| GROOMING Though you may think there's nothing to learn about bathing and brushing your pet, following the simple procedures below will greatly improve your results and make this job easier on you and your pet. BRUSHING Before you bathe, you need to brush. A thorough brushing beforehand removes loose hair and significantly improves the effectiveness of the shampoo in cleaning down to the skin. And it makes bathing much less of a "hairy" job. Different coats sometimes require different brushes. Brushes and Combs: How to Choose the Right One for Your Pet. Prior to brushing you may want to consider spraying on a detangling grooming mist which will condition the hair and make brushing easier. Be systematic about brushing. Start at the head and work toward the tail. Use firm, but gentle strokes with an emphasis on gentle. Pulling or ripping through tangles and mats hurts your pet and quickly erodes trust. Brushing can and should be a pleasurable experience so take your time. For pets with thick coats, first brush against the grain starting at the skin and brushing outward. When the entire coat is brushed this way, start over and brush with the grain. For all other coats, brush with the grain. Use long strokes for long-haired pets, shortstrokes for pets with short or wiry hair. After brushing, you can use a comb to remove more of the loosehair. A hand-held vacuum also does a good job if your pet will tolerate the noise. BATHING In the past, the generally accepted advice was that frequent bathing of your pet would damage the coat. If you use the proper shampoo, you can bathe your pet more than once a week and not damage the coat. The first decision to make is where the bath will take place. Kitchen sinks or laundry utility tubs work well for small pets, while bathroom tubs or portable pet tubs are best for larger pets. Outside hoses, while convenient, aren't a very good alternative since the water is so cold. Water should be lukewarm for the shampoo to work best and for your cat's comfort. Apply an ophthalmic ointment to protect the eyes, and insert a cotton ball in the ears to prevent water from entering the canals. There are many shampoos to choose from depending on your pet's haircoat, skin condition, or desired result. DO NOT use shampoos made for humans. They contain harsher detergents, are not pH balanced for pets, and could damage hair or sensitive skin. Thoroughly soak your pet and apply the shampoo. Again, be systematic, working from neck to tail, and massage the shampoo into the hair and down to the skin. Use a towel saturated with water and shampoo to wash the face, being careful not to get shampoo in the eyes. Rinse completely, paying particular attention to the groin area, armpits, and between toes. Apply a second application of shampoo if necessary and rinse again. For a soft, manageable, and shinycoat, use a conditioner next, or mix the conditioner with your rinse water. Drying Off Squeeze excess water from coat. Then, for short-haired pets, use a cotton --or better yet, an absorbent chamois-type towel, to rub the hair vigorously first with the grain, then against, working from head to tail. Long-haired pets, especially should be combed out to prevent tangles from occurring while the animal is drying. Keep pets warm and away from drafts while the hair dries and do not let your pet outside until hair is completely dry. A dampcoat is a magnet for dirt. For a full, fluffed appearance, blow dry longer-haired dogs (withwarm air, never hot) while brushing hair against the grain. Direct air flow at the undercoat and work out to the end of the hair. To remove fluffed appearance, finish by brushing hair with the grain. GROOMING for PERSIANs The coat is luxuriant and very thick, composed of long, soft hair that becomes tangled and matted very easily. If you fail to comb the cat for a couple days, the coat will soon develop matted balls of fur that you wont be able to comb out without hurting your cat. Whether you keep your Persian as a pet or you show it regularly, grooming is not something you can do when you happen to think about it, and you it is advised not to go more that a week without grooming. Most Persians enjoy their daily grooming sessions, but there are some who hate it. This is not a question of the character of the individual cat. A good breeder will get his or her kittens used to a daily brushing at an early age, so that they come to accept it as a daily routine and actually like it. If you keep your Persian as a pet and do not show it, it will be enough to brush the coat through daily, using a wire brush, and then gently comb any matted areas out once a week with a wide-toothed comb. The areas between the front and hind legs, the hair under the tail, the chest, and the chin all need particular attention. Never pull hard on the coat ,go about the job patiently. If the coat is dirty you can sprinkle in some unscented powder, which will absorb the dirt from the coat. After you have massaged the powder in, brush the coat carefully until not a trace of powder is left. The areas most prone to matting are behind the ears, under the chin, under the forelimbs in the armpit area, under the hindlimbs, in the groin area, and along the tail. Why does my cat groom more in hot weather? Cat behaviorists think that cats may groom more in hot weather because it is a way to cool themselves. Cats cannot sweat like you or I. Rarely do we see them pant like dogs. Instead they rely on the saliva evaporating from their bodies to cool them. So if a cat's body temperature increases, it will tend to groom itself more, thus activating its own unique cooling system.. BATHING About once every 3 months you can bathe your Persian, but always use a good shampoo formulated specifically for cats. After a bath, the loose, dead hair that causes matted balls of hair can be brushed out easily. Matted areas that simply cannot be removed in any other way can be very carefully cut out. During the shedding season your Persian is likely to ingest a lot of hair during his daily grooming sessions. Grooming daily lessens the intake of hair. It is best you begin bathing when your Persian is young. Comb/brush your Persian to remove hair and dirt. Gently clean eye area.(see eyes below) Carefully place some cotton in each ear to keep water out. Its best to use a hand-held spray attachment with the water turned on gently or to pour water from a cup. Be sure to provide firm footing for the cat; a rubber mat or towel. Wet the coat thoroughly with warm water, avoiding the face, eyes, and ears. Dilute one part of cat shampoo with 5 parts water. Thoroughly work the solution into the coat. To avoid tangles, work only in the direction of hair growth. Be sure to rinse completely-this step may take longer than you would expect, since this is a long haired cat, as residue can irritate the skin and attract dirt. Repeat the entire process if necessary. Conditioners designed for long-haired cats helps avoid tangling. Work the solution completely through the cats coat, then rinse thoroughly. Clean the facial area with a washcloth, with plain water. Take the cat from the tub or sink and wrap him in a large towel, cats can get chilled real quick, so its important to keep them warm. Remove the cotton from the ears, and gently dry his coat. Then, untangle the fur with a wide-toothed comb (always combing in the direction of the hair growth) A hand held blowdryer can be used at this time, if it does not terrify the cat. Do not use on Hot. Set the dryer on warm. Once the cat is dry, then brush with a natural bristle brush. EYE CARE Your cat does not have a safe, effective way of keeping its eyes clean. Rubbing against carpeting or furniture, or trying to remove buildup with paws that have nails, are ineffective and unsafe ways to keep this critical area clean. You have to provide this important part of her health care. During your weekly health maintenance check, position yourself in good light and look closely at your pet's eyes. Healthy eyes of cats are moist and clear. If there is redness or swelling, or if your pet squints or you see a discharge of mucus, these may be indications of an eye infection. Monitor your pet's eyes closely and don't hesitate to contact your veterinarian if you suspect something is wrong. Your pets eyes are too valuable to take any chances. If you have an older cat and its eyes appear a bit hazy or opaque, don't worry. This is completely normal in almost all breeds. To properly care for your pet's eyes, be sure to: Keep all hair out of your pet's eyes since scratches to the cornea (the clear membrane across the surface of the eye) can result from contact with hair. Trim the hair using only blunt-nosed scissors, cutting parallel to the edge of the eyelid. This is especially important where the skin folds near the eyes in breeds like the Flat-Faced (Peke) Persians. Keep eyes clear of mucus at all times. Infections are often caused by bacteria that overgrow on mucus. Use a sterile eyewash and/or eye wipes to keep eye area clean. Apply a protective ophthalmic ointment under the top lid to protect the eyes before bathing, facial cleanings, and insecticide treatment. Even "tearless" shampoos can irritate if too much gets in the eyes or if it is not rinsed out soon enough. "Tear staining" is a common problem with particular breeds of Persians (i.e., Peke Faced), and can get unsightly if not taken care of. Tears are bactericidal, which means they kill the bacteria that can cause infections of the eye. Normally, tears flow across the surface of the eye and quickly drain through the tear duct. This discoloration at the corners of the eyes is caused by normal tears that spill out and lay on the surrounding hair. For breeds that tend to have tear or saliva stains, you could clean hair in affected areas at least weekly with a tear stain remover product. EYE CARE IN PERSIANS Persians have considerable problems with watering eyes, which can cause dark, tear marks in the creases of their face. It seems as though light-colored Persians suffer more from this problem, but this is simply because the marks show up more clearly. Try to prevent this dark discoloration as much as you possibly can, because in most cases neglected tear marks will cause permanent staining. Avoid this by cleaning the folds of the face and the hair around the eyes every day, using a soft tissue moistened with a special eye lotion for cats or with cooled boiled water. Finally, you will have to clean the ears every now and then by massaging in a special ear cleaner and then removing the surface dirt with a cotton swab. |
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