Long-haired cats often have mats - these are clumps of dead wool, entangled with live hairs. Pieces hang on the animal and bring him discomfort. Fluffy cats are very beautiful and give their owners positive emotions, but if you let everything go to chance, hairballs can lead to adverse consequences, and will no longer be happy about the appearance of their animal.
It seems that mats is a harmless physiological feature of a fluffy cat, but they can also appear in the one with very little wool. This happens if the cat does not have proper care. Probably everyone would be interested to learn about the reasons for the appearance of these lumps, and why some animals independently cope with them, combing out their tongues, while others need the help of their owners.
Causes
A fluffy cat is not able to care for its wool, so it needs help. Can say that mats - is an indicator of how the owner takes care of his animal. Wool is always updated: old hairs fall out, and new ones grow. The animal simply brushes the hair of a short or medium length with its tongue, and the cat, which has long hair and very fluffy wool, cannot cope with combing. Turns out that the hair falls out, the old hairs form lumps interspersed with new ones, and they begin to grow in size every day.
The second reason is incorrect bathing.. Many owners, bathing their cat, soak and ruffle wool, but it is better not to do so. Wool is required to gently stroke, because the wool will then be very hard to comb. Scouring after each swim is a necessary condition.
If the cat sheds its wool, then regular brushing should become a habit. If this is not done, mats will appear, this cannot be avoided.
Wool may fall out due to improper nutrition. If the cat eats only dry food - it must be diluted with vitamins and minerals. If there is a certainty that care for your beloved pet goes according to all the rules, but the mats still appear, and suddenly, then this can speak about any disease. In addition to the unattractive appearance, hairballs can still be dangerous for the cat.
For example, if tangles appear when it is hot outside, they break thermoregulation - the animal may overheat, and as a result dermatitis will appear on the skin (inflammatory skin lesion). In addition, hairballs are a paradise for bacteria. Inside them, various viruses and microbes can settle, sometimes even fleas and ticks. Fragments, besides all this, bring discomfort to the animal - often the cats themselves try to get rid of the tangles, tearing them out, thereby injuring their skin.
Note! Usually ticks appear under the paws, behind the ears, on the tail and neck.
What are dangerous?
There is a completely logical question about the danger that the mats carry for the animal. As mentioned above, hairballs bring discomfort to the cat, and tearing them out causes the animal to injure its skin. Of course, it is advisable to take care of your beloved pet in a timely manner, if you start the process, then in the future there may be unpleasant consequences. There is no threat to life, but ignoring mats is undesirable for the following reasons:
- unattractive look;
- discomfort - the skin of an animal is tightened, which makes it more difficult for him to lead an active lifestyle;
- skin lesions - on the site of lumps, the skin may become too dry, leading to the appearance of dandruff or, on the contrary, increased humidity, and this threatens with inflammations;
- reproduction of bacteria - places koltunov can become seedlings for bacteria and fungi.
How to remove?
Removing mats is an unpleasant procedure for a cat, but getting rid of them is necessary for her comfort. The animal will strongly resist the manipulation of the skin, so you need to be prepared for this. The owner of his furry friend should choose the right moment for the procedure: it may be the time when the cat is sleeping or has just fallen asleep.
If you are not confident in your abilities, you can ask for help from relatives - they will help hold the animal, and removing wool from a furry friend will not be so difficult. Before work, you need to make sure that the cat is in an immobilized position.
It is very easy to identify the mats - you can feel the woolen clots with your hands: you can try to cut the crumpled and soft tubers of small sizes into several pieces, and then comb them.
But there are neglected cases where only cutting or shaving with the help of suitable instruments will help. It is important to do this with all care so as not to injure yourself and your beloved pet. If there is no certainty that at home it will be possible to carry out the procedure for getting rid of tangles and cut them out, then It is better to consult a specialist in a veterinary clinic.
Step-by-step removal of tangles in the advanced stage is carried out as follows.
- Let someone help, holding the animal tightly.
- Hand groping for a ball of wool and estimate how close it is to the skin.
- If the wool is impossible to unravel from a clump, then it just needs to be cut or shaved with a clipper.
- Vystrigay wool parts and very carefully. To do this, take the comb (comb) and substitute it between the scissors and the skin of the cat.
- You should start with a small part of the woolen lump, gradually getting closer to the skin.
It is important! You need to seek help from a professional if you can’t cut tangles yourself.
Preventive measures
To mats do not appear, you need to take care of your pet. A cat needs to have its hair combed at least once a day for 10-15 minutes. This can be done with different devices: comb for fluff, for undercoat, massage combs, device for combing - furminator (device for combing, which allows you to quickly and easily remove dead wool).
When it is hot outside, the pet can be cut. This can be a difficult task, so the cat is better to take to the vet. When bathing your beloved pet, it is better to use a suitable shampoo that will make the coat silky, for example, Perfect Coat 8 in 1, “Luxurious Lioness”, “Biovax”, Herba Vitae. After that, when the animal is bathed, it should be thoroughly combed, and if it is not afraid of a hair dryer, dry it.
It is important! Combing wool should take place at least 2 times a week. Some cats get used to combing and begin to treat the procedure as a session of getting pleasure. It is important to pay attention to the choice of comb - it should not have hard teeth.
A cat can recognize its ailment itself and will try to fight with it and in every possible way comb out mats, but only the pet owner will help to remove them with high quality. The main thing is to accustom your furry friend to such a mandatory procedure, then in time he will get used to it and will not oppose it. Healthy wool is very important for the well-being of your pet.
On how to cut hair tins using a typewriter, see below.
