Owning a cat with a long, luxurious coat is certainly appealing, but they do require proper grooming. Share some grooming tips you use on your long-haired cat!
It's easy to see why many feline fanciers choose long-haired cats (like Persians and Ragamuffins) as companions. They're gorgeous, for starters, and stroking that luxurious coat is an automatic stress reliever.
But a coat like that doesn't stay soft, silky and tangle-free on its own. It requires a true commitment to proper grooming. Owners of long-haired cats face a few unique challenges, so to learn more about what you should know before you bring home a Siberian, we turned to Lynn Paolillo, an instructor, certifier and groomer with the National Cat Groomers Institute of America.
Q: How much time should I plan to commit to grooming my long-haired cat? Should I do it daily? Weekly?
A: Grooming needs can vary depending on a cat’s coat type, coat texture, age, lifestyle and overall health. Large or overweight cats may need help cleaning their sanitary area after using the litterbox since they have trouble reaching back there. Brachycephalic cats, like Persians and Himalayans, need regular cleaning of the eye area to prevent tear staining and even infections in the folds of the skin.
However, all long-haired cats will require the owner to help care for his or her coat. Frequency can range from once a month to once every day. The length of each session depends on the cat’s needs. The softer and more cottony the cat's hair, the more maintenance that is required.
Read more on grooming your long-haired cat from vetstreet.com here!