Good day everyone!
What to do and what to do if your pet’s fur is absolutely everywhere, and the fight against it is in vain? Sometimes it seems easier to teach the “culprit” himself to clean up after himself with a vacuum cleaner!
No, you don’t have to surrender to the “wool lawlessness”! Believe me, there is a way to defeat him! This is a normal coat combing. Yes, it helps! It’s just that the cat hair comb must be correct, which depends on its design and purpose. Let's talk about this in detail.
Why do you need a cat scratcher?
Let's say right away: a cat can do just fine without a special scratcher. She usually itches with her hind paws, sometimes with her teeth, and copes with it perfectly. Yes, cats rub against our legs when they greet us upon arrival home, against corners, chair legs or stools in the kitchen when they are waiting to be fed, against other pieces of furniture and parts of the owner’s body when they want to be paid attention to. But they do this not because of the desire to scratch themselves, this is how they mark theirs - territory and people. A man came from the street and smelled something incomprehensible, so it was necessary to eliminate the smell and restore ownership; leaves - all the more so, you need to mark it, otherwise suddenly someone else will encroach; Now they are going to feed me, which means I need to mark everything around - this is my food supply, don’t approach. And why is there a special comb?
A cat doesn't rub against its legs because it wants to scratch itself, it's how it marks its property.
Does the owner need a scratcher? It's not the same for everybody. If he is well versed in cats, knows their needs, physiological and behavioral characteristics, then she is not needed. If for him a cat is something between an almost human being, sort of like a child and a living toy, then he will find a use for it. Trade and advertising also play a role in the distribution of scratchers. After all, for the ideal consumer the rule works: if a product is sold, it means it is needed for some reason.
The main thing that advertising is trying to convince us of is:
- when a cat rubs against a scratcher, it experiences unearthly pleasure and wants to repeat this state again and again;
- when you leave for work, the cat is left alone, there is no one to pet it, and the presence of a scratcher in the house will help you not to feel the lack of communication with the owner (that is, as soon as you walk through the door, the cat goes straight to the scratcher and let’s enjoy);
- The cat rubs against the brush and leaves fur on it, which could end up somewhere else in the apartment.
But if you have an animal in the house, then there will be fur (unless you have a hairless individual). The animal's fur must be looked after and combed regularly using various devices, and not a comb. The cat sleeps most of the day, so most likely, when you leave, she is doing that, and not suffering from the fact that there is no one to pet her. Teenagers and young animals may misbehave in your absence, but they are also unlikely to rub themselves against the scratcher.
Operating rules
Combing the undercoat is a simple process that does not require special knowledge. It is only important to follow a number of recommendations.
- A lot of wool will be combed during the work, so you should not do this on the carpet.
- Don't try to brush an aggressive cat. It is best to wait until the animal calms down.
- The comb is always directed in the direction of hair growth, avoiding sudden movements and excessive pressure.
- Do not comb wet fur.
- There is no need to try to untangle tight tangles. Sudden pulling on the hair can damage the skin. It is best to immediately cut off problem areas.
- Treat sensitive areas with caution: abdomen, groin, limbs.
The optimal frequency of combing is 2-3 times a month, depending on the type of hair and the intensity of hair loss.
What types of scratchers are there?
Manufacturers offer us two main types of cat scratchers - an arch and a corner model, which can be mounted on walls, as well as on the legs of tables, chairs and stools.
Arch scratcher
The manufacturer claims that this model combines a scratcher and a scratching post. Thus, it can satisfy two cat needs at once.
The scratcher with an arched scratching post is designed to satisfy two needs of cats - sharpening their claws and rubbing against objects.
The arch consists of a small base covered with carpet (supposedly a scratching post) and an arch made of brush and is called “Cat’s Pleasure”. The whole structure looks flimsy, and as a horizontal scratching post it doesn’t stand up to any criticism, it’s too small - usually scratching posts of this type are made long and ideally wavy. To make a cat show interest in the scratcher, there is a trick - a hole is found at the bottom into which catnip is poured.
Catnip is poured into the bottom of the scratcher to attract the animal's attention.
Such a comb costs 990 rubles in Russian online stores, in Chinese it is a little cheaper - about 690 (but the price there depends on the dollar exchange rate, so it may change).
This is where people are overwhelmed by greed - it seems like they need the product, they want to pamper the cat, but they don’t care about the money. Therefore, there is a way out - to do it yourself:
- Take a pair of brushes (for a toilet, for example) at a price of 15 to 40 rubles.
You can make a brush arch yourself from cheap brushes
- Then they are unbent and connected, attached to an unnecessary piece of wood, which is covered with old fabric - the resulting structure is no worse than a store-bought one, or even better if the base is larger and heavier.
A homemade arch-shaped comb turns out no worse than a store-bought one
Corner comb
The appearance of the combs, which can be placed on various corner surfaces, may vary, but the essence is the same - it is a plastic brush for combing wool, attached to the wall with tape or using self-tapping screws.
An ordinary corner comb consists of two plastic brushes
The Chinese offer a sophisticated version. The kit includes a bag of catnip to attract your pet.
This curved brush consists of two parts, one of which is attached to the wall, catnip is poured into it, then the top part with the brush is put on and snapped into place.
The corner comb consists of two parts, mint is placed inside
This brush can be attached to all corner surfaces.
The comb can be mounted on any corner surface
What else can serve as a cat scratcher?
It is also suggested to use the legs of tables and stools wrapped in twine as scratchers.
The legs of stools wrapped in twine can serve as a kind of scratcher for a cat.
You can also install a cat tree. This design is really useful, and if there is space, it is certainly recommended for use. This is a real living and play complex for a cat, and you can scratch yourself on it too. A well-designed tree will fit into almost any interior, as long as the space allows it.
Tree houses for cats perform many functions
“Cat's joy”
This is often called a furminator (a professional tool for salon care!) - a “miracle comb” with a comb-shaped, steel, durable blade and an ergonomic handle, which is also suitable for home use.
According to reviews, it is liked not only by cat owners for its high efficiency - it removes up to 90% of dead cat hair, but also by the pets themselves for its effect on the skin and fur coat.
There are two types: deluxe with an injector button for throwing hair off the comb and classic without this option - the blade is cleaned manually; There are differences in design and material, but not quality(!).
They are selected individually according to the width of the comb and the height of the teeth. The seller's advice or a veterinarian's consultation will help you. And follow the instructions!
Furminator brand “FURminatjr deShedding” (1300-2100 RUR) is the best! Its popular analogues: HelloPet (1000 rubles), TRIXIE (up to 900 rubles), Dele (350 rubles); They are a little lower quality.
How to train a cat to scratch
The cat, as a rule, either completely ignores the special scratcher or shows a sluggish interest in it. To interest the animal, manufacturers include bags of catnip with their products, which must be placed inside the scratchers. Thus, cats rub against the device because they are excited by the smell of mint.
Video: how to accustom a cat to a scratcher
The video clearly shows that the cat reacts specifically to mint: when a bag of it lies on top of the scratcher, he sniffs it and rubs it against this place; the bag is removed - the cat tries to find it; The mint is placed inside the scratcher - the cat tries to get to it and bites the scratcher more than rubs against it.
Using catnip can sometimes be dangerous. In general, this plant is not addictive and is often used by manufacturers to attract cats to their products. But cats perceive it differently: for example, before reaching puberty, kittens do not react to this plant in any way. Scientists attribute this to the fact that nepetalactone, which is part of catnip essential oil, causes the effect of a sexual response in a cat, that is, the cat feels and behaves accordingly - rubs, rolls, makes inviting sounds, etc. This state lasts about 10 minutes -15. Then the cat calms down and loses interest in the object. After some time, the reaction may repeat.
If a cat reacts to mint, it will rub against any object that has its scent.
Some cats do not react to mint at all, others react very restrainedly, and others react violently.
If your animal belongs to the third category, it is better to exclude the use of mint altogether, and not be happy that the cat rubs itself on the scratcher almost until it bleeds, drooling, and then jumps all over the apartment, forgetting even about food. With such a reaction, the animal may experience nervous exhaustion.
It is also prohibited to use catnip if the cat is pregnant - a violent reaction to the smell of this plant can cause miscarriage or premature birth.
Instrument care
A cat scratcher will last for many years with proper care. It is not enough to simply remove the hair from the comb. Dust accumulates between the teeth, mixed with keratinized particles of the epidermis and sebum. Over time, this causes an unpleasant odor to develop. In addition, such an environment promotes the development of bacteria.
You can use a sewing needle to clean the combs. It will quickly remove dirt from between the teeth. After this, the scallop is washed with soap and treated with a disinfectant solution: potassium permanganate, chlorhexidine, ethyl alcohol.
Contraindications
The use of grooming tools is prohibited if the animal has skin or parasitic diseases. The use of a brush is kept to a minimum in cats with external parasites, as the product can become a source of pest spread (especially if there are multiple pets in the house).
How often do you need cat ear care, and what lotions, drops and other products are used at home?
Recommendations from experts
Animal groomers and felinologists - breeders do not advise neglecting the procedures for caring for the coat of the ward, especially if the pet belongs to long-haired breeds. Long hair is more prone to tangling than short hair. This means that lack of brushing can cause many tangles to appear throughout the body. Tangles of dense texture no longer lend themselves to “gentle” methods, and the only way to get rid of them is to comb them with a tangle cutter or cut them out with scissors. This can negatively affect the furry cat's appearance.
Tunnels and toys
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Radio controlled mouse
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