Grooming cats at home: Types and features of cat hygiene

Cat hair scattered around the house causes daily cleaning of the premises and cleaning of the owner's clothes.
If you are not able to stoically endure periods of shedding, then cat grooming carried out at home is suitable for your situation. Let's look at the types and features of cat haircuts. If you don’t yet know what grooming is, then it is a procedural complex aimed at putting a cat’s skin and coat in order. During grooming, combining cosmetic and hygienic measures, long excess hair is trimmed. In cities, this can be done in specialized institutions, but pets are more comfortable in a homely, familiar environment.

Grooming cats at home: Types and features of cat hygiene

Many cat owners stoically endure periods when their pet sheds.

Wool throughout the house causes daily cleaning, and there is a need to constantly clean clothes after contact with your furry pet.

To get rid of such discomfort, there are grooming services that significantly reduce the shedding of the animal and make its appearance more tidy.

Dog grooming techniques

Depending on the type of haircut and breed characteristics, the following techniques are used:

Trimming

Regular haircuts or combing of the undercoat are not suitable for wire-haired dog breeds. For such animals, trimming (plucking out dead hair) is used. Due to the nature of the hard hair coat, dead hairs do not fall out naturally, but remain in the body, clinging to the undercoat. If they are not removed, the fur will become matted and the appearance will become untidy.

Trimming - plucking dead fur - stimulates blood circulation and improves the quality of the coat.

The hair of such animals consists of both a soft undercoat, which provides thermoregulation, and hard guard hair, which protects the skin from damage. Such a pet cannot simply be cut - this will disrupt the structure of the coat, the shine, density, and natural stiffness will disappear.

The trimming procedure resembles artificial molting, allows you to maintain healthy skin by stimulating blood circulation, preventing the formation of pathogenic microflora, and improves the quality of the coat, which becomes thick, silky, and with a beautiful shine.

With regular trimming there is no need to comb the dog.

Clipperwek

This is cutting the fur very short, using a clipper. It is used for breed haircuts, for example, poodles, or for hygienic purposes, especially when the coat is in poor condition with a lot of tangles.

Showtream

Professional grooming technique, used for show dogs and preparation for competitions. Includes the implementation of complex elements taking into account established standards and characteristics of the breed.

Showstreaming show dogs.

Flatvec

A simple haircut that involves aligning the fur throughout the animal’s body to the same length. The master uses a comb and scissors.

Rolling

The plucking technique is similar to trimming, but differs in layer-by-layer execution; when rolling, only the longest hair is removed. Both procedures should be performed by a professional groomer. Doing it incorrectly on your own can seriously damage your pet’s coat.

Blending

This is the use of thinning scissors in a haircut to obtain a smooth, uniform and beautiful relief of the hairstyle, giving a finished look to the work.

Top notes

This technique allows you to show your imagination. Here you can use jewelry, various products, and accessories to create an interesting look. They use bows, elastic bands, hairpins, rhinestones, ribbons, and much more.

What is cat grooming?

Grooming is a set of procedures aimed at bringing the surface of a cat’s body into hygienic and cosmetic order.

In other words, this is a haircut - a process during which excess, too long hair is removed from the animal.

Professional grooming is performed by a specialist who uses specially selected tools for this purpose, such as:

• Hair cutters for cats;
• Massage brushes for grooming;
• Combs;
• Special hair dryers for styling animal hair;
• Rotary cars;
• Puffers;
• Furminators;
• Stripping knives;
• Wool rake;
• Thinning scissors;
• Nail clippers.

In almost every city there is a huge number of special salons that offer professional grooming services for any breed of cat.

Furminator for removing excess hair

Some breeders, in order to save money, learn grooming themselves by reading special literature and attending relevant courses.

We are watching the specialist

It’s better to watch a specialist work, then, after assessing your capabilities, try to implement it yourself.

A professional groomer's arsenal also includes:

• - rotary machines;
• -rakes for wool;
• - slickers;
• -combs;
• - tangle cutters for cats;
• - thinning scissors;
• — massage brushes for grooming;
• - styling hair dryers specialized for wool
• - stripping knives.

You can use all these tools at home, but at first you should limit yourself to, for example, a special glove. After putting it on, you simply stroke your pet, and excess fur remains on the surface of the accessory, which can then be conveniently brushed into the trash bin. Do not cut the tail, whiskers, head, eyebrows, or ears of cats. Remember that some cats' fur changes color and texture after being cut.

As you can see, grooming at home is a simple process; it can be easily done independently, bypassing queues, taking into account the condition of your pet and financial resources. You can contact professionals at first by inviting them to your home.

Types of grooming

Grooming a cat is not as trivial a process as it might seem at first glance.

There are several types of this cosmetic procedure, each of which is designed to bring the pet into proper shape in accordance with the owner’s budget.

So, the types of grooming are as follows:

This type of grooming is the most popular and is done most often due to its practicality.

The purpose of hygienic grooming is to make it easier to keep your cat clean and tidy.

In this type of haircut, the pet's fur is trimmed evenly, the claws are trimmed with special nail clippers, and the excess hair between the pads and toes is cut off.

In addition, the groomer removes excess hair from the cat's ears and tidies up the hair near the genitals and anus.

• Home grooming;

Home grooming is mainly carried out by those cat owners who do not have a lot of free time to constantly care for their furry pet.

With this haircut, the cat's fur is trimmed slightly for a neater, neater appearance.

Plus, shorter coats are easier to maintain.

As the name suggests, this type of grooming is used mainly to prepare the animal for a specific exhibition.

The main task of a groomer who performs an exhibition haircut on a cat is to hide possible shortcomings and highlight the best qualities of the animal.

Grooming your cat improves its health and behavior

List of breeds that need grooming

The exterior of certain types of animals requires the presence of a breed haircut; owners must periodically contact a groomer:

• poodle;
• spaniels;
• Yorkshire Terrier;
• Shih Tzu;
• Pomeranian Spitz;
• Maltese;
• Bedlington Terrier;
• Bichon Frize;
• Pekingese, etc.

The following breeds should be brought to a groomer for regular grooming:

• Akita Inu;
• Shiba Inu;
• husky;
• husky;
• shepherd;
• Tibetan mastiff;
• corgi;
• mixed breed and other pets with thick undercoat.

Owners of smooth-haired animals, such as:

• Doberman;
• German dog;
• boxer;
• beagle;
• dachshund;
• bull terrier;
• bulldogs, etc.

Representatives of wire-haired breeds need regular trimming:

• Brussels Griffon;
• miniature schnauzer;
• miniature schnauzer;
• Giant Schnauzer;
• West Highland White Terrier;
• fox terrier;
• Airedale Terrier, other dogs with coarse hair.

Features of grooming cats at home

Unlike getting a cat groomed at a salon or veterinary clinic, there is an alternative for every cat lover.

Now it is possible to call a professional groomer to your home to carry out the necessary procedures on the spot.

This type of grooming is very popular due to several features, including:

• Minimum stress for the cat - after all, grooming takes place at home and the animal feels calmer;
• Possibility of calling a groomer at any time convenient for the owner. The owner does not need to go with the pet to a salon or clinic or wait in lines;
• The specialist has all the tools necessary for professional grooming;
• Reasonable prices;
• No anesthesia or premedication during haircuts.

Your pet will be more comfortable with grooming at home

Typically, groomers have universal knowledge regarding animal haircuts, and can cut not only a cat, but also a dog if there is more than one pet in the house.

But unlike dog grooming , the price for grooming a cat is lower, and besides, specialists can cut any breed of cat .

The number of dog breeds that are cut by groomers is limited and depends on the specialization.

Preparing the cat before the show (1-2 days before)

The show grooming procedure is performed on cats 1-2 days before the exhibition, this allows the coat to be clean and tidy for a long time during the exhibition. The preparation algorithm for all breeds is the same, but there are significant differences in colors, texture and breed haircuts, trimming.

The basis is a basic three-stage complex - degreasing-shampoo-conditioning. Before the last stage (application of conditioner), preparations for working with pigment, color and preparations for volume and texture are added, if necessary. For example, all native cats have a specific guard coat, which creates a glossy, shiny coat that lies on an abundant, dense undercoat. The main task of the owner and groomer is to create and highlight this coat. The Ragdoll has a very soft, silky and voluminous coat, for which soft, delicate shampoos are quite sufficient. The Devon Rex and Cornish Rex have curly, ultra-short hair, which needs to be softened as much as possible with silky shampoos and serums, while the British cat needs to use texture preparations for greater elasticity. It is very important after water treatments to dry the coat thoroughly with a hairdryer or compressor, and then apply a moisturizing antistatic spray.

Brachycephalic cat breeds (Persian, exotic) have a breed-specific need for haircuts and trimming of the head, chin, cheeks and collar in order to create a sweet facial expression and an open, childish look. The hair on the tips of their ears is also trimmed to give them a rounded shape as much as possible, the tufts of hair on their paws are carefully selected, and the tip of the tail is also rounded using thinning scissors and special knives. Many cat breeds are subjected to trimming and pedigree haircuts, most often selective breeds of cats: Scottish, British, Selkirk Rex, Oriental, Somalia.

How to understand that a cat needs grooming?

As a rule, there are several factors that indicate the need for a groomer's intervention:

If a cat has a large number of mats, this leads to skin irritation and diaper rash.

If the problem is neglected, the animal may develop pockets of inflammation and flea “nests.”

Lumps, pellets, and matted fur are very difficult to comb - they bring discomfort to the animal’s life.

Under no circumstances should mats be cut off with scissors, as they can easily hurt your pet’s skin.

You should also not wash a cat with this problem - under the tangles, the skin dries slowly, and soaked skin easily becomes inflamed.

The most correct choice in this case is grooming.

• Cat health problems;

In cases where a cat has skin problems, grooming is necessary to trim the hair in the right places and make it easier to access the skin and process it more effectively.

Haircut is necessary for dermatitis, fleas, ear mites and increased secretion of the sebaceous glands (hyperplasia).

Grooming is also strongly recommended for cats who are unable to care for themselves due to illness or old age.

Maine Coon cats are especially fluffy

• Excessive hair loss;

If your pet sheds too much and often, grooming will significantly reduce the scattering of hair in the house and on clothes.

Typically, grooming is ordered by breeders with small children.

The absence of a large amount of cat hair in the house prevents the child from swallowing it and significantly reduces the likelihood of allergic reactions.

Myth No. 3: To keep your dog’s teeth healthy, all it takes is a special bone.

A bone will not help, and if the dog has digestive problems, it can harm. You can delay your trip to the groomer by purchasing special toothbrushes and toothpastes.

If you don't brush at all, your dog may lose teeth. It happens that at five years old an animal no longer has half its teeth.

Ultrasonic cleaning should be done every six months to every two years. Check your dog's teeth frequently to determine when he needs care. If there is a lot of plaque and tartar, it’s time to clean.

How often should cats be groomed?

The frequency of grooming primarily depends on the gender of the pet.

Females can be cut much less frequently than males.

This is due to the fact that cats devote much more time to licking and their appearance.

Cats, on the contrary, are less tidy and should be cut much more often.

Cats and cats should be groomed at different intervals.

The average cat can be trimmed every 6 months.

Cats usually need to be groomed three times a year.

This frequency will not lead to any undesirable consequences and will only have a beneficial effect on the cat’s well-being.

Oral care

Failure to brush your teeth can lead to dangerous oral diseases. Therefore, it is important to take care of your pet's teeth. To do this, you must follow a number of rules:

1. Carry out the procedure regularly - several times a week.
2. Use special toothbrushes that can be purchased at a pet store.
3. Buy only specialized toothpastes intended for animals. Cats do not like products with the taste or smell of mint, so human pastes are not suitable for them.

If tartar is present, cleaning is carried out in a veterinary clinic under anesthesia.

What should you consider before grooming your cat?

• Grooming in any case is stressful for the cat, so you should not carry out grooming if there is no need for it in the form of health problems, falling fur or an upcoming exhibition. If there is still a need, breeders should consult a veterinarian or groomer about the possibility of using sedatives, or even anesthesia (sedation). Sedatives simply make the animal more docile, remove nervousness and allow the groomer to do his job. In some cases, their use is necessary, but not all groomers work with anesthesia. In any case, it is best to entrust this procedure to a veterinarian.
• You should not try to groom yourself. The main reason for this is that most owners do not have the necessary tools - ordinary scissors or a machine for cutting human hair will not work here. In addition, amateur grooming can physically harm the animal.

The most “violent” ones should be calmed down with anesthesia during grooming

• The best option would be to groom your cat at home, especially if she is nervous and does not like this procedure. The home environment will have a positive effect on the animal's calmness. In addition, it is convenient and less time-consuming (no need to waste time on transportation).
• Some cats change the structure and color of their coat after grooming. For example, it may become thinner and darker.
• In some cases, the pet's fur does not grow back to its previous length after grooming, or regrowth takes a very long time. These features are individual and depend on the general health of the animal, its breed and age.
• It is strongly recommended not to trim the cat's head, ears, whiskers and eyebrows. Also, do not completely cut off the hair from the tail.
• Since most cats react violently to grooming, their nails should be trimmed first to prevent wounds and scratches for the owner, the groomer and the pet itself.

Grooming for a cat is always stressful

How to cut a cat's hair with a clipper

The cat clipper should be turned on in advance so that the pet gets used to its sound and is not afraid. In the same way, the cat is cut with a clipper, starting from the sides. The back and stomach are treated, especially carefully trimming the nipple area.

The clipper can cut hair according to its height and against it, using a nozzle of at least 3 mm. If there are lumps and tangles, they should be removed in advance, as the device will not cope with them.

The skin needs to be stretched - this will avoid cuts from the blade. Carefully trim around the intimate area.

At the very end of the work, it is better to cut off the wool with scissors, since contact of the machine with the skin can cause wounds and microscopic scratches. After grooming, the cat must be bathed with shampoo to remove any remaining hair and dirt. Dry with a hairdryer and towel.

Types of model cat haircuts

A model haircut is more a desire of the owner, rather than a necessity.

For example, model haircuts are given to cats that are planned to be taken to an exhibition.

Some people believe that a haircut adds aesthetic beauty to a cat.

So, the most popular model cat haircuts are:

• “Lion” - the animal’s fur is cut off from its body, leaving only a “lion’s” mane on its head and a fluffy tip on its tail.
• “Puma” - the cat’s fur is cut off from the back, while the hair on the head, paws and tail is left untouched.
• “Dragon” - the pet is completely shaved, with the exception of the head and the peculiar “Iroquois” along the back.

The scope for creativity here is quite large, and the result depends on the creativity and skills of the master.

Grooming cats at home: Types and features of cat hygiene

Cat grooming at home is hygienic and cosmetic procedures designed to tidy up the surface of a cat’s body. Professional grooming is carried out by a specialist using special tools.

Types of haircuts for dogs

Haircuts for pets vary by type, each performing its own tasks:

1. Show or pedigree is required to match the breed's conformation.
2. Model or creative allows you to create the type of pet that the owner likes.
3. Hygienic is used to ensure a neat appearance of the dog and facilitate daily care. Can be done either by a groomer or independently at home: wash, carefully trim the hair around the tail and in the groin area, shorten on the paws and muzzle. These actions do not require special skills, only accuracy is important.

Regardless of the type of haircut, attention should be paid to the frequency of the procedure. Neglected fur, the formation of tangles, and too long nails bring discomfort to the animal and can cause various diseases of the skin and joints.

Cat grooming: features of the procedure

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Animal care professionals know what grooming is. However, recently this term has become vague, if not completely unclear. Some people, for example, believe that this is what they call grooming pets. Let's look at the nuances of the term, the features of the procedure, and find out who needs it, as well as how it affects the behavior of the animal.

Grooming in stages

Care procedures consist of mandatory steps, such as:

• thoroughly combing the dog, removing mats, heavy dirt, and dead hair;
• 2 times washing using shampoos and conditioners intended exclusively for animals;
• meticulous blow-drying;
• hygiene of the area around the eyes using special lotions;
• ear treatment: plucking fur, cleaning with ear products;
• cleaning the anal glands (can be entrusted to a veterinarian);
• haircut according to the wishes of the owner or the requirements for the breed;

What it is?

Cat grooming is a complex of caring hygiene procedures. It includes not only a haircut, but also care for the pet’s fur, ears, eyes, skin and teeth. This is not at all a whim of the breeder, but rather a necessity to maintain excellent health of the pet. In addition to cleaning ears, teeth, eyes and grooming, it includes trimming nails. A specialist or the owner himself can carry out a set of measures to care for a cat, if he has the skills and the necessary equipment.

List of grooming procedures

Today I will talk about grooming for ordinary pets. Grooming for animals that participate in exhibitions includes a more extensive list of procedures.

So, grooming includes:

• pet grooming – hygienic or cosmetic;
• combing the undercoat and combing the coat;
• bathing and/or spraying the coat;
• nail trimming and hygiene;
• dental and oral care;
• eye and ear care.

Grooming Tools

Varieties

Cat grooming can be classified into two types: hygienic and exhibition. The first type of care is aimed at ensuring and maintaining the cleanliness and health of the cat, giving the pet a well-groomed appearance. The care complex includes 7 different procedures:

• combing your pet's fur;
• swimming in warm water;
• wool cutting;
• cleaning ears;
• trimming long nails;
• eye wash;
• brushing your teeth

Exhibition grooming differs from regular grooming in that it is designed to bring a domestic cat to a certain standard established for a given breed. It is carried out by a professional groomer, paying more attention to the animal’s fur. This type of grooming is necessary mainly for cats that take part in exhibitions.

In this case, the master performs the haircut in such a way that the cat receives a minimum of unpleasant sensations.

What is show grooming depending on the breed

Grooming for an exhibition or show grooming is the preparation of a cat’s coat, skin and the entire external appearance of a cat for an exhibition, depending on the breed standard of the exhibition system where the show is planned. In different exhibition associations, the standards of the same breed may differ greatly or have minor discrepancies. In some breeds, the coat, its quality, color and texture account for only 5 points out of 100, and some species have 35-40 points out of 100 possible. Based on the evaluation criteria for different associations and breeds, cat show grooming may differ and have a different impact on the final score.

For example, an American Curl or a Scottish cat can have any color and any pattern; the texture of the coat is also very variable from silky close to fluffy. For the British, American Shorthair, Sacred Burmese or Bengal breed, color, tone, contrast of spots, markings or patterns, as well as length, density and texture of the coat are of greater importance and, as a result, give high scores in the complex. In this case, any errors in grooming for the exhibition, or its lack or excess will reduce the points up to and including disqualification. Therefore, you need to follow the basic rules in preparing a cat for an exhibition, regardless of the breed:

• First of all, it is good to study the standards of some cat breeds that are planned to be prepared for exhibitions. Usually this is a small group consisting of several aboriginal or, in other words, natural breeds (Maine Coon, Siberian, Norwegian Forest, American Shorthair) and selected breeds (Scottish, British, Ragdoll, Persian). For breeders of the same breed/group, the task of studying the standards is greatly simplified.
• For a detailed study and correct analysis of the current state of a particular breed, you need not only to read the standard, preferably in the original language, but also be sure to look at photo galleries of high-ranking winning cats in different categories: adults, kittens and castrates over the past 3-5 years. As a rule, photos of three winners in each of the listed categories are published annually on association websites. And if you multiply this by 5 years, you get 45 exemplary photos and a collective image of a high-breed cat.
• It is necessary to focus on internationally recognized associations, where many cat breeds had their birth, formation, development and registration; you should not become attached to small local systems and clubs. In the felinological world, there are the most popular associations listed in the federation called WORLD CAT CONGRESS, which includes the oldest American association CFA and the younger American TICA system, where the description of breed standards is most complete, accurate and supported by an excellent archival photo database.

TICA Best cat of the year 2016-2017

Necessary equipment

To carry out a set of procedures use :

• special combs;
• shampoo for cats and cats;
• nail clippers or nail scissors;
• cotton pads or napkins;
• ear cleansers;
• scissors or a wool clipper.

In addition, hydrogen peroxide and cotton wool should be on the workbench just in case. If the cat has long hair, fine-toothed combs, massage brushes, and gloves are used to remove loose hairs.

Express grooming

In show grooming there is also the concept of express grooming

– this is preparing a cat for examination and rings directly in the show hall. Using various techniques and tools, you can hide minor imperfections and improve the effect of medications used the day before. A specialist can also increase the shine of the coat, remove the stained area, or polish the coat using special degreasing polishing wipes. Using a special powder, you can add volume to panties and collar, and using various sprays, you can remove static and moisturize the coat, adding finishing touches for the most complete preparation.

Of course, each cat is individual, but if you follow the recommendations, study the standard and follow the rules, the result will exceed any expectations.

When is it needed?

In general, a complex of caring procedures is always needed. However, there are times when immediate haircutting is required. For example, cats need grooming:

• before an upcoming operation or procedure associated with the need to cut hair in certain places;
• if your pet has skin diseases that require access to the skin;
• in case of heat , if the cat has long hair and there is a risk of body overheating;
• if there are small parasites (fleas, ticks) in the fur;
• when feces stick to the fur near the hind legs and tail of long-haired cats;
• a cat that swallows a lot of hair when licking its own body;
• in the case when the animal’s fur becomes matted , but there is no time for constant combing.

In addition, a cat’s haircut is also necessary if the owner is allergic to cat hair, which can be a carrier of the allergen. This procedure allows you to reduce the concentration of allergenic protein, coupled with constant cleaning of the house. It is necessary to cut the animal even when the owner is unable to provide proper care for the pet’s coat. Otherwise, cats need to have their hair cut more often for medical reasons.

The cat itself cannot lick itself completely, which is bad for the condition of the coat and skin. For example, she will not clean her own ears, she will not be able to clean her eyes, and she will not be able to trim her claws. Timely grooming is the prevention of various diseases.

Myth No. 6: To prevent your pet from biting and scratching, it is better to put him under anesthesia

Anesthesia is often recommended for cats. It is almost impossible to comb, remove tangles or brush a cat’s teeth without scratching. But it is important to remember that anesthesia is a risk, so your pet must first have an ultrasound of the heart.

The minimum that needs to be done before anesthesia is to listen to the heart. Practice shows that even after testing and excellent blood, heart, liver and kidney parameters, there is a risk of cardiac arrest from anesthesia. I recommend carefully checking the animal’s body to reduce risks as much as possible.

Anatoly Krivoy, veterinarian

Cat behavior

It is impossible to say with certainty that cats love grooming. And the point here is not so much in the fear and restlessness of animals, but in their upbringing and mood. If a kitten has been accustomed to basic hygiene since childhood, it will sit quietly while its fur is combed out, its ears are treated, and its teeth are brushed. A cat being groomed for the first time will become nervous.

Treatments in the salon begin with nail trimming, to which even a trained cat reacts differently. But when it comes to haircuts, few pets have a positive attitude towards it. Some individuals consider this humiliation, and therefore avoid the procedure for a long time. For them, such a procedure often results in stress and sometimes loss of appetite.

It is necessary to accustom a kitten to hygiene from the age of two to three months, gradually incorporating new types of procedures into home cat grooming. During grooming, a cat may scratch, bite, twist and try to escape. In some cases, after the procedure, its stress can develop into a problem such as the appearance of bald patches that will not heal. A cat may become nervous at the sound of a clipper or even a hair dryer.

Some pets may try to bite the groomer while he is bathing them. There is no need for wild haircuts, which can cause ridicule of your pet. Cats sense intonation very accurately; they understand not only a stern voice, but also the manner of conversation. Neither a haircut like a lion nor any other animal will give your pet confidence. They feel most confident with their own fur.

How to teach a dog to groom

Accustoming to grooming and hygiene procedures should begin as soon as the puppy arrives at home. An adult dog that finds itself groomed for the first time behaves restlessly, impatiently, and may show aggression. An experienced groomer will be able to gain the trust of almost any pet, but to avoid stress, it is the owner’s task to familiarize the puppy with the procedures and socialize it.

The first hairstyle should not leave negative memories on the dog; simple stroking with a comb is enough to get started. You can touch the paws with a nail clipper for several days before trying to trim the nails. Having become accustomed to the tools, the pet will not be afraid of them and will allow itself to be manipulated. Punishment for poor performance on initial attempts should be avoided. It is better to reinforce positive emotions with praise or a treat.

Nuances of procedures

Grooming a cat is one of the key stages of grooming. At the same time, an unenlightened layman may not know some points that are important to pay attention to. For example, you cannot cut an animal’s head or trim hair from its ears and whiskers, since there is a high probability of damage to the whiskers . In addition, you cannot completely cut the hair from the tail, because cats constantly gnaw on it, and therefore can cause serious injury to themselves.

During grooming, a specialist often reveals the presence of problems such as incipient dermatitis, increased greasiness of the coat, and vitamin deficiency. As a rule, the cat stands on the table during grooming. Other “clients” are placed on their side, and after treatment – ​​on the other side. After grooming, cats are bathed and then, at the client’s request, they take care of their ears, claws and eyes.

Rarely do animals behave too calmly: this is typical of those cats who adore having their fur brushed, constantly stroked and cherished. Often, when trying to trim their fur, cats become aggressive. This is a natural protective reaction, and therefore the groomer sometimes needs an assistant to hold the animal while its hair is cut. However, there are restrictions that exclude some stages of hygienic manipulations.

For example, you should not cut or bathe an animal if the room is cool, as the pet may catch a cold. You cannot abruptly perform the entire set of procedures if the animal is not accustomed to them. You need to do the preparation gradually: you can start with short visits, treating the cat at each stage of grooming. You can skip something, allowing your pet to get used to the environment and manipulations, so as not to provoke stressful situations in the future.

To reduce a cat's resistance to grooming, some salon technicians use muscle relaxants. The drugs do not immobilize the animal, but reduce its activity, as a result of which the pet’s reactions become inhibited. Essentially, the cat is given an injection after choosing the right type of drug and the required dosage.

After this, the specialist monitors the “client’s” condition, however, such a procedure can negatively affect the pet’s health.

Other groomers use a leash, putting it on the cat while grooming. Still others prefer a special bag-retainer, which simplifies various manipulations by a specialist. Bags are used to simplify injections into any of the limbs, care for the ears and eyes. In essence, this product is somewhat like a straitjacket for a violent pet.

It is worth noting that not all stages of grooming need to be performed constantly. For example, it is not recommended to do a haircut more than once every 3 years. In addition, no matter how much you want to make your cat special, you need to understand that this is, first of all, a last resort, and not a change in appearance through a model haircut.

It’s one thing when a cat is cut for medical reasons, but it’s quite another thing for its own amusement, because the animal can take a long time to recover from the stress “given” by its owner.

Grooming

Grooming is aimed at caring for a cat's fur. It is recommended to carry out a number of procedures:

1. As the fur gets dirty, you should bathe your pet.
2. If the breed is hairless, the skin must be wiped.
3. For short coat lengths, brushing should be done once a week.
4. Long-haired cats should be brushed every day.
5. Daily combing of the coat is necessary during the period of active molting of the animal.
6. Grooming should be done if there is a need for it, if the pet has tangles.
7. Regularly inspect the coat for parasites, fleas, dermatitis or allergic reactions.

Grooming is not a particularly favorite procedure for cats.

Carrying out this procedure for the first time on an adult cat will be extremely difficult and, most likely, will not bring a successful result.

You need to accustom your pet to regular hygiene procedures from infancy.

Features of cutting cat hair

Before you start trimming the cat's fur, you should shorten your cat's claws. This will save the owner from getting deep scratches. Most animals, at the sound of the clippers being turned on, begin to behave aggressively, scratch and try to escape. Hair cutting is carried out according to a certain algorithm:

1. The cat should be placed on a prepared, stable surface. The most convenient would be a table.
2. It is recommended to carry out the haircut with an assistant who will hold the pet by the paws so that it does not break free. The cat needs to be pressed tightly to the table.
3. A suitable nozzle on the machine is 2-3 mm. You should not reduce this parameter so as not to injure the animal’s skin, and if the nozzle is higher, it will be very difficult to operate it.
4. Wool can be cut in any direction - with or against hair growth. Trimming against the direction of hair growth will give a better result.
5. Start processing the wool from the sides, then move to the back, and lastly process the belly.
6. The tail can be cut, but it is better to leave its tip in the form of a brush.
7. You should not cut the lower part of the paws, only if there is a need for this - the formation of tangles that cannot be removed in any other way.
8. It is not recommended to touch your pet's head and neck. In these places the skin is very delicate, thin, and the hair is short, so the likelihood of injuring the animal is high. If the hair on the head is long or there are tangles on it, it is recommended to trim it with scissors.

Haircut models for cats

In most cases, owners of cats who will be attending exhibitions resort to a model haircut. But often fashionable and unusual hairstyles are given to pets for beauty, to emphasize their individuality. Types of haircuts:

1. a lion – the fur is removed from the body, leaving long hair on the head, like an imitation of a lush mane of a lion. The tail is cut, leaving a tassel at the end.

2. Puma – the fur is removed from the back of the body. Hair remains on the paws, head and tail.

3. The Dragon – the fur is cut all over the body, remaining only on the head, and intricate lines are made of it along the back, reminiscent of Iroquois.

The owner himself can come up with a haircut for his pet using his imagination. The main thing is skillful, experienced hands, since it is very easy to injure the skin of an animal with such haircuts.

How is it going?

If a haircut is necessary, it begins after treating the claws and injecting a special preparation. For cutting, use a clipper and scissors, paying special attention to the armpits and abdomen. At the end of the haircut, the animal is bathed, its fur is dried, and then it is combed out. You need to wash your cat well so that there are no cut hairs left on his body.

The specialist selects a washing shampoo and begins bathing the cat. After bathing, he wraps her in a towel to dry her fur. Other masters use a hairdryer to speed up the procedure. If necessary, a haircut is performed, which is selected based on the length of the coat and the preferences of the owner.

Sometimes pets need trimming, which involves comprehensive hair care with the removal of old hair and cutting out specific hairs. For example, some individuals have the hair between their toes trimmed . This should be done carefully so as not to injure the animal. When doing ear and eye hygiene, the master will tell the owner that this needs to be done daily.

If the cat has diseased organs, antiparasitic treatment is performed to remove purulent discharge. If the wool is matted, they are removed, the wool is combed for a long time, using different combs and brushes. If the cat does not have hair (hairless breed), instead of cutting and combing the fur, the master pays attention to places where dirt may accumulate in the folds of the skin. These cats need frequent baths.

As for the ears and eyes, they are cleaned using chamomile infusion or boiled water. Earwax discharge is removed using a damp cotton swab or disk. Get rid of dust particles and dirt in the corners of the eyes using wet wipes soaked in boiled water. The claws are trimmed with a nail clipper to no more than 1.5 mm.

As for removing tartar, this should only be done by a specialist. Ideally, you need to brush your cat’s teeth with a special paste and brush every day. However, it is rare that a breeder can do this on their own, and not everyone knows that the paste for cleaning cats’ teeth is different from the one that people use.

What to tidy up during grooming before the show

• Trimmed nails, perfectly clean eyes and ears.
• The cat's fur must first of all be perfectly clean, uniform,
  like a flowing canvas, without areas of delamination or fragmentation, and mobile when walking. The texture of the coat must correspond to the breed standard (that is, a graceful Maine Coon should not look like a fluffy, cloud-like Persian cat, and a blue plush British cat cannot in any way resemble a Russian Blue, which has a silky, close-fitting fur coat).
• There should be no defects on the coat:
  no yellow-brown traces from physiological secretions in the contact areas, groin, joints, in the muzzle and mouth area, there should be no tangles or tangled areas. The skin must be absolutely clean, healthy and free of damage. Any hygienic haircut is prohibited. Pedigree technical haircuts and trimming are encouraged in some breeds to achieve a certain effect: for example, in Scottish cats the top of the head is trimmed in order to emphasize the circumference, and in long-haired bobtails the lower back and tail are trimmed in order to design the tail in the form of a pedigree pom-pom and a high, graceful back line surface of the thigh.
• Show grooming should highlight the advantages of cats and hide the breed's shortcomings.
• Any excess styling products, sprays, powders, crayons, dry shampoos and other preparations are prohibited
  if the expert can tactilely feel them with his hands. If such products remain on the palms, this is a serious violation. For excess or lack of grooming, penalty points are provided, up to and including disqualification. You should always remember that the judge examines the cat not only with his eyes, he touches the entire fur with his hands.

Below is a photo of a cat before and after professional grooming:
Photo before professional grooming Photo after professional grooming

The importance of basic grooming at home

As a rule, most owners turn to professional grooming only on the eve of the exhibition, but the pet needs regular quality care. Therefore, it is very important to provide your cat with basic grooming procedures at home. There are several key rules for maintaining your pet's show appearance.

Regular washing

It is necessary to systematically wash your cat long before the start of the show season, and not just one day before the show. It is impossible to create perfect coat just before the exhibition in just one procedure. If a cat has not had proper care for several months, the coat becomes yellow-brown, this is especially noticeable on black, silver, blue and white cats. This plaque is caused by physiological secretions (for example, the secretion of the sebaceous glands, urine, saliva, tears, blood), which, as soon as they leave the body, immediately react with oxygen from the air, oxidize and acquire a brown tint. The same thing happens with the color of a cat. After all, a pigment is, first of all, a protein granule of eumelanin (black pigment), which has its own shape, size, density, and structure. When the pigment is damaged, the shade of the coat transforms and becomes a dirty brown color. In order to wash off plaque, restore color, enhance the natural pigment and contrast of the pattern, you will need from 4 to 8 full-fledged professional complex procedures.

Cats with any coat type need grooming

There are myths that short-haired cats don't shed or shed less than their furry counterparts, that their coats don't require grooming, or that they don't need to be washed. This is a typical misconception. Absolutely all cats with fur shed, that is, periodically change their fur. The seasonality of shedding in cats adapted to housekeeping is radically different from ordinary cats that live in the wild.

The main mistake and self-deception of the owner, handler or novice groomer is the following: when there is a rich, voluminous coat, they try to preserve it using any means other than regular washing, for fear of losing this coat during the first bath. For example, a fairly common case that owners often encounter. In the summer, cats living indoors under air conditioning in a cool environment acquire a full, rich coat, with a glossy, tight coat and thick undercoat. The beginning of autumn is the time of active show season. The owner rejoices at how abundantly the fur has grown, and the undercoat has become voluminous and powerful, and is wary of combing and generally touching this fur, so as not to lose a single hair. But each hair has its own measured life span; mature hair dies and must fall out, making room for new hair to grow.

In the absence of regular basic grooming procedures, this does not happen, the skin becomes dry, which often leads to dandruff, and the coat ceases to be shiny and elastic. It loses moisture and becomes porous and loose, the keratin layer begins to partially collapse. The horny scales that cover each hair will begin to break off, forming a kind of notches, as a result of which the hair becomes tangled, forming knots and subsequently tangles, the fur begins to gradually fall off, involving young healthy hairs in this process. As a result, instead of being in show condition, the cat has matted fur, with which it cannot take part in the exhibition, claiming a high place.

In this case, owners usually turn to emergency help from a professional. The cat's tangles are removed, tangled areas of fur are removed, the greasy tail is washed, and washed according to all the canons and standards of show grooming, but during the procedures the pet loses most of the mature and exfoliated hair. Therefore, even after the help of a professional, the cat is not in the best show shape. Situations like this demonstrate that it is impossible to achieve high standards of appearance in one procedure; methodical ongoing care with periodic washing is required. It is recommended to begin preparing your pet’s appearance for an exhibition six months in advance.

No experiments on the eve of the exhibition

It also happens that after a single one-time grooming procedure before an exhibition, the shampoo suddenly does not suit the cat, the fur takes on an unnatural shade, hangs in icicles or becomes matted. These experiments do not bring any benefit to the cat, therefore all products used in grooming cats must be tested many times specifically for a given cat, and new, untested products should never be used on the eve of an exhibition.

Differences between show grooming and basic procedures

Preparing for an exhibition is comparable to evening hair styling and ceremonial makeup for people to go out. And basic grooming is a hygienic component and the basis of a cat’s health.

Grooming and its types

The goals of grooming vary. Some owners prepare their dogs for an exhibition, others want their dog to be known as a “neat guy,” and still others want a creative and extraordinary appearance for their pet. Depending on the intent of the cosmetic procedures, there are several types of grooming:

• Hygienic.
• Home.
• Exhibition.
• Creative.

Hygienic. Includes a hygienic haircut (cutting hair in the groin and under the tail) once every 2 weeks - 1 month. It is advisable to do it before swimming. After trimming, it will be easier for the owner to care for the animal. In this case, a haircut along the body is not expected. This method of cutting hair is suitable for dogs in several situations:

1. If the dogs belong to breeds that do not need a full haircut. These include both fluffy varieties: huskies, huskies, shepherds, and smooth-haired animals: Dobermans, Dalmatians, bull terriers.
2. If the dog is not yet fully grown after the haircut, but needs light hygienic care. Some breeds undergo this procedure between haircuts to always remain well-groomed and look great. Such “dandies” include: poodles, Scotch terriers, Spitz, Pekingese.
3. If the animal constantly participates in exhibitions. Accordingly, it requires regular hygienic care between haircuts. Most often this applies to breeds with full-length hair - Maltese, Shihtzu, Yorkie.

In addition to the “sanitary” haircut, hygienic grooming includes a set of standard procedures: cleaning the ears and removing excess hair from them, cleansing the eyes, teeth, trimming the nails. Much attention is paid to the paws. Excess hair is trimmed between the toes and pads, and the hair on the limbs is shortened in a circular manner.

Grooming and its types

Home. It is considered a type of hygienic grooming, therefore it follows the same scheme and rules. Conducted by the dog owners themselves. But there is one “but” - for hygiene procedures you will have to stock up on a set of special tools for combing, cutting and trimming, and nail clippers. You also need to get all kinds of shampoos, conditioners and conditioners for dogs. True, zoological online stores have special grooming kits. They will make it easier to care for your dog at home.

Home grooming has one important feature. Its main goal is to give the dog a neat appearance, make it visually attractive and clean. In this case, it is not necessary to adhere to the breed’s conformation standards. A haircut is done more for the sake of hygiene and convenience, rather than for exhibition “beauty”.

Exhibition. But for this type of grooming, the entire procedure is performed strictly according to established rules. Moreover, when making an exhibition version, the master strives to maximally emphasize the advantages of the exterior, and, of course, tries to make the disadvantages of the four-legged appearance invisible. But all these manipulations are carried out in accordance with the requirements of the breed.

Creative. There are not and cannot be any rules, norms or restrictions. After all, when ordering such a service, the owner wants to give his dog’s exterior the most extravagant look. This is done mainly through original curly haircuts, when intricate patterns are cut on the animal’s fur.

There are other techniques through which groomers manage to turn even an ordinary dog ​​into a work of art: dyeing the fur, adding decorative elements - rhinestones, feathers. Some experts are so keen on the creative option that they create dogs that look like pandas, dragons, dinosaurs and cartoon characters.

What tools are used for professional haircuts?

To provide comprehensive dog care, the groomer must have a set of tools and equipment. Sample list:

• wash mat, rubber sponge, towels, cotton pads, swabs;
• a table with a rubberized coating with a stand for ringing;
• hair dryer;
• hair clipper intended for animals (devices for humans have differences in design and power);
• slicker;
• furminator or deshedder for combing out the undercoat, express shedding procedures;
• combs with fine and rare teeth, of various sizes (the tool is selected with a rubber or wooden handle, teeth rounded at the ends to prevent skin injuries);
• cutting scissors;
• thinning scissors;
• tangle cutter;
• mechanical nail cutter and grinder (electric tool for grinding claws);
• toothbrushes;
• rubber brush;
• trimming knife or special stone.

Tools for professional grooming.
You also need to stock up on cosmetics: shampoos, conditioners, sprays, toothpaste, eye and ear lotions. For creative haircuts you will need accessories, wool dyes, glitters, and fixing sprays.

Some of our works:

Cat's haircut "Dragon"

Grooming a Siberian cat

Grooming a Persian cat

cat haircut "Dragon"

Persian haircut

Cat grooming

See all photos of cat grooming in the photo gallery >>>

Professional grooming

The owner himself will not be able to cut his pet’s hair beautifully and efficiently. You can injure your pet during the grooming process. Cutting your own hair is long and tedious. A professional will do it quickly and efficiently.

Grooming can consist of only one procedure or a combination of several.

If your pet is in a bad mood, an assistant is needed for a haircut. To hold him in moments of resistance.