The most challenging and apparent thing about making a cat as your own companion is taking care of its own coat. Unless your cat is a sphynx’s breed, you should take a great attention to this essential aspect of feline. It is prone to parasites, excessive shedding, thick mats and other problematical issues that are hiding between the fur.
Despite many possible ailments it gives, the cat’s coat possesses many features that exclusively exist for the sake of cat’s own safety. It provides a necessary protection against direct harm to the skin and helps the cat to sense its environment as well as any imminent danger. It also serves as a barrier that prevents drastic changes in temperature and as a medium to cower its enemy while bristling its hair.
For this reasons, it has become a duty for you as a cat owner to give the best treatment that your cat deserves. Therefore, your cat’s coat might bring illnesses if you decline to do so.
Generally, a good, well-cared and healthy hair can be recognized from the dense and glossy coat for the longhaired cat, while the shorthaired cat owns a shiny fur. You can also check its wellness by stroking your hand between the coat. The healthy one will leave less hair in your hand. On the contrary, if your hand carries much loose hair, you may consider brushing your own pet.
If it is your first time petting a cat, you can learn some basics of making a cat’s coat healthy and fluffy. Here are the ways you should do:
1. Monitor your cat’s diet
How can food affect the condition of a cat’s coat? The meal that enters the cat’s throat contains some nutrition that is distributed throughout its body, including skin and hair. Whether you put a proper food inside her bowl, it will then be used as a nourishment for the fur. Keep it in mind that it is a necessity for you to supply the suitable meal to your dearest cat by learning that cats have a distinct reference when it comes to their source of food.
Despite a cat needs other nutrients such as minerals, fat and vitamins, you have to give enough attention to the amount of protein within the food if the cat’s hair is the one you are concerned. This is caused by the fact that cats’ hair holds a huge quantity of protein. Thus, a dry, delicate coat that loosens easily may indicate the lack of the protein in its diet.
Even though a protein can be found in plants, cats whose nature is a carnivore still need the animal-based meal as the source of protein. Animal-based meal composed of more amino acids that are required to optimize the health of your cat, rather than the plant-based meal which contains less amino acid.
Cats also need linoleic acid and arachidonic acid. These substances are vital to the preservation of their coat and skin. You may identify these as omega-6 that is often discovered in animal parts such as chicken fat. You can use some vegetable oils, e.g. corn and soybean oils, for the source of linoleic acid. Pay attention to vitamins and minerals too, as these nutrients supply myriad of benefits for your cat’s fur. Some premium foods offer the sustenance your cat needs, but you have to check the nutrients covered in the food before feeding it to your pet.
Knowing the time when your cat eats is also important to its health. Your cat cannot control her own diet, thus you should provide the meal periodically if you want to avoid an obese cat. The feeding is normally done from two to four times a day. You may give your cat a treat, but keep it 5% less than its daily calories.
Besides the nutrients, another thing you have to notice is the cat’s trait when consuming food. You should accustom cats’ nature of hunting to the dispersed placement of food and water, litter box and resting area. Rather than a litter box that you can put anywhere, cats have their own preference for where they should eat. They favor eating in a quiet place, considering the fact that they are a solitary hunter.
Some human food can be alternatives to cat food. Meat, fish, grain and egg contain the unarguably source of nourishment. However, you must not serve them raw or they become hazardous to your feline. Vegetables are composed of vitamins, fiber and water, which are good for cat’s hair and digestion too!
2. Have a regular brushing
Brushing is as important as your cat’s health. Some cat owners are likely to neglect this and it results in illnesses to their cats. Felines tend to shed hair and it can be swallowed while doing the self-cleaning using their pointed tongue. The excessive hair caused by few treatments to the cat’s coat might nest within the digestive system.
The diverse length of cat’s hair contributes to different treatments of the fur. Rather than a shorthaired cat that only requires one to three times a week session for brushing, you need to have at least one spare time a day for brushing the longhaired one.
Brushing can also serve you a good opportunity to check your cat’s coat healthiness and fluffiness. Observe any issues relating to hair and skin, such as fleas, injury or dandruff. Cat with a healthy coat does not let these issues reside between its skin and hair.
Your cat, especially the longhaired cat, may not be uncomfortable with mats and tangles as they can stick to the skin, making it irritated as well as generating infection. You should detangle or remove them using your fingers or any device specifically made for this problem.
Brushing a cat may be not an easy job since your cat may resist being combed in her belly and ears. However, once she gets used to it, your cat’s hair will experience a step towards the healthy life. Learn ways to properly brush your cat here.
3. Know when to bath
There is no denying that bathing makes a cat’s coat healthy and fluffy. The National Cat Groomers of America suggest bathing session once every four to six weeks, but it can change in many cases. An outdoor or overweight cat might need more bathing time. You may want to wash your cat once she gets dirty or suffers a skin issue. Cut the cat’s nail and brush its hair beforehand to prevent any unwanted problem during the bathing. Know the tips to bathe your cat here.
4. Take care of your cat’s natural cleaning tool
Do you notice cat often spends her time licking her own body? It is due to cats’ attachment to cleanliness that develops such eccentric penchant. In addition, cat applies her own paw to groom the area around its head and ears after dampening it with her spiky tongue. Teeth are also used for some extra brushing force.
Since your cat’s tongue, teeth and paw are wielded for the purpose of the coat’s healthiness, it is better to examine these natural cleaning tools occasionally. Cats normally have a pink-like gum color. If it seems otherwise, you might need to provide them with a care or ask a help from a vet. It can be a sign of any disease.
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