{"id":3547,"date":"2019-07-08T04:14:07","date_gmt":"2019-07-08T12:14:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.matilijapress.com\/catscapades\/?p=3547"},"modified":"2019-07-08T04:14:07","modified_gmt":"2019-07-08T12:14:07","slug":"mindful-monday-a-summer-fur-do-for-cats","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.matilijapress.com\/catscapades\/?p=3547","title":{"rendered":"Mindful Monday \u2013 A Summer Fur-do for Cats"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"Have you ever thought about shaving your cat so she\u2019ll be cooler in the summer? Don\u2019t do it. Experts say that cats have coats for a reason. A cat\u2019s fur insulates her from the heat in summer and the cold in winter. This is not to say that a cat with a full coat can\u2019t get seriously overheated or suffer and even die in cold weather. It\u2019s up to us to help keep our cats comfortable in any weather conditions and shaving them might hinder our attempts.<\/p>\n

Some people shave their cats because of matting. I\u2019m one of those. I used to take my long-\"\"haired calico, Daisy, to the groomer once a year and have her belly shaved. I could manage her fur mats except for those on the fine fur on her tummy. You couldn\u2019t even tell she\u2019d been shaved unless she rolled over and exposed her bare tummy.<\/p>\n

My parents had a part Maine coon cat for several years\u2014a stray who chose their home as his. He was actually Smokey one. He had the finest fur. It was awful to deal with and they would have him shaved every summer. I swear that cat was embarrassed having to roam the neighborhood naked for three or four months every year.<\/p>\n

\"\"If your cat tends to collect awful fur mats, consider spending more time grooming him. Consult a cat groomer as to the best tools and procedures to prevent matting. Cats shed in spring and summer. The shedded fur tangles with the rest of the fur and this is one way mats are formed. So regular grooming can help. Sometimes we have to cut out a mat that formed when we weren\u2019t looking. A groomer can show you how to do that. If you absolutely must shave your cat or even a section of your cat, let a professional do it. Your veterinarian may even help with this during a routine vet check.<\/p>\n

\"\"Some cat owners think it\u2019s fun to dye their cats different colors\u2014red-white-and-blue for patriotic holidays, green at Christmas and St. Patrick\u2019s Day, etc. Experts say, \u201cDon\u2019t do it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sure there are relatively safe solutions to use on a cat, but there are also some that are dangerous and can make the cat sick or at least irritate his skin. So while we\u2019re cautioned not to interfere with a cat\u2019s natural beauty and health, many cats need a little help with their grooming routine.<\/p>\n

Unless you have show cats and are into showing, you probably don\u2019t spend enough time \"\"helping your cats groom. Many cats would rather not have your help. It\u2019s not fun to tangle with an uncooperative cat. But there are ways.<\/p>\n