Despite all their independence, cats need regular grooming just like we do. We may not know much about cat hair and how it gets into everything, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a way to prevent them from choking on it. Here are some tips on how you can prevent your cat from choking on its own fur.
Groom Your Cat Regularly
If you have a cat with long hair, you should brush your cat at least once a week. Long hair tends to get tangled and matted together in knots. These mats can be extremely painful for the cat, causing them to scratch and bite the area around their neck or hindquarters until the mat is broken up. If left alone, these mats could lead to infections or, even worse: choking on their own fur.
If you have a short-haired cat (like most Persians or Siamese), then grooming may not be as critical as it would be with other types of cats; however, regular brushing will still help keep their coat clean and healthy as well as prevent matting from forming between their fur when they shed periodically through the year.
Use A Clean, Sharp Pair Of Scissors
If you don’t have ready access to a pair of scissors, you can get one from an online store like PetCareRx, along with other amazing stuff for grooming like clippers, bows, bandanas, etc. Also, try using a comb or brush to remove the excess fur and tangles.
If you have scissors available, use them to cut off any matted fur. It’s essential to make sure that your scissors are clean and sharp before trying to cut through cat hair. The last thing you want is for your kitty to get an infection from being pricked by dirty blades. Although, avoid pricking your cat altogether because they might get quite annoyed if you do. Testing the limits of your cat is not advisable if you intend to keep it for long.
Groom Your Cat Indoors
If you want to keep your cat safe, then grooming them indoors is the way to go. Indoor grooming is safer for your cat because it eliminates the risk of getting caught on a leash or being dropped off a balcony. It’s also safer for you because there is no risk of being bitten in an aggressive bout.
Indoor grooming protects other pets in the home, as well as small children who might be tempted by the sight of a scared kitten struggling with its fur on the street below. Finally, indoor grooming protects the environment. No more gas-powered clippers or piles of stray hair lying around outside.
Be Gentle With Your Cat
There are many ways to prevent your cat from choking on fur, but the best way is to be gentle with them.
- Use a brush or comb to remove loose fur. Don’t pull out any fur that’s stuck, though!
- Don’t cut too close to the skin. Keep their hair at least 1/4 inch long, which will help it fall out more quickly if something gets caught in it later down the line.
Understand That Cats Have Weird Habits
Even though cats love grooming themselves, their process of removing dead hair can sometimes pose a risk to their health. If your cat has started to cough and choke with mucus or vomit while they are grooming themselves, it could mean they have ingested too much fur, which can cause a blockage in the digestive tract.
As highly stubborn creatures, cats don’t like being manhandled as much as you’d like. But their habit of self-grooming is what calls for action in certain instances. And this is not the only thing. Cats are intelligent, but they probably don’t understand their limits as well as they should. So, keeping an eye on them is imperative for their safety.
The most common signs of hairballs in their system are:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Coughing
- Refusing to eat or drink
Conclusion
Wild cats are not as vulnerable as domestic cats because they are used to hanging around by themselves and making ends meet. But humans pamper them a lot in their homes, so they end up taking precautions for granted. This pattern has been observed in dogs too.
They bark a lot while seeing other dogs at times but end up being unable to put up a fight when given a chance. This is a common problem of domesticating animals. So, pet parents need to be mindful of this behavior and cover up for their pets in the absence of their survival instincts.
To conclude, we can reiterate that cats are very clean creatures and will groom themselves regularly to remove excess hair. However, if you have noticed your cat coughing or having difficulty breathing because of excessive grooming, it’s time to intervene. These tips should help keep your cat safe and healthy during this process.
