Maine Coon haircut: proper grooming for the largest cat in the world

Exhibition standards do not provide for haircuts for cats. Despite the fact that animals do not enjoy such interference in their natural environment, some owners do not refuse grooming. But the Maine Coon can be called an exception to the rule - cats love water and bathing is not stressful for them. But the big cat must be accustomed to other hygiene procedures from childhood.

Do I need to cut my Maine Coon's hair?

There are different points of view - from a categorical “no” to a confident “yes”. In general terms, the conclusion sounds like this: you can trim the wool, but it would be better not to do this, but limit yourself to cutting for hygiene purposes.

1. Most often, Maine Coons are cut for several reasons.
2. Long-haired cats develop mats. An extremely unpleasant situation where the fault lies entirely with the owner. It is enough to devote time to your pet 2 times a week, and such phenomena will not occur.
3. Long molting. This is also a common event, especially when the animal is experiencing emotional stress. The length of the coat change period can be affected by weather and humidity, food quality, sexual health factors and even the length of the day. The shorter the daylight hours and the lower the air temperature, the faster the molting occurs. But if sudden warming occurs during this period, then the cat’s biological algorithms malfunction - the hair takes a long time to fall off, the body does not understand what time of year it should prepare for. In this case, haircut does not solve the problem, but only disguises it.
4. The Maine Coon actively licks itself, its long hair gets into the esophagus. Most often this ends in profuse vomiting and problems with the gastrointestinal tract. The hair clumps into clumps, forms plugs, prevents food from being properly digested, and even leads to the death of the animal. In this case, cutting may be an effective method, but you still need to contact a veterinarian and understand the causes of hair loss.
5. Skin diseases, formation of growths, ulcers, flaking and dandruff in cats. In this case, a haircut will help facilitate access to problem areas and make their treatment more comfortable. But you still have to identify and neutralize the cause of the disease.

Traditional hygienic grooming is not in doubt, and its benefits are not in dispute.

Important! Sometimes the grooming of Maine Coons is explained by another reason - to avoid washing. But bathing usually brings genuine joy to this cat, and a high-quality haircut always involves working with clean fur.

Causes of increased oiliness in cats' fur

Maine Coons often have problems with increased oiliness in the hair in the tail, back and neck. This can happen for several reasons. Firstly, it is a consequence of a metabolic disorder in the animal. Secondly, an increase in the amount of secretion from the sebaceous glands.

If there are problems with oily fur, Maine Coon hair care should include special treatments to reduce the production of skin secretions. Also, along with this, a problem may be detected in the form of black dots at the base of the tail. Such a defect is considered only cosmetic. It can be eliminated using products containing salicylic alcohol.

Before using medications, you should consult a veterinary dermatologist.

The Maine Coon breed is unpretentious in maintenance and easy to care for. These beauties only need regular brushing. Maine Coons should only be bathed when necessary or when dirty. If you approach these procedures responsibly, feed the animal in a balanced manner and monitor its well-being, your pet’s coat will always look beautiful and well-groomed.

The dangers of grooming a Maine Coon

As for the risks when grooming cats, there are few of them, but each has a very specific natural background.

1. A cat's fur prevents hypothermia, so a short-haired Maine Coon's normal heat exchange, which is ensured by long hair, is disrupted. So, in the summer heat, cutting your hair can only harm your health and cause heat stroke.
2. Haircut affects the condition of the skin. Without wool, it is easily susceptible to mechanical and negative natural influences.
3. The structure of the coat deteriorates. The new hair does not have the necessary thickness and elasticity parameters that were inherent in the Maine Coon by nature. It quickly becomes tangled and the owner has to trim the pet regularly.
4. When molting, the Maine Coon's coat is renewed unevenly. The undercoat always changes twice a year, but the guard hair never falls out completely. It is much stronger, less subject to seasonal changes and is rarely updated. When cutting, this moment cannot be foreseen; all the wool is cut evenly. In the future, the Maine Coon remains for a long time without its signature luxurious hairstyle, for which the guard coat is responsible.
5. Cats also have vibrissae on their bodies - sensitive elements, without which a shaved Maine Coon loses the ability to navigate in space.

This is interesting! Experts believe that Maine Coons, after a haircut (especially not professionally), never return to their original appearance, and the growing hair forever loses some of its natural properties.

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.

Preparing for the Maine Coon grooming process

Grooming Maine Coons is carried out in the following order:

• wool preparation;
• bathing;
• haircut (if necessary);
• ear cleaning;
• oral and dental hygiene;
• nail trimming;
• eye treatment.

Each item has standard action algorithms:

1. Preparation consists of basic degreasing. To do this, apply a special cream to dry wool. The first thing to do is treat the tail. It is necessary to distribute the product over the entire length of the hair. Salting of the hair on the tail is typical for purebred cats, but it is recommended to carefully treat both cats and kittens. In them, this part of the body begins to become dirty from 4-5 months of age.
2. Next, the composition is distributed over dry hair in the collar area and around the ears. Here you don’t need to rub it in, but simply apply it to your hair in an even layer.
3. The final stage concerns the processing of the cat's body.
4. After applying the cream, wait a few minutes and wash it off with plenty of water. The wool should be completely wet, the moisture reaching the skin itself. The cat's ears fold neatly back to safely wet her head.
5. Apply shampoo to the wet coat, rub in thoroughly (you can use brushes or other devices), paying special attention to the depth of penetration of the product on the tail, in the area of ​​​​the pants and collar.
6. The shampoo is completely washed off with water, the procedure can be repeated several times. It all depends on how often the Maine Coon bathes. This completes the degreasing.
7. The next stage is the use of coloring shampoo. It is different for each color, and therefore is applied separately to areas of the coat of the corresponding color.
8. The final point is conditioning. The hair “closes”, again acquires natural lubrication, becomes silky and beautiful.

Bathing a Maine Coon with newly grown hair may be more problematic than with other animals. The reason is that the cat has not yet developed new guard hairs, and the thick undercoat has too fine a structure and gets tangled in the groomer’s hands.

Important! When using any animal detergents, you must strictly follow the instructions for use.

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.

Exhibition grooming of Maine Coons

In addition to the haircut, the Maine Coon will have to endure several more unpleasant procedures.

1. Cleaning your teeth, gums, and palate is done using special brushes and appropriate pastes. If the animal is accustomed to this activity from childhood, then no problems arise.
2. Treatment of the auricle - the upper part is wiped with cotton swabs, and it is recommended to take drops for the inner area of ​​the ear canal. They easily penetrate the ear, neutralize the dirt and wax deposits accumulated there, do not cause pain and are not capable of harm.
3. It is best to trim the claws before bathing - the Maine Coon will not be able to accidentally inflict a deep wound on the owner or a visiting specialist.
4. Treatment of the eye area and nose - remove traces of tears or purulent discharge, clean the hair around the pupil and nose.

Important! Owners who groom Maine Coons themselves should be aware that any manipulation with scissors is prohibited in the muzzle area, on the sideburns, collar and around the ears.

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.

Grooming a Maine Coon at home

The owner who decides to cut his Maine Coon's hair needs to learn the basic rules. They must absolutely not be violated. In pursuit of beauty or practical benefit, it is important not to harm the cat.

• Only high-quality and clean tools are used.
• Before cutting, the cutting surfaces are disinfected.
• Grooming procedures are not carried out during periods of cat sexual activity.

If your Maine Coon has been groomed before and doesn't like it, he may react aggressively to the new challenge. Therefore, experts sometimes recommend giving a limited dose of harmless sedatives.

There are two main types of haircuts for Maine Coons:

1. “Lion style” - the Maine Coon is left with a luxurious mane up to the shoulder blades, a small tassel at the tip of the tail and overgrown paws. All other areas are shaved with a clipper, and closer to the genitals they are carefully trimmed with scissors.
2. Decorative hairstyle is an easier way to trim your Maine Coon yourself at home. The Maine Coon's body needs to be shaved with a clipper, leaving hair only on the head and chest. The legs and tail are overgrown, but with short hair.

You shouldn’t experiment with other haircuts on your own - a cat’s hair is difficult to style, and different lengths of hair will give the animal an unkempt appearance.

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.

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.