How to take care of your cat’s fur?

A cat’s shiny coat is their treasure, and for people, it is a delight to touch, but extremely functional for the cats. There can be as many as 130,000 hairs per square inch in a cat’s coat. And these hairs do many things:

  • They give a cat sensory data.
  • They protect it from heat and cold, wind and rain.
  • They even help a cat manufacture vital nutrients like vitamin D.

But it is possible, from time to time, especially when the seasons change, that your cat’s fur to lose its glamour and that’s the time when she needs an extra help from you to regain it back. Let’s see what are the reasons why this may happen and how you can help your cat!

  • Poor nutrition. For healthy hair, skin, and body, your cat needs a diet with a good balance of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats, just like you do. And also just like you, if your cat eats nothing but poor quality food that is more difficult to digest, kitty may end up short on vital minerals and vitamins. Cats need much more protein than dogs; they also need complex carbohydrates, and healthy fats to help them maintain a healthy body and shiny coat.
  •  Weight problems. When some cats get fat, they stop being able to reach their whole bodies for cleaning. This can lead to a dull, unkempt coat.
  •  Age. When cats get old they can become less flexible or arthritic. Then they just can’t twist and turn the way they used to, so, age or pain could leave your normally fussy feline with a dull, bedraggled coat.
  •  Bathing too often. In an effort to control dander or foil fleas, some people bathe their cat. Bathe kitty too much and you could be the cause of kitty’s bedraggled coat.

How can you help?

  • Brushing your cat regularly. Brushing your cat for 5 minutes on a daily basis is the most effective way of making your cat’s fur shiny. This simple action gets rid of dead hair and dirt, as well as removing all stains and tangles. It will also show your cat affection, and it will make it happy. This way, you’ll positively reinforce its behavior and its trust of you.
  • A good diet. Food rich in Omega 6 and Omega 12 will greatly improve the quality and shine of your cat’s fur. Salmon, trout, sardines, herring and tuna are great foods for enriching your cat’s fur. However, you should never give your cat raw fish or with bones. A light boil or a quick grill will remove any trace of anisakis or any other parasite or bacteria. You are advised to feed your cat fish or wet fish-based food once a week.
  • Homemade remedies for its fur. Eggs: There are two ways of using eggs as a cosmetic for hair: the yolk and the white. Both are nutritious for hair, but they work better apart than if used together. The yolk is very nutritious and much stickier, tending to darken the hair and make it very bright. The egg white is less dense, removes dirt better and tends to lighten hair, giving it a glossy shine. Therefore, you should use the yolk for cats with short, dark hair. The white can be used for cats with long, light hair. Mix the yolk or egg white using a whisk along with a glass of lukewarm water. Once the cat is bathed and after a light rinse, apply the mixture on your cat’s coat using a sponge, avoiding the face and genitals. 

Honey can also be used as a hair nutrient. Well-nourished hair is healthy hair, and it becomes shinier and more resilient as a result. With an electric whisk, mix half a litre of lukewarm water with one level tablespoon of honey. Then proceed to apply this mask to your cat in the same way you would for the previous yolk or egg white mixture. Make sure you rinse your cat thoroughly at the end because honey is very sticky. Any remaining mixture can be stored in the fridge.

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