Three Ways Regular Grooming Can Help Your Long-Haired Cat
Cats are often capable of taking care of themselves, which leads some pet parents to think that they don't require additional care as dogs do. However, if your cat has long hair, it's a very good idea to consider bringing them in for regular pet grooming by a professional. Here are three potential problems you can end up preventing or resolving once your cat starts a grooming regimen.
Hairball Reduction
Hairballs are a problem for most cats, but no animal experiences them quite on the same level as long-haired cats. They simply have more hair than the average short-haired cat, which means that there's more of a risk of developing hairballs or gastrointestinal blockages.
While vomiting up hairballs might be unpleasant for you and the cat alike, gastrointestinal blockages are what happens when they can't throw up the hairball. This condition can quickly become a matter of life or death because the hair can end up blocking off the entrance or exits of the digestive system. Grooming your cat regularly will help to remove loose hair and reduce the amount your cat consumes, lowering the risk of both hairballs and gastrointestinal blockages.
Avoids Matting
Matting is a problem that's much more common in long-haired cats than short-haired and medium-haired ones. Matting is essentially a very bad tangle forming in their fur.
For humans, dealing with tangles isn't a big problem, but it can be very uncomfortable for cats. In fact, if a mat is allowed to develop and becomes large enough, it can start pulling on your cat's skin and can even tear or split the skin open, creating a risk of infection. Simply trying to comb these out won't work, as you're likely to just rip the hair out and cause more discomfort. Your local groomer will be able to tackle them with gentle detangling, and if necessary, light trims to remove the excessive mats.
Finding Fleas
Fleas are a problem that no pet owner wants to deal with, but many pet owners don't realize they're already present until the problem is severe. Fleas tend to survive on pet blood better than human blood, and it can be very difficult to see them on long-haired cats, especially if they're a dark color. A groomer can detect these pests and their eggs before they become a big issue. The groomer can then remove them with thorough brushing and washing, and from there, you can start treating your cat for fleas to prevent them from coming back.
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