Cat grooming: how to give your pet a haircut at home

Grooming of cats is not usually accepted. The popularity of this procedure is growing throughout the world. Long-haired and fluffy breeds need grooming: Maine Coons, Siberian cats, Norwegian cats, Persians, etc.

Why are cats groomed? The main reason is care. Long hair falls into tangles that disturb the pet. During the procedure they are cut off. Hygienic haircut solves a number of other problems:

• Helps withstand heat and prevents overheating.
• Makes self-care easier for sick or elderly animals.
• Reduces the number of bezoars in the gastrointestinal tract.
• Prevents fur from tangling.
• Reduces the amount of hair that the animal leaves in the house.

The cat's coat is trimmed in the area of ​​its hind legs and anus to make it easier to keep its fur clean. It will also be needed before medical procedures on the skin.

Is it true that cats can be cut?

For cats that live in the private sector and spend a lot of time outdoors, careful care is essential. After a walk, your pet may return not only with dirty hair, but also with hair matted into lumps. In this case, scissors will come to your aid. And if your pet has long, thick hair, then to avoid such troubles it makes sense to get a beautiful haircut with the onset of the warm season. If your cat is domestic, and you have enough time, effort and patience to take care of your pet’s fur every day and keep it clean and tidy, you can avoid going to the “cat” hairdresser - groomer. Even if there is no need to cut your pet’s hair, it is advisable to use a fuminator or slicker; they comb out the dead undercoat without touching the living one.

Washing short-haired cats

This breed should be washed approximately 1-2 times a year. If the animal is dirty or has parasites in its fur, bathing is mandatory. Cats that walk outside can be washed a little more often, up to 4 times a year. Don't get too carried away with water treatments. If the animal is clean, its coat will be in good condition.

Why do you need a haircut?

Owners of furry pets have different opinions on this issue. Some are categorically against such a procedure, because they sincerely believe that the haircut disfigures the cat. And others not only take their pet to the hairdresser, but also maintain a regular schedule. There are several main reasons explaining why cats need a haircut: - Due to the increased body temperature of cats compared to humans, they can easily tolerate hot summer weather, but if the temperature outside exceeds 35-40 degrees, cats begin to feel unwell. If you decide to cut your pet’s hair to make its life easier, follow certain rules, or better yet, consult a specialist. He will calculate the required length of fur that needs to be left for the pet so that he does not become vulnerable to direct sunlight or catch a cold from a draft and air conditioning. — The appearance of bald patches on a pet’s body often frightens owners and leads to unplanned haircuts. But when the hair grows back, the bald patches remain. In this case, hairdressing services are not able to solve the problem, contact your veterinarian to find the cause and begin timely treatment. — During shedding, caring for a cat takes a lot of time and effort, and cleaning an apartment where fur constantly flies around is not fun. There is an opinion that if you cut an animal's hair, the problem will be resolved. This is a mistake - after growing overgrown, the cat will begin to shed again. If shedding time is delayed, contact your veterinarian. The specialist will find the reason, perhaps it is high humidity in the room, stress in the pet, or improper feeding. — Not all owners find a common language with their pet; cats simply do not allow themselves to be brushed. Thus, tangles form on the animal’s body, which tighten the skin, cause itching, and cause discomfort. A nest for fleas, fungi and various infections is formed under the mat. If your cat has thick, long hair, pay special attention to its care. — Another reason is the cohabitation of a cat and a person with upper respiratory tract diseases and allergies. Grooming cats will help allergy sufferers and asthmatics avoid a trigger (a factor that causes suffocation and exacerbation of the disease). — It happens that the pet is sick or too old. If an animal cannot properly care for its fur, a haircut will also help. - Pets need to be cut to be simply beautiful! This is especially true before exhibitions. A groomer will help you with a model haircut. It can be original, emphasizing the individuality of the pet.

Grooming cats - PROS and CONS

Most veterinarians speak out against cutting cats unnecessarily, since this procedure is a strong stress for cats, which in turn leads to a decrease in the body’s defenses and weakens the animal’s psyche. With dogs, the situation is usually different: some breeds need grooming to maintain hygiene, and dogs also tolerate the grooming process much more easily.

The Murkosha shelter team stands in solidarity with the specialists. Volunteers recommend paying attention to the following collections of cases when it is possible and when it is impossible to groom cats, so that it will be easier for you to navigate specific situations and make the right choice.

WHEN SHOULD YOU CUT YOUR CAT?

If the cat is too hot and the problem cannot be solved by other methods. The body of most cats is poorly adapted to removing excess heat, so overheating is detrimental for them. In situations where it is not possible to reduce the air temperature, and the pet needs to be provided with normal conditions, it makes sense to contact a specialized salon or a veterinary center that provides grooming services.

If the cat is undergoing surgery or a procedure that involves the absence of hair in certain areas. In this case, the hair is cut locally and not completely, and the animal is prepared by veterinary specialists in the clinic immediately before the procedure.

If the cat has a skin disease, the treatment of which requires direct access to the surface. The fur interferes with effective therapy and proper care, so it is shaved off. Due to the nature of diseased skin and the associated risks, this type of trim should be performed at a veterinary clinic rather than at a salon.

If a cat swallows a lot of fur when licking. As a result, hairs can accumulate in the digestive tract and cause consequences, such as vomiting, and in severe cases, even cause blockage of the gastrointestinal tract. This problem often occurs among cats with very long and/or thick hair, especially during the period of active shedding.

If the cat's fur is matted . The Murkosha shelter periodically receives animals covered in tangles and in a very neglected state. In this case, a haircut is a necessity. The problem of matted fur is more typical for homeless animals, but it also occurs in domestic animals. All cats need to be combed promptly. Depending on the length, thickness and type of coat: from 1 time per week to 1 time per day. Furminators help in caring for hair with a thick undercoat. By adhering to the schedule, you will nip the appearance of tangles in your pet in the bud, therefore, you will not need to take radical measures in the form of a haircut.

WHEN CAN YOU CUT YOUR CAT?

If you are allergic to your pet. As we have written more than once, wool is not the cause of allergies, but it can become a carrier of the allergen. It is easier for an allergic person to get along with a short-haired cat, because it is enough to wipe the animal’s skin daily with a damp cloth (with gloves) and clean regularly to significantly reduce the concentration of allergenic protein in the apartment. In such a situation, a cat with thick hair has to be bathed frequently, which is not good for the animal. Therefore, we choose the lesser of two evils, that is, a haircut.

If you cannot properly care for your cat's fur. Typically this situation arises for two reasons. First: you got a fluffy cat without taking into account the peculiarities of caring for luxurious fur, and as a result, you do not have time to devote enough time to the process. Second: some life situation has limited your ability to properly care for the animal (frequent business trips, illness, etc.). Since the option of parting with the pet cannot be considered, you should provide the cat with the most adequate conditions and take care of her well-being. In addition, tangles and irritation of the gastrointestinal tract when swallowing fur outweigh the consequences of haircuts in terms of negative impact.

WHEN NOT TO CUT YOUR CAT

Under no circumstances should you expose your cat to such extreme stress without good reason = medical indications. If we are not talking about an operation or a mandatory diagnostic procedure that cannot be delayed, and the cat is very frightened by the grooming process, grooming should be abandoned.

No matter how funny and interesting the haircut offered by the groomer may be, you, as a responsible owner, should first of all be guided in your decision by the interests of the pet, and not by aesthetic preferences.

WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW

1. The body temperature of cats is higher than that of a human, and the cat itself is much smaller, so in a cool room or with sudden temperature changes, the pet can catch a cold. If the apartment is cold, and a haircut is not necessary and urgent, you should postpone it until a more appropriate moment. During the rehabilitation period after surgery and in other situations after grooming, it is extremely important to maintain the cat’s body temperature and prevent hypothermia. At the Murkosha shelter, warm sweaters for cats are used for this purpose, which provide warmth without restricting movement or irritating the animal.

2. If the owner has allergies, it is better to accustom the cat to regular haircuts gradually: with short visits, affectionate treatment, and treats at all stages of the process. Inviting a groomer (ideally a permanent one) to your home is preferable to trips to the salon, since the cat will be less nervous in its own territory.

3. Due to haircuts, hairs become thinner, which provokes more active formation of tangles. The procedure also affects the condition of the skin, which gradually loses elasticity and becomes prone to dryness, which often causes itching and scratching.

4. If there are mats, the cat should never be bathed. Moisture does not evaporate well from the skin under mats, which leads to the formation of diaper rash and necrotic changes.

5. After a haircut, some cats develop bald patches that subsequently take a long time to heal or never heal at all. It is impossible to predict this possibility before a haircut, so you should consider the potential risk before going to the groomer.

So, let's summarize. Cats should not be cut unless you can provide proper care for them and there are no medical reasons for cutting them.

To cut or not to cut your pet?

During a grooming, a cat gets stressed, which can lead to unpleasant consequences. However, the determining factor is the climate in which you live and where the pet spends most of its time - outdoors or indoors. When it's very hot outside and you want to help your four-legged friend, a haircut won't be a bad idea. Despite the obvious benefits (especially for long-haired cats), clipping has some disadvantages. A trimmed animal adapts less well to temperature changes. Cats walking outside can overheat in the sun, since their skin will not be protected by fur, and the pet can catch a cold. Therefore, you should not get carried away with this procedure. It is necessary to organize proper coat care, in this way you can avoid the formation of tangles and, as a result, the occurrence of skin diseases.

Bathing a long-haired cat

Long-haired cats should be bathed more often than short-haired breeds. The water procedure can be carried out once a month or two. If the cat is clean, then even less often. Cats that walk outside require frequent washing. If the animal gets dirty, it should also be washed.

Before bathing, the cat should be brushed. You can pour water (37-38°C) into the bathtub, basin or sink. Don't forget to prepare two towels. One to remove water, the second to dry the wool. You should wash your pet carefully so that water does not get into the nose and ears. For washing you need to use shampoo for long-haired breeds. Never use human shampoo. It has a completely different Ph, which can ruin the skin.

After bathing, the cat can be dried with a hairdryer (if it is not afraid) with a brush. If your pet cannot tolerate a hair dryer, let its coat dry a little and comb it carefully.

You can also use special sprays and dry shampoos for express cleaning. They effectively wash away dirt without washing, nourish the fur and prevent it from matting.

Everything you need for a haircut

Of course, to cut a cat's hair, it is better to turn to specialists, but you can do a simple haircut yourself at home. The fur of different cat breeds varies in length, stiffness and density, and each pet will require a different approach. You will need:

• Table (you can use an ironing board);
• Scissors;
• Comb;
• Hair clipper (preferably with veterinary attachment No. 3);
• Hydrogen peroxide or iodine (in case of accidental injury to the pet's skin).

Before you start grooming your cat, be sure to trim its nails.

How long does it take for fur to grow back?

In general, for most breeds the terms are more or less equal. Cat hair grows more slowly than human hair. Approximately 1-1.5 cm per month. The average period can take up to 6 months. This is the answer to the question of how quickly a cat’s hair grows.

ATTENTION! Of course, one should not exclude individual characteristics, nutrition, hereditary and acquired diseases and other external factors.

Hair reaches a certain height. Then he stops. Gradually it will fall, giving way to new lint. It is important to understand that a total haircut leads to the fact that developing hair is also destroyed. This can cause serious harm to your pet in the long run. But more on that later.

Let's note three main factors that will speed up hair growth:

1. Diet. The protein content must be at least 30% of the total dry matter. Pay attention to vitamins, fatty acids and separately zinc. The main products are meat, some sea fish, and egg yolk. Some owners prefer exclusively nutritional supplements.
2. Hair care . This is, firstly, regular combing. Secondly, this is a preventative, shallow haircut with a trimmer. And, of course, stress. A meeting with a huge dog or the first bath greatly affects the pet’s psyche. The longer an animal is stressed, the higher the chance of baldness. In this case, the cat may not grow hair at all or partially. For example, on the head or tail.
3. Environment . Seasonal molting in cats is a process inherent in genes. Living in city apartments slightly disrupts this process, but the basics remain. During the spring-summer period, a cat grows faster, regardless of the region of Moscow or Yakutsk. In winter, growth slows down to retain as much heat as possible.

Accordingly, cutting in the summer will result in the owner seeing a change in the undercoat faster than in the cold season. There is no practical value in this. The main thing to remember is that cutting a cat’s hair in winter is contraindicated.

How to properly cut a cat's hair

When cutting hair, it is advisable to find an assistant. He will hold the animal lying on its side, control the front legs with one hand and the hind legs with the other. It is necessary to fix the pet on the table surface quite firmly - the cat will escape out of fear, and the sound of the running machine will provoke it to escape. Try to use silent machines. It is necessary to cut cats according to a certain algorithm: start cutting from the sides, back and belly, move to the armpits, then the back. Then come the paws; if you wish, you can leave the “socks”. It is not necessary to cut the tail, but if you decide to tidy it up, leave a tassel at the end. If you decide to cut your cat's hair against the grain, use scissors and a special clipper, setting the cutting depth to 3 to 4 mm, which will prevent injury to the animal's skin. Do not forget to stretch the animal's skin in the area where the machine passes. Cutting against the grain is different in that a larger volume of hair is removed in one pass, but this method is mentally traumatic for the animal. After finishing the haircut, wipe the cat with wet wipes, or better yet, give it a bath to remove any remaining fur. Now all the fears are over, and she is ready to return to her normal life. This process is not simple, it has many nuances, and not all animals tolerate haircuts calmly. If you do not have enough skills to groom your pet on your own, it is better to contact a groomer: go to a special salon or call them to your home.

Grooming cats yourself at home

If you don't want to hire a professional, try cutting your cat's hair yourself. But keep in mind that the animal will be stressed and, most likely, will break out. Therefore, you cannot do without an assistant.

Before grooming, trim your cat's claws and then sit her on the table. Have your assistant hold her back legs with one hand and her middle legs with the other and press her to the table. After this, you can start cutting your cat's hair using a clipper. To do this, you need to install a nozzle two to three millimeters long.

It is advisable to cut the cat against the grain, which is more hygienic.

Haircut sequence:

• sides;
• back:
• stomach;

Grooming for cats, or additional veterinary services

Modernity has brought many conveniences to people, including specialized establishments for pet care. Cat hairdressing salons, or, as they are also called, grooming salons, are direct proof of this.

If you are interested in ensuring that your pet is always neat and healthy, then you should not neglect visits to professional groomers. The cat groomer will carefully remove all tangles and perform a delicate haircut (show, model or hygienic) without damaging the animal's fur.

As a rule, qualified veterinarians work in such salons, but do not be lazy to inquire about the availability of diplomas, certificates and relevant licenses. Remember that your pet's health is at stake!

Grooming cost

1. In Moscow, cat grooming costs from 1100-1200 rubles and more.
2. In St. Petersburg - from 1600 to 1800 rubles, depending on the size of the animal.
3. The cost of grooming in Yekaterinburg is 1000-1200 rubles.
4. In Lipetsk you can cut a cat's hair for 1,500 rubles.
5. In Chelyabinsk, the cost of a standard haircut is from 1 thousand rubles.
6. In Novosibirsk, groomer services will cost 1,500 rubles and more.
7. In Krasnoyarsk - from 1400 rubles.
8. In Khabarovsk, cat grooming costs from 1,500 rubles.

The cost of additional services (combing or trimming tangles, shortening nails, treating ears and eyes) also varies depending on the region.

Most salons provide discounts to regular customers.

What is grooming

What is grooming? This is a cat grooming and additional procedures, the purpose of which is to improve the appearance, condition of the skin and coat of your pet. This result is obtained by ridding the cat of excess hair, removing dead hairs.

There are three types of grooming: hygienic, home and exhibition, otherwise called model grooming.

Hygienic grooming is the most practical option for this procedure. As the name implies, this type of grooming is used to ensure that the cat looks clean and tidy, does not leave fur on the carpets and furniture during the molting period and does not clog its stomach with it.

During this procedure, the cat's fur is trimmed evenly, the tips of the claws are removed using a special tool - a nail cutter, long tufts of hair on the paws are shortened, and the ears are tidied up.

Home grooming is the most budget-friendly, but also the simplest option: cat grooming, which is often mastered by cat owners themselves. It consists of shortening the pet's fur, which becomes much easier to care for.

Exhibition (model) grooming is a set of procedures that serve to emphasize the advantages and reduce the external disadvantages of animals that will participate in the exhibition.

Where to buy a machine

The most convenient way is to order a cat clipper online or purchase it in a store that specializes in selling household appliances.

When choosing a machine, you need to pay attention to the following data:

• What knives are made of (steel is cheaper, but ceramic is more durable and does not heat up so quickly);
• Noise level (cat grooming requires extreme care; if your pet is frightened by a loud sound, you are unlikely to be able to cut it evenly enough);
• The machine should be convenient (it should be easy for you to turn it on and off, change attachments and control the speed of movement of the knives);
• Check for different sized brush heads to suit different lengths of hair.