This month celebrates my third yr of scripting this column, and I hope you might be having fun with it. We’re coming into Spring (fortunately for us people!). By Katie Gwilt – The Kat Girl
With the climate hopefully getting a bit of hotter, let’s speak about cats and shedding their fur, together with among the issues it may well trigger, in addition to different springtime issues.
Shedding season
Within the yearly cycle of a cat’s typical fur development, there are two important instances they do a full shedding. One is Autumn, after they begin to develop their thick winter coat and shed their summer time ones, and the opposite is now. Spring is normally the larger of the 2 shedding seasons as they’re letting that huge, thick winter coat go and rising in a lighter, much less dense summer time coat. They’re dropping a lot of fur, which can be getting caught towards their pores and skin, inflicting matting and pelting. Even short-haired cats can get matted round this time of yr if not given some additional TLC. For cats who go open air, that is extra noticeable as they’re extra delicate to adjustments in temperature.
What does this imply for cat groomers?
One of many important issues I’m seeing in the meanwhile is a variety of cats with dense fur are actually fighting shedding their fur and never having it get caught towards their pores and skin. Cats that don’t normally knot simply have gotten matted and pelted. It’s so straightforward to overlook any such shed fur for his or her people as it’s proper at pores and skin degree and infrequently looks like common pores and skin when you don’t know what matting looks like. It may well go unnoticed till it’s widespread and an actual drawback. Generally, individuals will attempt to clip the matting out themselves, which might result in accidents and worse.
What can cat groomers do about it?
Loads is concerning the schooling of your shoppers. Ensuring that they’re utilizing the appropriate combs and brushes for his or her particular cat’s fur is important. Individuals will take the time to brush their cat after which marvel why there are mats occurring, so let’s present them just a few methods they’ll use between visits. Lots of marketed brushes for cats will solely comb the very high of the fur and never get to the roots, which is crucial at the moment of yr particularly.
As cat groomers, we need to take additional time with these fluffy and dense cats particularly, particularly if they’re older or sick and aren’t capable of groom themselves as properly. Getting as a lot of that undercoat out is crucial, and for some shoppers, it could imply rising the frequency of their grooms at the moment of yr.
Shoppers could also be noticing extra fur balls at the moment of yr, too, so a very good brush is required to stop fur increase contained in the cat’s physique. Bathing cats will assist to take away extra shed fur the place potential.
Personally, I don’t bathe many cats as I discover most don’t tolerate the drying course of properly sufficient for it to be general useful. I at all times do a check with the drier earlier than bathing a cat, and it’s possible you’ll have to be additional cautious of aged cats, cats with coronary heart issues or are brachycephalic (flat-faced) and will wrestle to breathe underneath a drier.
Lion Cuts Sure or No
I discover that shoppers begin to ask for lion cuts round this time of yr and in the summertime to assist cats maintain cool. Once more, schooling is vital right here. Cat fur is thermoregulating and is designed to assist maintain them each heat and funky. The UK isn’t normally too excessive in climate adjustments (though this yr now we have already had two storms!), plus a lion minimize takes away a degree of safety from the solar and the dangerous UV rays.
I do discover myself doing extra lion cuts within the spring, as by the point the matting has been observed, it’s normally widespread throughout the cat’s physique. Once more, I attempt to educate so it doesn’t occur once more within the subsequent yr.
I make judgement calls relying on the cat’s well being and habits. Outdoor cats, I’ll attempt to keep away from a full shave if potential as we nonetheless have fairly just a few chilly spots, and they’re exploring unknown environments like prickly bushes.
Working setting for cat grooming
As there may be a lot fur flying round in the meanwhile, be sure the area you groom in is well-ventilated. You don’t need to be ingesting all that fur, both! If wanted, you possibly can put on a face masks to guard your airways, however bear in mind many cats can discover these intimidating.
Hold a spare uniform with you if you want to change between additional fluffy cats, and have some respectable lint rollers and different merchandise that safely take away fur out of your garments.
As regards to cleansing, give your washer some additional care, too. Examine it for clogged hair and provides it a great clean-out. There are merchandise that dissolve animal fur, however at all times test if they’re secure to make use of with cats particularly. With cleansing merchandise, at all times rigorously test substances and keep on with unscented or impartial smells like oatmeal the place potential.
Well being test
Shedding is a part of the pure life cycle of a cat’s fur and is a standard course of. It retains their pores and skin and coat wholesome. It’s at all times value reminding individuals, although, that extra shedding can generally be a sign of a medical problem like hyperthyroidism or diabetes in addition to underlying issues with the kidneys, lives, adrenal glands and even some forms of most cancers. If doubtful, at all times refer the cat to the vet for a full check-up.
Be careful for fleas!
Because it will get hotter, the dreaded flea season actually will get going, too. They’ll conceal in matted fur to flee the attain of chemical remedies.
Now is an effective time to test what precautions you’ve in place to cope with fleas in your workspace and what you’ll do when you groom a cat that you simply discover fleas on.
Keep in mind, you aren’t a vet and can’t diagnose a medical situation (together with fleas), however you possibly can level out indicators and counsel a vet go to. Most flea and tick remedy is now on a prescription foundation, and the cat will want a vet to log out on any remedy.
