Learning how to care for long-haired cats means understanding that fur length affects more than just looks. For health reasons, long-haired cats require significant grooming with particular types of combs and brushes and need bathing on a regular basis. They also have dietary needs that are somewhat different from those of short-haired cats. You'll even need to choose cat litter with care. Help your long-haired cat avoid health problems by caring for it properly.
Things You'll Need
- High-fiber, meat-based cat food
- De-matting comb
- Wide-toothed comb
- Fine-toothed comb
- Slicker brush
- Grooming powder
- Cat shampoo
- Hairball treatment
- Absorbent cat litter
Instructions
Offer food that's appropriate for long-haired cats. Many long-haired cats are susceptible to dermatitis and hairballs, but a proper diet can reduce the likelihood of problems. Provide food that's at least 50 percent meat, with no grain listed in the first three ingredients. It should also be high in fiber as well as essential amino acids and fatty acids like omega-3. A variety of specialty cat foods are available for certain breeds, such as Persians.
Groom long-haired cats daily to prevent matting. A long-haired cat's thick undercoat can mat in just one day. If you find mats, gently untangle them with a de-matting comb or wide-toothed comb. If you do not find mats, start by brushing out the coat with a slicker brush. Then use a wide-toothed comb, followed by a fine-toothed comb. Remove any facial stains with cat face shampoo or tear stain remover and a soft toothbrush. Use grooming powder between baths to care for the long-haired cat's fur without water.
Bathe long-haired cats every six to eight weeks. Before the bath, brush and comb the cat thoroughly to remove mats and excess fur. Use only cat shampoo and conditioner, because long-haired cats often have sensitive skin that's irritated by soap or human shampoo. Because long-haired cats are slow to dry, in cooler weather, use a hairdryer to dry the cat quickly. Wet long-haired cats can easily become chilled.
Prevent hairballs with dietary fiber and treat existing hairballs with lubricants. Long-haired cats swallow significant amounts of hair when they groom themselves. The indigestible hair can clump in the digestive system, causing hairballs that lead to coughing and vomiting. Extra dietary fiber helps prevent this. Provide a container of catnip, oat grass or wheatgrass for your cat to nibble. You can also mix 1 tbsp. of oat bran or canned pumpkin into the cat's food every other day. If the cat develops a hairball, apply hairball treatment according to the dosage recommended on the package or apply 1/4 tsp. petroleum jelly to the cat's paw and let the cat lick it off.
Choose an absorbent cat litter that won't cling to your long-haired cat's coat. Common clay litter and some alternative litters such as paper pellets tend to stay wet and can stick to the cat's long fur. This is not only unsightly, but also unhealthy since wet litter harbors bacteria. There are many effective alternatives to clay cat litter, including pine fiber and litter specially designed for long-haired cats.