I have a persian cat who is feisty, has her own personality and just hates being combed. Over the years we have figured out how to maintain her fur and remove the matts. She fights her way through the brushing and combing ( daily).
Persian cat maintenance: Persian cats need help in maintaining themselves. The long fur / hair needs to be combed daily. Check their skin for dryness, itchy spots, rashes, tender skin. Check their fur for matts ( especially underarms, belly and the butt areas). Trim their nails once in a week ( as often as required).
Bathe them once or twice a month or as soon as you feel their fur feels greasy, sweaty and smelly.
Grooming a persian cat (and any long haired cat) is a daily chore. You have to spend time every day to brush their fur. If you have a reluctant cat like mine ( who hates it), you have to be extra patient and calm.
How to Groom a Persian Cat
Here are my six steps to grooming my cat.
- Calm the cat and myself
- Comb her fur
- Check for Fleas, tender skin, rashes
- Check the eyes and ears – Clean them
- Trim the nails
- Bath ( once a month)
For persian cats you must follow all 5 steps daily. Baths can be given once a month or as required.
Step 1 – Calm the Cat
Calming the cat is very important. You can try using calming sprays and drops for a particularly aggressive cat. Hande the cat firmly, gently and with love. They naturally feel relaxed and are receptive to being groomed then.
Step 2 – Comb the fur
Use a wide toothed comb on persian cats. Work gently yet firmly and use your fingers to pinch the fur near the skin as you work towards the tips of the fur. This ensures that your cats skin doe not get pulled.
Cats have very delicate skin, which can tear and bruise very easily. Be extremely gentle when handling their fur.
How to comb Matted Cat Hair
Cat fur gets matted very easliy. The loose fur just sticks together and forms hard matts. These need to be checked for and removed. Usually you will notice the matts in the armpits, on the stomach and near the anus. There are many reasons the fur might get matted in these areas.
Your cat can be getting old, have arthiritis, have too much and too long fur. This prevents the cat from being able to groom herself properly, hence the formation of matts.
How to Dematt a Persian Cat
Isolate the matted fur and use a wide toothed comb as a pick to pick on the ends of the matt. While doing this hold the fur close to the skin tightly. This will will prevent the skin from being pulled and torn. Be gentle and loosen the ends of the knot.
Once you manage to loosen it, use a comb and comb it out. The matt should come off easily. A matting brush can be very useful as well. This will rake the undercoat and remove the fur which could matt the fur.
Sometimes the fur is so matted that the only option is to shave the fur. I have used scissors to trim the matt, but I find the clippers are very useful and easier. Scissors can be very dangerous around cats as they can move very quickly and hurt themselves.
I have purchased cat clippers for long haired cats, which is almost noiseless and has two batteries. Make sure that they are noisless. I also prefer those without a cord.
How to shave a Persian cat
Shaving can be the quickest way to remove matts. It does require some experience so if you are nervous, it might be better to take your cat to a groomer.
I used to take my cat to the groomer till recently. I have started shaving her myself. I do not shave very close to the skin. I try and get as much fur off as possible, trying to stay away from the skin.
I shave her in the summer months, as it gets really hot and sticky. She seems to enjoy the feeling of having less fur.
Most groomers have a summer cut option which is like the crew cut for humans.
While using the trimmer you need to be very careful. It is very easy to nick the cat and cause skin burns. Some tips from experience
- Use the longest trim guard. This will help you get started easily.
- Use the comb to comb the fur and trim the fur above the comb. I use this method as it ensures that I do not get close to the skin.
- Check the temperature of the trimmer often. If it feels warm to the touch, switch the blades out. I just let the trimmer sit for some time till it cools down. I let the cat have a snack and move around while it cools.
- Make sure the skin is tight. I use my left hand to pull down the skin tightly. Be extremely careful while handling skin in the underarms. This skin hangs loose. I find the toughest spots are the stomach and chest area and butt area. You have to very careful around the nipples.
- Sanitise your clippers and oil them often.
- Spread the trimming and matted fur removal over a few days. It is easier on you and the cat.
Step 3 – Check for fleas, tender skin
This is the best time to check for fleas and tender skin. Check for any rash which is actually quite common in persian cats. Just take your cat to the vet if you notice anything.
Step 4 – Check the ears and Eyes
You have to clean around the eyes using saline water daily. They get buildup very quickly. Check the ears and clean them out. Trim off any fur. You can simply pull out any loose fur instead of using the trimmer.
Remember to get to this fur as it can cause matts.
Step 5 – Trim the nails
Trim as often as needed. Use a good quality trimmer. Avoid the pink area of the nail which contains blood vessels and nerves. Gently massage the paws and push the nail out for each toe. Be gentle yet firm. I would recommend cutting as many nails as you can, without a struggle. You can always start again the next day.
Step 6 – Bath
This step is optional. You can bathe the cat once or twice a month. If the the fur is greasy,smelly or sweaty, then it is time for a bath.
Some steps which are essential while bathing a cat
- Make sure there are no matts in the fur. Never bathe a matted cat. It will tighten the matts and make it very harmful for the cat.
- Comb the cat thoroughly before a bath. Cats fur matts so easily when wet, hence make sure you comb her down thoroughly. Make sure there is no loose undercoat.
- Dry the fur after a bath. Comb out the dried fur. We are preventing matts from forming by doing this.
Related Questions
How to Groom a Reluctant Cat
I watch videos of cat grooming and wish my cat was so calm as the ones they show. Mine trys to knock the comb, talks and tells she hates it, snarls occasionally, screams ( even though I haven’t yet started).
Stay Calm
This is how I managed to groom my cat. I realised that if I am calm, she calms down. So first of all I calm my nerves. This is not easy for me, as I anticipate the resistance and it literally can be nerve racking.
I only groom her when I am calm and patient and feel like I am in control. Cats sense when you are agitated. They love when you are feeling down or low. She knows she can control me ( if I handle her when I am feeling helpless).
Best Time to Groom the Cat
Next, I try to schedule my grooming sessions when she is calm, relaxed and her defences are low. So the best times are after a good meal (especially after a good feed of wet food or raw meat). She is so content after being fed her favorite foods, she lets us handle her for longer session.
Another good time is when she is sleepy. I catch her just before nap time. She seems to be in a very calm state then.
Do Bribes work?
My cat is a foodie. She loves food, and I can use this as a way to calm her down and distract her. She literally is on her best behaviour when she is being fed her favourite meals.
Every cat has a favourite treat. Use these to get them to be in a good mood or as a treat for letting them be groomed.
I also find that calming smells can be very useful for cats. If your cat is extremely aggressive, bites or scratches you can try using catnip extract which will help calm the cat.
Speak Firmly yet Gently
Speaking with authority, yet with a calm gentle tone, has a wonderful effect on the cat. They will calm down and let you groom them. The authority and the calmness in your voice reassures them.
The Grip
Catching the cat by the scruff firmly, helps the cat settle down quickly. It shows that you are in charge and my cat lets me be in control ( for small amounts of time).