Dear Sinéad and Siouxsie,
My beautiful long-haired cat gets fur all over everything! While we understand
that this is part of loving a cat, we also want him to be the beautiful boy
that he is. Sometimes he starts looking really ragged, and so I want to brush
him, but he gets to be a big ball of static and he cries and cries when the
static gives him little shocks. I don't want to hurt Shamu, but I want him
to look pretty and I want a little less hair all over everything!! Any suggestions
on how to brush without shocking him too bad??
-- Marsha
Sinéad: Wow, you like to brush your kitty? What a lucky fellow that Shamu is!
Siouxsie: He is a long-haired cat, though. Long-haired cats need to be brushed daily to keep their fur from getting all matted up. We short-haired girls have it a lot easier in the grooming department.
Sinéad: But the static isn't any fun. I know sometimes, especially in the winter, when Mama goes to pet me, she gives me a shock, too, so I know how much that hurts!
Siouxsie: It's the dry weather. But I also notice I get more shocks if Mama's been walking across the carpet in her slippers.
Sinéad: To prevent the static, there are a few things you can do. First, avoid using plastic combs. Plastic creates more static when it brushes against cat fur. There's a tool called a slicker brush that's just perfect for brushing long-haired cats. And if you have to comb out mats, use a metal-toothed comb.
Siouxsie: You can also buy anti-static coat conditioners from your local pet store or from online sources. Mama looked up some sources on the internet and she found them at www.pets.ca (a Canadian place) and A-1 Pet Supply. Mama told us that the A-1 place made sure its products were not tested on animals, so we like that.
JaneA: Yes, you can get this stuff on-line, but I would encourage you to shop at local independently owned pet stores if at all possible. I've found that local pet stores are great resources, and if they don't have something you need in stock, they can usually order it for you.
Sinéad: If you don't want to use a coat conditioner, you could try misting Shamu's fur before you begin grooming him. The water will probably decrease the amount of static, and we know of some long-haired cats who are oddly fond of water.
Siouxsie: Don't use human hair conditioners, though. First of all, the smell wouldn't make a cat happy, and second, there might be stuff in human hair conditioners that's toxic to cats.
Sinéad: And don't forget, short-haired cats enjoy being groomed, too, although short-haired cats don't need as much grooming attention as Shamu or other long-haired cats.
Siouxsie: I love it when Mama grooms me during shedding time. It keeps me from having itchy undercoat fur trapped next to my skin, and Mama says it keeps the house cleaner. I just wish I could stand that wonderful-feeling mama kitty tongue for more than a few minutes before I get so overstimulated I have to bat and claw! Boo hoo!
JaneA: Siouxsie, you know I try to give you the same amount of grooming as Sinéad, but I do it in short spells so you don't get too wound up. While I'm here, I'll explain what the "mama kitty tongue" is. Short-haired cats benefit from being groomed with a rubber brush-type device. I bought mine from my local pet store, and it has soft rubber bristles on both sides. One side is flat, for brushing flanks and back and head, and the other side has a slight concave curve for brushing the tail, front legs, and lower rear legs. I'm constantly amazed how much fur it picks up, and both the cats really enjoy it when I brush them.
Sinéad: Yes, I love it! I purr and purr and purr....
Siouxsie: That's just because you're a suck-up. I like it too, but at least I try not to brag about it.
Got a question? Need some advice? E-mail Sinéad and Siouxsie at advice@paws-and-effect.com. None of the advice in this column is meant to be a substitute for regular veterinary care.
