Caring for a cat's fur is called grooming. This term includes both combing and cutting the hair of an animal. Although pet grooming is not a compulsory procedure, many long-haired breeds (for example, Persian, Siberian or Somali) need to trim their hair. If the veterinary specialist does not have the opportunity to do this procedure, then the owner will need a step-by-step instruction for cutting the cat at home. This manipulation can be carried out for hygienic, decorative, exhibition or medical purposes.
Why spend a haircut?
There may be several good reasons for which the shearing of a fluffy animal is a necessity.
- Hygienic haircuts are produced when the animal's hair is tangled, or tangles appear in it. Also, quite often pets can get very dirty. Since not all contaminants can be washed with ordinary shampoo, it is necessary to resort to cutting the wool. For example, if the cat got into the paint or got dirty with building materials (glue or cement). Sometimes owners of old or sick animals have to resort to hygienic haircuts. After all, such cats may not be able to care for their fur.
In some cases, pets are sheared to prevent the formation of hairballs in the digestive organs. Because they can cause gastrointestinal problems. Also, the haircut will be relevant in the hot period, to avoid overheating of the cat. If the animal has a protracted molt, the groomer's services will help simplify the maintenance of the pet.
- Medical vet prescribes a veterinarian in the presence of certain diseases. The following diseases will be indications for a haircut: the presence of various parasites (fleas or ticks); inflammatory or infectious diseases; dermatitis; prickly heat. When cutting the hair, the possibility of treating the skin of the pet is much easier. Due to this, the time of skin treatment is significantly reduced. Such grooming at home will not be difficult.
- As for the decorative haircuts, it is rather a fad of the owner, and not a real necessity. With this haircut, the pet owner expresses the uniqueness of the pet, emphasizes the cat's temper and character. It should be understood that if you need to make a high-quality haircut, it will be more correct to contact specialized grooming salons. In them, the professionals use special tools for grooming, which will not damage the skin of the pet.
In the case when the owner does not want to constantly overpay for such manipulation, he should be sure to familiarize himself with the rules of preparation and cutting process.
Frequency of grooming
Cat grooming depends on how quickly its hair grows. Usually it grows back to its former size from three months to six months. Various factors can affect the rate of hair growth: the age of the pet, its state of health or breed. Veterinarians recommend grooming a pet no more than several times a year. If the cat has mats - it is better to just use scissors and remove them.
Decorative "hairstyles" are allowed to do more often, but It is important to monitor the state of coat, pet health, as well as choose the appropriate season of the year. Hygienic or therapeutic grooming is usually done when necessary.
What is needed for the procedure?
For a home haircut, a stable table (or a convenient ironing board) is suitable, where you can place your pet. As a tool for homemade shears will fit scissors or a special machine. Unlike analogs for people, such devices differ in power and reduced noise level. But even such a device can scare a cat. Also being special models that are specifically designed for long-haired breeds. Their difference lies in the sharpness of the blades, which will not cause injury to the sensitive skin of the pet.
Scissors or a handheld machine will be suitable in the case when the cat is extremely excited by the noise of an electric machine. Since the risk of injury from such devices is extremely high, care must be taken. When grooming at home, it is also useful comb with rare teeth.
Before hairdressing manipulations, it is important to treat the devices with any disinfectant.
Independently carry out the procedure is practically impossible. It is better to ask for help from the second person. If the animal behaves aggressively, you can put on a special protective collar, which can protect the owner from an irritated cat. At home, give the animal any sedatives can not. The owner should stock up on the antiseptic solution (for example, chlorhexidine or peroxide) in case of cuts.
Haircut rules
A few days before grooming, it is advisable to bathe the animal. Thanks to this, the process of combing and cutting will be much easier. Next, you need to trim the claws or use special protective lining on them.
The owner does not need to try to do his pet hair at a time. You can take breaks during which it is desirable to try to calm the pet and help him move this process is not quite pleasant for him.
If you follow the rules, grooming will not be such a complicated procedure.
Wool begin to cut from the sides when using a typewriter. Next, go to the back and to the abdomen. The nipple and crotch area will need to be carefully trimmed with scissors. After that, trim the vegetation in the armpits. Pet's tail can be shaped into a small tassel or left unchanged. On the legs of a cat fur coat form "socks" or "socks." Scissors make hair on the head of the pet and trim the haircut in general.
After home grooming, your pet should be bathed and blow-dried. And to avoid additional stress, you can simply wipe the animal with a cloth to get rid of the cut hairs.
What to look for after a haircut?
Often, due to the shearing of hair, the shade and structure of the hairline can change. Regular manipulations can lead to the fact that the fur stops growing back to its usual length. Also, after shearing hair can be thinned.
As a result of home hairdressing, skin injuries can often occur. It also increases the possibility of developing infections and inflammations.
No need to panic. It is advisable to try to calm the animal, saying familiar words to it in a gentle voice. You need to put a little antiseptic on a cotton pad and smear the skin around the wound to stop the bleeding, then press the dry cotton to the wound for a few minutes.
Grooming an animal at home with scissors or a typewriter is a hygienic measure, which is aimed at maintaining a neat external image of the pet.If the owner wants to prepare his pet for the exhibition or other responsible event, it would be better to resort to the services of a specialist.
In specialized clinics, cats are provided with hairdressing services with the use of light anesthesia or other similar preparations. But it is important to remember that the constant use of such medicines is not very beneficial for the health of your pet.
Popular cat hairstyles
Thanks to the imagination of the owner and the skill of the groomer, the external image of the pet can be radically changed. In grooming salons are popular haircuts: Leo, Dragon, Puss in Boots and others.
Lion is a fairly universal "hairstyle." It can be used both for hygiene and exhibition purposes. This option is better to choose in hot weather. The next species is a dragon. This unusual haircut is characterized by the presence of the original Mohawk along the back of a pet. With this variant of “styling”, only the hair on the body is cut off, and the head remains untouched. The length of the spine to the tail of the hair is cut out in the form of triangles. You can also leave scraps of wool and other elements. Here everything is already limited by the imagination of the hairdresser.
Show or model hairstyles should be created by experienced groomers, tSuch work requires high professionalism. These hairstyles include: Harlequin, Modern and Continental. It can be concluded that a haircut can simplify care and reduce the amount of hair loss, as well as make the pet look more interesting. But do not neglect the recommendations for the procedure.
But what to do if the pet does not give up before the onslaught of the hairdresser? In this case, it is necessary to care for the fur, as usual, and not to mock the animals. It should be periodically combed and remove fallen hairs.
It is also better to resort to the use of additional grooming balms or shampoos that help soften the cat's hair. Nowadays, there are special tools for long-haired breeds that dissolve mats in the stomach. And in order for the cat in the summer did not occur heat stroke, it is worth buying an air conditioner.
How to cut a cat at home, see below.
