How to trim a cat at home?

Caring for a cat's fur is called grooming. This term includes both combing and clipping of the animal's fur. Although pet grooming is not a mandatory procedure, many long-haired breeds (such as Persian, Siberian or Somali) need to be clipped. If the veterinarian does not have the opportunity to do this procedure, then the owner will need step-by-step instructions for cutting the cat at home. This manipulation can be carried out for hygienic, decorative, exhibition or medical purposes.

There can be several good reasons why grooming a furry animal is a must.

• Hygienic haircuts are made when the animal's fur is tangled, or tangles have appeared in it. Also, quite often, pets can get very dirty. Since not all dirt can be washed off with ordinary shampoo, you will have to resort to cutting the coat. For example, if the cat got into the paint or gets dirty with building materials (glue or cement). Sometimes owners of old or sick animals are forced to resort to a hygienic haircut. After all, such cats may not be able to care for their fur.

• A medical haircut is prescribed by a veterinarian in the presence of certain diseases. The indications for a haircut will be the following diseases: the presence of various parasites (fleas or ticks); inflammatory or infectious diseases; dermatitis; prickly heat. When trimming the fur, the ability to treat the skin of a pet will be greatly facilitated. Due to this, the time of skin treatment will be significantly reduced. Such grooming at home will not be difficult.

• As for decorative haircuts, it is rather a whim of the owner, and not an actual necessity. With the help of such a haircut, the pet owner expresses the uniqueness of the pet, emphasizes the feline disposition and character. It should be understood that if you need to make a high-quality haircut, then it would be more correct to contact specialized grooming salons. In them, professionals use special grooming tools that will not damage the pet's skin.

A cat's haircut depends on how quickly its hair grows back. It usually grows back to its previous size from three months to six months. The growth rate of the coat can be influenced by various factors: the age of the pet, its state of health or the breed. Veterinarians recommend grooming your pet no more than several times a year. If the cat develops tangles, it is better to just use scissors and remove them.

Decorative "hairstyles" are allowed to be done more often, but it is important to monitor the condition of the coat, the health of the pet, and also choose the appropriate season of the year. Hygienic or medical grooming is usually done as needed.

For a home haircut, a stable table (or a comfortable ironing board) is suitable, where you can position your pet. As a means for home haircuts, scissors or a special clipper will do. Unlike analogs for humans, such devices are distinguished by their power and reduced noise level. But even such a device is capable of scaring a cat. Also there are special models that are specially designed for long-haired breeds. Their difference lies in the sharpness of the blades, which will not injure the sensitive skin of the pet.

Scissors or a hand-held clipper will work well when the cat is extremely agitated by the noise of an electric clipper. Since the risk of injury from such devices is extremely high, care must be taken. When grooming at home, a wide-toothed comb is also useful.

It is almost impossible to carry out the procedure on your own with a high quality. It is better to seek help from a second person. If the animal behaves aggressively, you can put on a special protective collar, which can protect the owner from the irritated cat. At home, you cannot give the animal any sedatives. The owner should stock up on antiseptic solutions (for example, chlorhexidine or peroxide) before cutting in case of cuts.

A few days before grooming, it is advisable to bathe the animal. This will make brushing and trimming much easier. Next, you need to trim the claws or use special protective pads on them.

The owner does not need to try to do his pet's hair in one go. You can take breaks, during which it is advisable to try to calm your pet and help him to endure this process, which is not entirely pleasant for him.

The wool begins to be sheared from the sides when using a typewriter. Next, they go to the back and to the abdomen. The nipple and crotch area will need to be carefully trimmed with scissors. After that, the vegetation is trimmed in the armpit area. The pet's tail can be shaped like a small brush or left unchanged. On the paws of a cat's fur coat, "socks" or "knee-highs" are formed. Scissors do the hair on the pet's head and trim the haircut in general.

Often, due to shearing of the coat, the shade and structure of the hairline can change. Regular manipulation can lead to the fact that the fur stops growing back to its usual length. Also, after clipping, the coat may become thinner.

Injuries to the skin can often occur as a result of home hairdressing. The possibility of developing infections and inflammation also increases.

Grooming an animal at home with a scissor or a typewriter is a hygienic exercise that aims to maintain a neat appearance of the pet. If the owner wants to prepare his pet for an exhibition or other important event, it would be more correct to resort to the services of a specialist.

In specialized clinics, cats are provided with hairdressing services using mild anesthesia or other similar drugs. But it's important to remember that the constant use of such medicines is not very good for the health of the pet.

Thanks to the imagination of the owner and the skill of the groomer, the appearance of the pet can be radically changed. Haircuts are popular in grooming salons: Lion, Dragon, Puss in Boots and others.

The lion is a fairly versatile "hairstyle". It can be used both for hygiene purposes and for exhibitions. This option is more correct to choose in hot weather. The next species is a dragon. This unusual haircut is characterized by the presence of an original mohawk along the back of the pet. With this variant of "styling" only the fur on the body is cut, and the head remains intact. The length from the spine to the tail is trimmed in the form of triangles. You can also leave scraps of wool and other items. Here everything is already limited by the imagination of the hairdresser.

Show or model hairstyles should be created by experienced groomers, i.e.This kind of work requires high professionalism. These hairstyles include: Harlequin, Modern and Continental. It can be concluded that a haircut can simplify grooming and reduce the amount of hair loss, as well as make the pet's appearance more interesting. But do not neglect the recommendations for the procedure.

But what if the pet stubbornly does not give up in front of the onslaught of the hairdresser? In this case, you will have to take care of the fur, as usual, and not mock the animal. You should periodically comb and remove matted hairs.

It is also better to resort to using additional grooming balms or shampoos that help soften the hair of the cat. Nowadays, there are special products for long-haired breeds that dissolve mats in the stomach. And so that the cat does not have heatstroke in the summer, it is worth buying an air conditioner.

How to trim a cat at home, see below.