How to care for the fur of a Scottish cat?

Scottish fold and straight-eared cats can have two types of coat: short (low-eared Scottish Fold, straight-eared Scottish Straight) and semi-long (low-eared Highland Fold, straight-eared Highland Straight). Recently, the international WCF system has classified the Highlands as a longhaired variety, although in fact they are semi-longhaired. The type of coat Scottish cats will have depends on the variety. Accordingly, caring for it is slightly different. But in general, it is not complicated, and these tailed animals bring much less inconvenience than representatives of a number of other breeds.

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Video “Features of Scottish cats”

In this video, an expert will talk about the characteristics of the breed and proper care.

Grooming and bathing

You need to properly care for a fold-eared cat at home, so you need to follow basic recommendations. First of all, try to brush your pet’s coat at least once a week. His fur is usually matted, so thanks to this procedure it will not lose its aesthetic appearance.

If desired, before handling the Furminator comb, apply a special lotion to the cat’s skin, which is necessary for less problematic coat care. Use this product, and your Scots coat will shed less often.

To ensure that your Scottish breed kitten always looks well-groomed and that no scraps of fur get into his body, you need to wash him regularly. From an early age, accustom your pet to water procedures to overcome his fear of them. Then in the future his bathing will be carried out without unnecessary difficulties.

Caring for your pet's eyes and ears

Complete cat care should certainly include such a procedure as examining and cleaning the pet’s ears and eyes. At least once every two weeks, try to inspect the animal’s ears and remove all dirt. Using a cotton swab, get rid of plaque, which not only contributes to the spread of unpleasant odors, but also causes various infections.

It is also advisable to trim the hairs that grow on the tips of the cat's ears from time to time. Another problematic area for a Scottish cat is the corners of the eyes. From here you need to remove mucous secretions with a napkin. If pus appears there, be sure to consult a doctor.

Comb for Scottish cats, or How to comb a Scottish cat?

When choosing what to brush your Scottish cat with, you should first of all do no harm. Many types of combs damage the undercoat, depriving the cat of its beauty.

Brushes for Scottish cats

It is very important to choose what to brush your Scottish cat with. Much of what is sold in online stores is not suitable. For example, brushes with soft bristles that fit tightly together do not comb anything at all. The Scottish coat is too dense - such a brush simply does not penetrate between the hairs.

Rubber brushes have a massage effect, but they do not comb and separate hairs from each other so well. Although everything will depend on the length, diameter and distance between their bristles. It is advisable that the brushes have thin, sparse bristles, because... The Scottish coat is very thick. But during molting, such devices turn out to be ineffective.

Puffers for Scottish cats

Puffer for the Scots and, by the way, for the British too, is undesirable. After all, it deprives the animal of that beautiful plush undercoat that its owners love so much. In addition, this is a rather dangerous tool: if you use it carelessly, you can injure your pet. This is especially easy to do when it breaks out.

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Combs for Scottish cats

A regular comb-comb is one of the best and cheapest solutions. It penetrates well between the hairs and combs them without problems. However, a comb-comb is completely useless during shedding, when the hairs need to not only be separated to give them a well-groomed appearance, but also combed out and massaged to speed up the shedding process.

Comb for Scottish cats

Furminator for Scottish cat

A furminator (trimmer) for Scottish cats is an expensive but effective solution in case of shedding. It is a comb with short metal teeth on a special attachment. For short-haired animals you need to purchase a Furminator with shorter teeth, for long-haired animals - with longer ones. Thanks to this device, you can easily deal with shedding. But its disadvantage is the very high price (about 40-50 US dollars) and a high chance of running into a low-quality fake. In addition, the furminator not only removes dead hair, but also cuts off the living undercoat, completely depriving the cat of its plush appearance. Therefore, we categorically do not recommend the Furminator for shorthaired Scottish cats.

Scottish cat hair after furminator - no undercoat at all

Glove for brushing Scottish cats

The need to choose between different types of combs and furminators disappears when you purchase a special paw. It costs a penny - 2-3 dollars apiece. This paw is also suitable for everyday combing, but the maximum effect is noticeable during molting, when no combs can save you, and the owners simply drown in the fur. During shedding, it is enough to comb the animal 3 times a week with this paw - all the fallen hair will remain on it, and not on your furniture and clothes. You can buy such a paw using this link.

A radical solution in the form of grooming a Scottish cat during shedding and in the summer would be wrong, since this will deprive your pet of protection, including protection from elevated ambient temperatures. A kind of microclimate is formed under the cat’s fur, which is undesirable to disturb. In addition, cutting to zero is stressful for the cat.

Raising a Scottish cat

The process of raising Scottish cats does not present any difficulties and is more like a game due to the balanced nature of these cats, their good learning ability, ability to compromise, and ability to get along with literally everyone. However, the lack of aggression inherent in fold-eared cats does not mean that these animals are weak-willed, passive, or amorphous.

The Scots are very smart and will even resort to cunning, refusing to comply with demands that they are not interested in or do not like. The owner, if he wants to accustom the animal to certain rules, needs to choose reasonable tactics for dealing with it, to find a middle ground between brutal coercion and reckless indulgence.

In addition to good nutrition and good care, a person can and should give a pet something more - understanding and respect for its personality, on which a relationship of mutual boundless love is built.

Table: advantages and disadvantages of using a furminator

Ear and dental care

The British Straight-eared kitten also requires careful ear hygiene and regular dental care. Such procedures involve cleaning the ears using a special cotton swab, which is moistened in a liquid purchased at a veterinary clinic.

Considering the peculiarity of the structure of the ears, a scrupulous attitude to their hygiene is required, which consists of carefully turning out the ear cartilage and cleaning the ear canal

Examination and cleaning of teeth should also become a mandatory procedure, since identifying or forming plaque on teeth at an early age will allow them to be quickly eliminated almost painlessly. Your cat's teeth should be white and her gums an even pink color. Inflammation or swelling of any type is not allowed.

By following these basic rules on how to care for a Scottish cat, you can provide your pet with a well-groomed appearance and good health.

Brush selection

A brush for combing cat hair should be selected depending on the length and type of fur. A different set of brushes will be needed for long-haired and short-haired pets, as well as for their Scottish counterparts. Outbred cats can also be short-haired or long-haired. Their coat also needs good care.

Long-haired pets

Luxurious hair needs to be well looked after. A caring owner should pay especially much attention to combing long-haired and semi-long-haired cats. These breeds include Persians, Maine Coons, Kuril Bobtails, Turkish Angora, Neva Masquerade, Burmese, Siberian, Norwegian Forest and many other cats. For them you will need at least three combs with teeth of different lengths:

• with short and frequent;
• with averages;
• with long and sparse ones.

You need to carefully care for your furry pet's luxurious coat, so you also need to purchase an anti-tangle spray, conditioner, a brush with natural bristles, and talcum powder.

Education and training

Fold cats are very smart and easy to train. Teaching your pet basic skills is not difficult.

It is advisable to accustom your cat to order and discipline from an early age. To accustom a kitten to the tray, it is enough to often play with it not far from the tray and, if necessary, immediately put it there.

Soon he will remember where to relieve himself.

Teach your fold cat to listen to its owner and understand the command “No!” You can use a regular baby rattle.

It is enough to simply rattle it loudly over his ears and loudly say “No!” when he does something forbidden (for example, tries to climb on the table or starts scratching the furniture).

Folds are very sensitive to loud sounds at an early age, so training using similar methods gives results. It is not recommended to physically punish a kitten, as in the future it may stop trusting its owner and be afraid of him.

For good behavior and obedience, the pet must be praised and rewarded with some kind of treat.

Scottish Folds very quickly get used to the house and the owner. Despite their independence, they still require at least a little attention.

If the owner is often not at home, the kitten may start meowing in the middle of the night, thereby attracting attention to itself.

To prevent this from happening, you need to devote at least 10-20 minutes of time to it before going to bed. They rarely spoil things and almost never jump on furniture and curtains.

If your pet is left alone in the apartment for a long time, it is enough to leave him a few toys, such as balls or a rubber mouse. In this case, the pet will not be bored for a long time, and will have something to do in the absence of the owner.

How to comb a cat's fur at home

A caring owner knows how to brush a cat well. It is advisable to accustom your kitten to hygiene procedures from a very early age. Then he will not be afraid of brushing and, perhaps, will even be able to enjoy it. It’s also not too late to teach adult fluffies to be brushed, but they will need more time to get used to it. If the furry beauty enjoys being combed, this procedure will not cause any inconvenience to anyone.

The Scottish breed is the most shedding

If any irritation appears on the skin, it is better to postpone combing until it heals. You need to start treating dermatitis, allergies, and fungal diseases as quickly as possible. Under no circumstances should you touch the wound with a comb.

The hand should move smoothly and gently. Do not press the comb too hard or make sudden movements, as this can damage the hairs and scare the cat.

How to comb a cat, step by step instructions:

1. You need to stroke the cat with a mitten or run a wide-toothed comb through the fur.
2. You need to start combing with a mitten, then use a furminator and a slicker, then different combs. It is advisable to complete the procedure with a massage comb and a brush with natural bristles.
3. First, comb along the hair growth, and then against it. This effectively cleans the coat.
4. Within a few minutes you need to comb the back, sides and tummy.
5. It is worth paying a lot of attention to hard-to-reach areas. Take turns combing the “pants” near each paw, then the back of the head and withers.
6. The smallest combs will be needed for combing the neck and the area around the ears.
7. Small tangles need to be combed separately. They are moistened with spray and then smoothed using a comb. Large mats should be cut off by professional groomers with a special tool. It's better not to do this on your own.
8. After combing, you should moisten your hand with water and stroke the cat with it.

The entire procedure will take no more than 5–10 minutes, but it will bring a lot of benefits to the furry pet and its owners.

Important! If the kitten does not like to be brushed and begins to resist, you need to distract him with his favorite toy or treat. This also helps adult animals. Each cat has its own personality, so you need to be patient with them.

Even if the owner does not yet know how to brush a cat, he will quickly learn it. This requires a little patience. It is not at all necessary to contact a groomer; it is enough to know how to brush a cat at home and how it is done.

Special shampoos for long or short hair will help your furry pet be beautiful and make it easier to care for. It is very important to periodically treat your cat with green grass or sprouted oats. You can buy it at a pet store or grow it at home in a special box. Grass and oats are a natural gastric cleanser. In addition, cats love grass very much for its pleasant taste and aroma.

Why do you need to comb cats?

Over the course of months, unkempt fur results in unsightly tangles. If you continue to ignore the combing procedure, the fur coat will no longer be similar to the previous one, but will turn into a hard shell. Imagine how difficult this will make the animal’s life—you won’t be able to wash yourself or scratch yourself. Why scratch it, the poor animal can’t even stretch properly.

Neglected case

But this is just part of the problem. Next, an inflammatory process will begin to develop under the shell, and for bacteria this situation is simply ideal. As a rule, it is at this moment that the owners begin to fuss, looking for an answer to the question: “Who infected my cat?” Although the thought that all this could have been prevented by brushing the pet daily, of course, will never occur to them.

They will be informed about the need for the procedure by a veterinarian, who will come with a clipper and trim the coat of the once beautiful Angora or Persian under anesthesia. In addition, during the conversation it turns out that the fight against mats was constantly carried out with the help of a special shampoo, the label of which read “To remove mats.” It's worth noting that this is just a publicity stunt. Shampoo for tangles is used only for preventive purposes, and once they appear, the product is absolutely useless and even harmful.

Freeing a cat from tangles

After removing the shell, the veterinarian will explain to the owner that combing should be done daily with special brushes and combs. Moreover, long-haired beauties must go through this procedure several times a day during the molting period. As for their brothers with a short fur coat, you can get by with once every 2 days.

You don't need to bathe your cat often either. Once every 2 weeks is enough for heavy shedding. If the pet itself does not mind, then the procedure can be performed more often.

It is worth saying that tangles are not so catastrophic. The trouble is that the cat will zealously lick the dead hairs. What can you do here - it’s laid down by nature. This cannot be done without the hairs from the mouth getting into the stomach. Can you imagine, if the shedding is intense, and the pussy has long hair, then in what quantities does it penetrate the gastrointestinal tract? Many will ask: “Well, what’s the big deal, just throw up once and that’s it?” Not all. Hairballs that get into the stomach can cause intestinal obstruction, and then it’s not far from the operating table.

The cat clears its stomach of fur

Therefore, combing is a very important procedure, which allows you not only to remove dead hairs, but also parasites, as well as their metabolic products. In addition, regular brushing will help:

• Clean your apartment from fur less often;
• resist eating falling hairs;
• prevent stomach and intestinal congestion;
• speed up blood circulation and metabolism;
• prevent and get rid of tangles;
• grow wool beautiful and strong.

In order for the procedure to be as useful as possible and bring a lot of pleasure to the cat, it should be carried out correctly.

Many cats enjoy brushing

How to choose and what criteria to consider

To care for an animal with short fur, you can choose a comb with frequent thick teeth of the same length.
For British and Scottish cats with a thick undercoat, it is worth purchasing a slicker brush, which is indispensable during the molting period. A mitten with a pimpled surface is suitable for collecting lost hairs and massaging the body of cats that have no undercoat or any fur at all. Caring for pets with long hair requires a whole arsenal of combs. First, such a handsome man is combed with a comb with rare teeth, then a comb with more frequent teeth of different sizes is taken. During molting, a furminator is used to clean the coat of dead hairs. The procedure ends with collecting the remaining hairs using a moistened mitten or palm.

For cats without undercoat, a comb with rotating teeth is suitable. Moreover, such a device is suitable for untangling small tangles. The procedure for combing a short-haired pet will take about 10 minutes, while treating a cat with long hair will take at least a quarter of an hour.

Cats are combed with special accessories designed for combing out animal hair. The range of pet products includes a wide variety of grooming products - furminators, brushes, combs, slickers, combs, etc. Let's take a closer look at what function each tool performs, which will allow you to make the right choice when purchasing.

Comb and comb

For initial combing of the fur, use a comb with frequent or rare teeth or a rake comb, which provides gentle care.

You can comb the fur with a comb with teeth of different levels. Such devices are convenient for caring for semi-long-haired and long-haired cats.

To care for short hair, you can choose a flea comb with fine teeth.

Mitten-glove

A special accessory for massaging the skin and removing dead hair is a silicone mitten with short or long teeth of different frequencies. Easy to use, fixed on the owner's hand. An excellent option for brushing cats that resist the use of other grooming accessories.

Cat brush

To comb out thick fur of different lengths, special brushes with metal teeth are used. They can also be used to carefully untangle matted fur.

For massage procedures, you can use a brush with natural bristles. This accessory is also necessary for distributing and removing powder and dry shampoo from cleaned animal fur.

Pukhoderka

The most popular accessory for combing is a slicker brush. It is equipped with thin metal teeth. It has a slight bend in shape, providing comfortable carding. This accessory can be used no more than 2 times a week during the molting period, and the rest of the time one procedure every 7-10 days is enough. You should not use a slicker to untangle tangles.

Furminator

The Furminator is a handy cat grooming tool with a small rake and fine teeth. There are two types - deluxe and classic, distinguished by the width of the ridges and design. They can have short or long teeth. The furminator is selected individually. For small kittens, accessories with a comb width of up to 3.2 cm are optimal. For adult cats weighing within 5 kg - 4-4.5 cm. For large animals, furminators with a comb width of 6.8 cm are suitable.

The Furminator should not be used for grooming if the cat has skin diseases, wounds or scratches on the body.

When choosing an accessory for combing, take into account the breed of the cat and the length of its fur. Combs designed for long-haired animals are not suitable for short-haired pets. The first will require more careful care, so you will have to buy several convenient tools.

Cats with close-fitting short fur need a comb with medium-frequency metal teeth for grooming. You can periodically care for the fluffy undercoat using a slicker. After combing, massage procedures, which require a special brush that smoothes the coat, will not interfere.

Cats with a rich coat require more careful care. Its main thing is to regularly comb the coat using a comb with teeth of different frequencies and lengths. At the second stage, small missed hairs are removed using a brush with natural bristles.

In order to comb out dead fluff without affecting the strong guard fibers, you will need a so-called slicker, or slicker.

The peculiarity of the slicker is in its teeth. They are metal, thin, with a characteristic bend. Depending on the quality of your pet’s coat, you need to choose a slicker brush: the thicker and longer the coat, the longer and more frequent its teeth.

You should not try to deal with matted hair using a slicker. It is intended only for the care of healthy hair, previously combed with a wide-tooth comb.

When your cat sheds, refrain from brushing her coat with a slicker every day. Twice a week will be enough. More frequent use will turn your fluffy beauty into a pitiful, shabby creature. After the shedding period ends, use this useful tool once a week.

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Despite the popularity of the slicker, it is only one of many tools needed to care for your pet.

You should choose a product based on the external characteristics of the pet. For short-haired individuals, regular bristle brushes and mittens are suitable. If the coat is thick and has the same undercoat, then preference is given to a powder coat. A rubber-coated brush is more suitable for caring for the decorative fur that grows on the pet’s limbs, back and belly.

The number of teeth also depends on the appearance. The longer and more abundant the wool, the more teeth required.

It is advisable to choose devices based on natural materials, since cat fur tends to become electrified.

Cats whose fur does not exceed 4.5 cm in length are considered short-haired. It is recommended to comb them 2-3 times a week. To detangle the fur and remove dirt and dead skin particles, you will need a comb with metal teeth. Their tips must be rounded. After this procedure, the cat is combed with a special rubber brush in the shape of a mitten to collect all the fallen hairs and stimulate the animal’s skin.

This tool is especially convenient to use in cases where the cat does not want to clean itself up and runs away at the sight of a comb. The mitten brush allows you to create the feeling in the animal that you are simply stroking it with your hand. At the same time, the surface in the form of rubber pimples cleanses the fur as much as possible from dead and fallen hairs. After combing, you can wipe the cat's coat with a piece of suede cloth.

The main advantage of the furminator is durability. Strong steel is used to make the teeth, so they do not become dull. Regular combs need to be changed once a year.

Positive qualities include:

• faster and easier combing process;
• in one session you can remove about 90 - 95% of dead hairs;
• the furminator is safe for cat fur, since it does not affect the outer hair and only removes hairs from the dead undercoat;
• the tips of the teeth of the device are blunt, so it cannot injure the pet’s skin;
• Thanks to the special structure of the teeth, the furminator can penetrate deep into the undercoat.

The downside is the high cost of the original tool.

To buy a quality device, you need to know what characteristics to look for. This:

1. Length of teeth. The quality of grooming depends on the length of the comb teeth. It should match the cat's fur. Short and dense teeth will not be able to reach the undercoat of long-haired breeds, and long and sparse teeth will not be able to capture hairs of short-haired breeds.
2. Ridge width. A small comb will take a very long time to process a large cat, while a wide comb will be inconvenient to comb a small one.
3. Quality of teeth. In a high-quality furminator they are even, smooth and shiny. Any irregularities, other than those provided for by the design, gaps will cause rupture of the guard hair and injury to the skin.
4. Handle ergonomics. It is more convenient to work with a tool whose handle has a rubberized textured surface and a convex end. You also need to focus on your own feelings. If the device lies comfortably in the palm of your hand, your hand will not get tired during the process.
5. Injection button. It starts a mechanism that automatically removes hairs from the comb. But such furminators break quickly, unlike monolithic models. For the latter, cleaning the comb from fluff must be done manually.

Manufacturers also offer models with removable combs. They differ in the length of the teeth and the width of the comb. This tool is well suited for caring for pets of different sizes, weights and even breeds. But it has a significant drawback - the head becomes loose due to frequent changes. The furminator becomes inconvenient to operate and requires replacement.

Grooming Scottish Fold cats

Scottish Folds are one of the most popular purring breeds today. And it’s not surprising, because these cats not only have a relatively gentle disposition, but are also very cute. Moreover, unlike long-haired beauties, the short or medium-length fur of Scottish cats causes minimal discomfort to owners. And how soft and tender she is to the touch - you only have to stroke a little Scottish kitten once to fall in love with him once and for all.

To cut or not to cut – that is the question

If grooming dogs does not cause much controversy and bickering among their owners, then owners have ambivalent attitudes towards grooming cats. Do Scottish Fold cats really need to be cut? If yes, then why? And if not, then why? Let's take a closer look.

Cat fur is not only a source of pride, but also an important element for the animal’s heat exchange. Without fur, a kitty will simply freeze, even in the hot summer. Therefore, ideally, for a short haircut you need adequate reasons, such as:

• tangles;
• skin diseases;
• habitat;
• molting;
• owner's allergies;
• characteristics of the breed.

There is another important point - the delicacy of the haircut. Sometimes after grooming a cat can become depressed. Moreover, this is more often due not to the fact that she is deprived of her beloved pillow, but to the process itself. Therefore, you should entrust the haircut of your animal only to trusted professionals, such as the specialists of the Begemot grooming salon.

Types of cat haircuts

Depending on the purpose, the following types of cat haircuts are divided:

• hygienic – for skin diseases and tangles;
• classic – before exhibitions;
• model - at the request of the owners.

We have already dealt with hygienic haircuts. They are needed to rid your pussy of tangles, to free up the skin for applying ointments. You can also trim the kitty if the owner has become allergic to fur, and if the cat lives on the street and likes to collect fleas and ticks.

Classic haircuts are ordered at the grooming salon before exhibitions

But it is very important to understand that you cannot cut your hair immediately before the event, so it is better to consult with a professional in advance when you need a haircut for your Scottish Fold cat.

Model haircuts are not alien to modern groomers, because many Scottish Fold owners love to turn their furry pets into whimsical and glamorous characters.

Fashionable haircuts for Scottish Folds

Do you want your cat to look unusual? Then it's time to change the image of an impressive Scot. The grooming salon will offer you a variety of fashionable haircuts, such as:

• under the lion;
• Puss in Boots;
• under a dinosaur or "dragon";
• glamor with paint;
• "puma" etc.

To cut your cat's hair or not to cut it unnecessarily? It's up to you to decide, but one thing you can be sure of is that by contacting the Behemoth grooming salon, the haircut of your Scottish Fold will be done as carefully and delicately as possible.

Groomers' tips for caring for cats

Let's not hide it - Scottish cats, like other breeds, do not like to have their hair cut at all, as well as bathing or combing their fur during shedding. And only a qualified master can cope with this task with a minimum level of stress for the animal.

Before you decide to cut an animal without good reason, you should understand that it can not only cause moral damage to the cat, but also change the structure and shade of the coat. All this happens on an individual basis and is impossible to predict.

Although many cats are quite tolerant of grooming. And if you start grooming a kitten, then over time a certain model of behavior is developed. Have you watched a video where cats love to swim? So, some of the purrs treat haircuts just as indulgently, of course, with the right approach.

At the Begemot salon, only specialized tools and proven cosmetics for hair care are used to cut Scottish cats. You can pre-register for Scottish grooming by phone or online on our website. We will take care of your pets.

Is it possible to cut a longhaired Scotsman's hair?

Summer-heat-wool. For any cat owner, these are synonyms, and if the pet has long hair, then it is doubly difficult! Very often I hear a question from owners: is it possible to cut hair and how? There are several things that can help your pet's condition:

• There is air conditioning in the room.
• the pet has free access to fresh, cool drinking water.
• appearance on the street, except in the morning and evening hours, in the shade, has been reduced to a minimum.
• There is an opportunity to lie down on the cool tiles.

If you see that this is not enough, and the cat is still hot in his chic fur coat, then there is an option to shorten it. But: under no circumstances should you cut your cat's hair. It is necessary to leave 2-3 cm of fur, otherwise after regrowth it may change its structure and color, and your beauty may experience an inferiority complex.

It is worth going to a veterinary clinic or grooming salon, with a mandatory cardiac ultrasound procedure, because... This is a very stressful procedure for the animal.

After a haircut, praise your pet in every possible way so as not to lower his self-esteem. Then everything will be fine for both you and your pet.

We hope you found this article helpful!

Source

Do I need to groom and bathe my cat?

Bathing is recommended for Scottish Fold cats. This procedure is especially useful if the animal has been accustomed to it since childhood. Small (up to two months) kittens should not be bathed unless absolutely necessary, but then they can be trained.

Animals accustomed to bathing are not afraid, but on the contrary, they adore this procedure (another feature of the breed). There are no special recommendations for bathing; it can be done more often (for example, before a show or if the cat is very dirty). Be sure to thoroughly dry or dry the animal with a hairdryer so that it does not get sick due to hypothermia.

Grooming Scottish Folds also does not have any special requirements. The only thing that is mandatory for the breed is cutting off the tassels on the ears, since they do not fit into the standard and can cause the animal some discomfort (due to the structure of the auricle, these tassels can tickle the animal’s ears from the inside, causing any deviations in the usual behavior).

There are 3 main types of haircuts for these cats:

• “by breed” – excess hair is simply removed so that the cat matches the breed standard as much as possible. In this case, the fur can hide flaws in the cat’s structure (align the line of the collarbones and pelvis, for example);
• “like a lion” - there are often those who like to cut the body and tail of a cat so that they are covered with short hair, a tassel remains on the tail, and a mane remains on the neck. Opinions regarding this haircut vary widely;
• “dinosaur-like” is a haircut that has gained popularity recently. Long hair is left along the line of the spine; the cat is left with a small mane. The remaining wool is cut into triangles. The result is a small, furry stegosaurus running around the house. Opinions about this haircut are very different.

The last two haircuts are only applicable to domestic cats. To appear at an exhibition with such a “miracle” is to sign your own disqualification sentence instantly.

How to comb out fur and undercoat from a cat during shedding?

Cat fur and human hair differ in their anatomy and structure. An ordinary hair comb will not work for a cat; it will not be able to remove dead hair and will only create static electricity that is harmful to the animal. You should purchase a special cat brush or massage mitt from a pet store. Its configuration depends entirely on the breed of the pet and the length of its fur.

Brushes and slickers for cats.

IMPORTANT: Regardless of the type of brush, there is an important point to consider. In no case should the teeth be completely metal, so as not to torment the animal with electric shocks, or sharp, so as not to scratch its skin.

You can buy brushes, combs and slicker brushes for cats on the extensive online site Aliexpress, in the section “For Home and Garden / Products for Pets / Cat Care”.

Furminator from Aliexpress.

You can brush your cat while shedding:

1. Furminator. This professional brush for cats and dogs is a rectangle with teeth mounted on a rubberized handle that is easy to hold. The Furminator helps the animal shed much faster, as it effectively combs out the hair and undercoat that have become dead. The device also produces a massage effect, accelerates the cat’s blood, and evenly distributes its protective fat layer. Your pet's new coat grows healthy and beautiful. Suitable for cats with any length of pile and density of undercoat. Helps get rid of tangles.
2. Brush - mitten. This is a rubber or silicone mitten with pimples or teeth, which, when placed on the hand, the owner will be able to comb or massage the cat, even if he is not enthusiastic about the mandatory procedure.
3. Pukhoderka. This flat comb can have teeth of different lengths and thicknesses, sometimes curved. The longer the cat's fur, the longer and more frequent the teeth of the slicker should be. It is important to remember that you cannot “tear” matted fur and tangles with a slicker, otherwise the animal will suffer.
4. Scallop. A cat's comb typically consists of densely spaced teeth of varying lengths. It is convenient for regular use during shedding and is also suitable for combing out fleas.
5. Double sided brush. On one side it has teeth for combing, on the other - elastic artificial or natural bristles for massage.

Brush-mitten from Aliexpress.

Silicone brush for combing from Aliexpress.

Cat slicker from Aliexpress.

Comb for combing cats from Aliexpress.

How to care

A pet's appearance is directly related to its physical and psychological well-being. Since the cat and its owner are still separated by a language barrier, the best solution is preventive care, which consists of regular sanitary and hygienic measures.

Pet hygiene

Regardless of the nature and age of purrs, they always remain small children in need of care and human intervention in their cat life. With the right approach, flexible Scots quickly adapt and get used to the necessary manipulations, withstanding the systematic invasion of personal space with dignity. Despite the fact that representatives of the fold-eared brethren are kept exclusively at home, they must be washed every few months.

In this case, water procedures must be carried out according to the following rules:

• the animal is placed in a shallow container in the form of a basin, filled to half;
• the water temperature should be between 33–35 °C;
• the use of special shampoo or hypoallergenic products is allowed;
• to improve the quality of bathing, use only pet brushes intended for this purpose;
• dry the cat with a towel.

It is unacceptable to use improvised means in the form of laundry soap or human combs, as they can cause allergies and skin damage. It is also strictly forbidden to try to remove moisture with a hairdryer - this, at a minimum, will cause stress for the pet. Folding, as the main characteristic of the breed, obliges owners to carefully care for this part of the animal’s body. Initially, kittens are born straight-eared, but as they grow older they begin to meet the standards more and more. A deformed ear is a convenient place for the accumulation of dirt and the development of bacteria - they become a source of otitis and dermatitis. That is why it is necessary to carry out regular inspections at intervals of at least two weeks.

To clean ears, you can purchase lotions in veterinary pharmacies or pet stores that remove dirt well and have an antiseptic and anti-inflammatory effect. Wipe the ears with cotton pads soaked in a special preparation. Another mandatory procedure is nail trimming. This must be done using special nail clippers. The procedure requires perseverance and patience. By carefully pressing on the pet's paw in the phalanx area and exposing the claw, it is cut off by no more than 2 mm. If you overdo it, you can touch an area with soft tissues and capillaries, which will cause pain to the animal and can provoke an infectious infection.

Grooming

Scottish cats are famous for their thick, plush fur. This feature makes them extremely pleasant to the touch, but the price for such pleasure is regular combing. Often this procedure becomes pleasant for the pets themselves, which greatly simplifies its implementation. Representatives of the breed with outstanding long hair should be brushed daily, but for short-haired animals once a week is enough.

The structure and high density of the hair can cause some trouble when the purr begins to shed. Often during such periods, the living space is practically covered with a carpet of cat underfur. Using a furminator will help prevent a hairy disaster. This device removes a significant part of the undercoat, as well as dead guard hairs, thus significantly reducing the appearance of shedding.

Mr. Cat recommends: How often should you brush your cat?

It is enough to brush cats twice a week, but with intense shedding, this should be done daily, before feeding.

For the winter, British cats “stock up” with dense undercoat, which can become tangled, so in winter you need to comb your pet at least 2 times a week, using a slicker with thick, thin teeth that have metal attachments. You need to act carefully: a regular slicker brush can ruin the undercoat.

What to pay attention to

It is worth carefully monitoring not only the diet, but also the number of servings, since feeding Scottish Straight cats requires a clear dosage. This is due to the fact that this breed is prone to obesity and a Scottish cat cannot always control its appetite, when it is not really full, and when it has overeaten. However, if a Scottish cat leaves food on the plate, you should not immediately contact a veterinarian, because you can adjust the portion size based on the mood and activity of the Scottish cat.

The Scottish Straight kitten should be fed in such a way that 40% of all food is protein.

Up to a year, it is recommended to structure the diet in such a way that it is divided into three to four meals, and for adult cats, 2 feedings during the day will be optimal. A prerequisite must be the availability of clean, boiled water.

Pet care rules

You need to know how to properly care for your kitten. Brush his fur regularly, and also clean his eyes and ears.

The main points for caring for a Scotsman include the following nuances:

• Regular eye examination and cleaning. There are times when a Scottish kitten's eyes turn sour. Take a regular cotton wool, soak it in water or a special liquid, and then gently wipe your pet’s eyes. If you purchased special drops for your baby, use them immediately after cleaning. Be sure to wipe your eyes with a clean cotton pad;
• coat care. It should not be done so often. Use a wide-toothed or fine-toothed comb depending on how thick your pet's coat is. If it is tangled, buy a special lotion - its use will soften the fur and comb it without difficulty. The tangles must be cut off;
• It is recommended to bathe the animal no more than once every three months. Accustom your cat to this procedure from an early age so as not to cause him serious stress in the future;
• ear cleaning. It is carried out 2-3 times a month. Soak the swab in a special liquid and then carefully walk over the auricle. Do not press too hard, otherwise you will damage it;
• A kitten needs to have its claws trimmed every few months. To make them grind on their own, buy a scratching post for your pet;
• teeth cleaning. If done regularly, you will prevent the formation of plaque. In the process, owners of Scottish cats use special toothpastes and small brushes.

It is imperative to study a step-by-step description of the features of caring for a Scot. This should also include preventive treatment against helminths (special medications are sold for this), as well as timely vaccination against ailments.

Care depending on color

Depending on the color of the Scottish cat, coat care may vary. So, for example, black cats are given certain shampoos to enhance their color, while white cats are given different shampoos, and so on.

There are also some nuances in combing. It is highly not recommended for smoky cats to use slicker brushes with furminators, because... they damage the undercoat - as a result, the color deteriorates.

In addition, if you comb a solid-colored cat (white, black, blue, etc.) at the wrong time, causing it to develop tangles, they can be cut out. But cats of smoky and point colors cannot do this, because... leads to the formation of spots of a different color. For such cats, you can only carefully separate the hairs in the mat so that it disappears.

What to do if your cat is vomiting hair

It’s not for nothing that we touched on this unfortunate and frequently asked question to veterinarians. If a cat vomits hair, then a large amount of hair has accumulated in its stomach. And the reason for this is the owner’s reluctance to comb his pet.

Kitty cleanses her stomach of accumulated fur

It's not too late to fix everything and help your pet get back to normal:

• Brush your long-haired pet several times a day every day. As for their brothers with short fur coats, here you can get by once every 2-3 days.
• Bathe your cat during shedding 1-2 times every 2 weeks. If your furbaby loves to take baths, you can do this more often.
• Feed your pet green grass. This will help him quickly clear his stomach of unnecessary contents.

Cats enjoy eating fresh greens

• Buy specialized food that helps to quickly clear the gastrointestinal tract of accumulated foreign matter. Today there are many manufacturers of such food.
• Veterinary pharmacies sell a special paste for removing hair from the stomach. The product is very effective and quickly removes unnecessary contents from the digestive tract. You need to use it for at least a week.

Paste for removing hair from the stomach

• If hair falls out in large quantities all year round, perhaps the problem lies in diseases or some other malfunction in the body. Therefore, it is more advisable to show the animal to a veterinarian and undergo an examination.
• Monitor the animal's diet. Buy him vitamin food and do not give him food from the table. As a rule, the latter is the main reason for the cat’s poor health and intense hair loss.
• To cleanse the intestines and stomach, it is often recommended to add a few drops of flaxseed oil, a little fish oil or oats to your pet's food. Be sure to consult your veterinarian before use.

Brushing a British cat

Combing is one of the important procedures for caring for cats. Thanks to this manipulation, you can remove not only dead hair, but also get rid of parasites, dirt, tangles, etc. In addition, combing promotes fur renewal and also prevents the ingestion of a large number of hairs. Therefore, try to regularly resort to this procedure. If your cat has long hair, brush him daily during the shedding period. If the coat is short, 1-2 times every 2-3 days is enough.

Do Scottish cats have a lot of hair? What kind of hair do Scottish cats have?

If you purchased a shorthaired Scottish cat, then most likely one of the arguments will be that it produces less hair. This is true, but the hairs are shorter and therefore fly more in the air than long hairs. Don't expect that there will be very little wool. Scottish cats also shed in winter and summer, sometimes they experience problems with excessive hair loss, and it even happens that there is simply nowhere to hide the hairs in the apartment if the shedding is excessive. Owners of shorthaired Scots also complain that during shedding, all the furniture is covered with a layer of hair. There are few of them during the periods between molts. Although there are cats that shed all year round.

If you make a choice in favor of semi-longhaired Scottish cats - Highland Straights and Highland Folds, then you must understand that they have no more or less hair, but the hair is longer, and therefore its volume is greater. At the same time, it does not bother the family as much as the wool of the same Persians or even Scottish cats, because... Scottish hairs are short and light, so their volatility is higher.

Nutrition rules

Feeding Scottish Fold kittens is a rather meticulous process that requires a long study and compliance with certain rules. Considering that cats of this breed are prone to being overweight, portions need to be limited from childhood and a diet should be established that will fully correspond not only to your daily routine, but will also ensure constant access to food and regular feeding.

For the most part, new owners prefer to feed the kitten the same food that was offered to it in the nursery or from previous owners.

However, this position is not entirely correct. On the one hand, the kitten will be comfortable eating what it was fed with its mother, but based on the kitten’s personal preferences and the owner’s capabilities, you can choose one of three nutrition systems:

• exclusively natural food prepared especially for the cat;
• purchase of dry food or wet mixtures, canned food;
• combination of artificial and natural food.

How long do Scottish fold cats live?

Due to the fact that the Scottish Fold was bred by combining genes from different breeds, representatives of this breed may develop congenital diseases of the musculoskeletal system (due to the dominance of the lop-eared gene).

Other diseases may also be observed: glaucoma, entropion of the eyelids, congenital deafness and all kinds of allergic reactions. At a later age, cardiovascular pathologies may occur.

In good conditions, Scottish cats live up to 15-16 years. If any congenital pathologies occur, life expectancy can be reduced to 10-12 years.

Hygiene procedures

Small and adult Scottish cats require constant care. From a very early age, the kitten should be taught regular hygiene procedures.

Small and adult cats require constant care from early childhood.

Ear examination

At least once a week, the ears are examined and cleaned. The ear canal is wiped with a cotton swab; the light sulfur of healthy kittens is odorless. For cleaning, you can use special hygienic compounds.

Eye examination

The eyes of Scottish kittens do not require special care. You just need to clear the dark plaque in the corners of the eyes that sometimes appears in the morning. This is done with a cotton sponge soaked in plain water. If your animal develops purulent discharge, you should definitely consult a specialist.

Nail trimming

Once a month, inspection and nail trimming are necessary. Before cutting the claw, it must be inspected against the light; the blood vessel that passes through its cavity must not be damaged. Usually, the claws are cut off by 1-2 mm. The haircutting procedure is performed with special “guillotine” type scissors. Starting from the first days, you should teach the kitten to use a scratching post.

Grooming

Scottish cats love to groom themselves. They can spend hours licking their amazing fluffy skin with their tongue. In order for the animal's stomach to become less clogged with wool balls, regular brushing is necessary.

For short hair, use small brushes with short and frequent teeth. For the long-haired variety, use rare and valley teeth on the comb. It is preferable to perform this procedure with brushes with natural bristles. Long-haired cats need daily brushing; for short-haired breeds, once a week is sufficient. During the autumn or spring molting periods, combing can be carried out more often, as needed.

Arch-comb

For sale on the Internet you can find such a device as an arch for combing wool. This is something like a curved brush that is placed on the floor on a special stand. An animal, eager to scratch itself, begins to rub against this arch, thereby putting itself in order.

But whether your cat wants to use such a device is purely individual. To attract the animal to the unit, it is recommended to use catnip.

However, in any case, the arch is only an additional, and not the main tool when combing cats. She cannot comb it properly.