designed to remove not only dead hair, but also part of the normal one. This contributes to hair breakage, deteriorates the quality of the Maine Coon's coat and disrupts its natural growth.
Brush the Maine Coon first from the head to the tail, then from the back towards the belly. After this, you can begin combing your paws and tail.
Bathing and cosmetics
Owners ask the question: “How often should I bathe a Maine Coon?” It depends on whether the animal attends exhibitions. When preparing for each exhibition, the animal should be thoroughly groomed using professional veterinary cosmetics.
If the pet is not a show pet, then you should not bathe it often, because it is very stressful for cats. Also, when bathing, shampoo removes the protective layer from the skin of the Maine Coon. Frequently washing your pet may cause problems with oily fur.
You should choose specialized bathing products that are designed for semi-long-haired cats. Several shampoos are needed; for cleansing, maintaining color, strengthening and texturing wool. It is possible to use balms to make hair easier to comb.
After bathing, the coat must be thoroughly dried and combed. Until it is completely dry, you should not let your pet wander around the house on its own; it may get dirty again.
How to get rid of tangles
Mats, due to the presence of thick undercoat, are a common problem for Maine Coon cats. You should only try to comb tangles with dry hair. When wet, it becomes impossible to untangle the tangles. To detangle, you can take a comb with sparse teeth and a comb with teeth of different frequencies and lengths.
Sometimes it is not possible to comb out tangles. In such cases, all that remains is to cut them off. It is not recommended to do this yourself. Usually they are located very close to the skin and there is a high risk of injuring the animal. It is better to take your pet to a grooming salon.
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For the owners, whom I can now only help remotely, Enota and I recorded a video “How to scratch a Maine Coon. Basic technique." Link to the video in profile. Unfortunately, at the time of filming, no one had mats, but we are now carefully growing one mat on the butt of one obstinate cat, so the next video will be two in one: “I don’t want to itch, I want to bite” and “No freedom for coons tangles! ⠀ Let's together help our cats molt and come out of self-isolation neat! And then, when this is all over, I can already bring chic, shine and beauty
