long-haired cats shedding problems

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Jenni - 04 May 2004 05:03 GMT

Hi,

I have a wonderful 2 and a half year old long-haired cat (some people
have called her a medium-haired cat, but she certainly has a lot of
it!) Her shedding is becoming a problem, as fur is EVERYWHERE and
hairballs have increased. I try and brush (matting isn't really a
problem...only gets little mats every once and again) but whenever i
do brush more hair just starts flying around the apartment. is it
normal to need to have long-haired cats shaved (not bald, but just a
trim!!) in order to keep the shedding and hairballs to a minimum? i
know that this problem gets worse in the spring and summer, and we are
in the middle of New England! any advice would be great!

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Ted Davis - 04 May 2004 16:00 GMT

>Hi,
>
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
>know that this problem gets worse in the spring and summer, and we are
>in the middle of New England! any advice would be great!

Combing throws less hair around than does brushing, though both are in
order - keep the comb clear: hair builds up quickly and must be
removed to avoid the comb jamming and hurting the cat. There are also
special grooming tools for long haired cats, some of which actually
work.

T.E.D. (tdavis@gearbox.maem.umr.edu)
SPAM filter: Messages to this address *must* contain "T.E.D."
somewhere in the body or they will be automatically rejected.

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rpl - 04 May 2004 19:19 GMT

> Hi,
>
> I have a wonderful 2 and a half year old long-haired cat (some people
> have called her a medium-haired cat, but she certainly has a lot of
> it!)

got a couple of those.

> Her shedding is becoming a problem, as fur is EVERYWHERE and
> hairballs have increased. I try and brush (matting isn't really a
> problem...only gets little mats every once and again) but whenever i
> do brush more hair just starts flying around the apartment.

Brush a little more carefully, then use a fine comb. If your cat allows
you to, comb against the grain also (to get everything out).

> is it normal to need to have long-haired cats shaved (not bald, but
> just a trim!!) in order to keep the shedding and hairballs to a
> minimum?

that's just weird. and shaving the cat won't keep it from shedding,
it'll just make the shed fur a little shorter. I've heard (but can't
confirm) that the new fur will come in coarser.

> i know that this problem gets worse in the spring and summer, and we
> are in the middle of New England! any advice would be great!

Shedding season in Canada, too. Given the winter weather where you (and
I) live, unless the cat's strictly indoors, I wouldn't suggest shaving
at all.

Rick
had a friend whose cat liked to be vacuumed, YMMV

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m. L. Briggs - 04 May 2004 22:28 GMT

>> Hi,
>>
[quoted text clipped - 31 lines]
>
>Have you tried the glove that is made for grooming? They are great for removing

loose fur. MLB

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rpl - 05 May 2004 17:03 GMT

>>Have you tried the glove that is made for grooming? They are great for removing
>
> loose fur. MLB

Might try one of those, I've tried alot of things (best so far I've
found is a human hair brush and a flea-comb). But I still have the one
cat that gets downright nasty when the brush comes out <sigh>, her I
just bring in to the groomer special once a year to get thatched.

pat

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Wendy - 05 May 2004 12:36 GMT

> Hi,
>
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
> know that this problem gets worse in the spring and summer, and we are
> in the middle of New England! any advice would be great!

You may have to brush/comb every day during shedding season. In spite of
that you may still find "puff balls" around the house but at least the hair
ball problem will be reduced. It wouldn't be a bad idea to give kitty
"hairball remedy" more often during this time as well. I've had a few longer
haired cats and no matter how often I comb I still end up vacuuming more
often during shedding time. I can't say that I had cat hair everywhere
though, just on the rugs.

I usually brush and then follow up with the comb. Tigger will let me comb
against the "grain" and I do get out more hair that way. Got enough out of
her the other day to almost make another cat and she isn't long haired.

W

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