Long-haired cats often form tangles - these are lumps of dead hair, tangled with live hairs. Koltuny hang on the animal and bring him discomfort. Fluffy cats are very beautiful and give their owners positive emotions, but if everything is left to chance, then lumps of wool can lead to adverse consequences, and there will no longer be joy in the sight of your animal.
Koltuns seem to be a harmless physiological feature of a fluffy cat, but they can also appear in one with very little hair. This happens if the cat is not properly cared for. Probably, everyone would be interested to know about the reasons for the appearance of these lumps, and why some animals independently cope with them, combing their tongues, and others need the help of the owners.
Causes of occurrence
A fluffy cat is not able to take good care of its hair, therefore it needs help. Can say that wolves are an indicator of how the owner takes care of his animal. Wool is always renewed: old hairs fall out, and new ones grow. The hair of short or medium length, the animal simply combes with its tongue, and the cat, which has long hairs and very fluffy hair, can not cope with combing. It turns out that the hair falls out, old hairs form lumps interspersed with new ones, and every day they begin to increase in size.
The second reason is incorrect bathing.. Many owners, bathing their cat, soar and ruffle the hair, but it’s better not to do that. Wool needs to be carefully stroked, because the wool will then be very difficult to comb.Combing after each bath is a prerequisite.
If the cat sheds its hair, then regular combing should become a habit. If you don’t do this, warlocks will appear, this cannot be avoided.
Wool may fall out due to improper nutrition. If a cat eats only dry food, it must be diluted with vitamins and minerals. If you are sure that taking care of your beloved pet follows all the rules, but the tassels appear anyway, all of a sudden, then this may indicate some kind of disease. In addition to the unattractive appearance, hairballs can still be dangerous for the cat.
For example, if the warlocks appear when it is hot outside, then they disrupt thermoregulation - the animal may overheat, and as a result traces of dermatitis (inflammatory skin lesions) will appear on the skin. In addition, lumps of wool are a paradise for bacteria. Various viruses and germs can settle inside them, sometimes even fleas and ticks. Koltuns, in addition to all this, bring discomfort to the animal - often cats themselves try to get rid of Koltuns, tearing them out, thereby injuring their skin.
Note! Typically, the warlocks appear under the paws, behind the ears, on the tail and neck.
Why are they dangerous?
A quite natural question arises as to what danger the warlocks bear for the animal. As already mentioned above - lumps of hair bring discomfort to the cat, and tearing them out, the animal inflicts a skin injury on itself. Of course, it is advisable to take care of your beloved pet in a timely manner, if you start the process, then unpleasant consequences may arise in the future. There is no threat to life, but ignoring the tricks is undesirable for the following reasons:
- unattractive view;
- discomfort - the skin of the animal is tightened, which makes it more difficult for him to lead an active lifestyle;
- skin damage - in the place of lumps, the skin may become too dry, which will lead to dandruff or, on the contrary, increased humidity, and this can lead to inflammation;
- reproduction of bacteria - places of mats can become seedlings for bacteria and fungi.
How to remove?
Removing tangles is a procedure unpleasant for a cat, however, getting rid of them is necessary for its comfort. The animal will strongly resist manipulations with the skin, so you need to be prepared for this. The owner of his furry friend should choose the right moment for the procedure: this may be the time when the cat is sleeping or has just fallen asleep.
If there is no self-confidence, then you can ask for help from loved ones - they will help to hold the animal, and it will not be so difficult to remove the fur from a furry friend. Before work, you need to make sure that the cat is in an immobilized position.
It’s very easy to identify the wolves - you can feel the woolen clots with your hands: crumpled and soft tubers of small sizes can be tried to cut into several parts, and then comb them out.
But there are neglected cases when only cutting or shaving with the help of suitable devices will help. It is important to do this with extreme caution so as not to injure yourself or your beloved pet. If there is no certainty that at home it will turn out to carry out a procedure to rid the tassels and cut them, then it is better to consult a specialist in a veterinary clinic.
Step-by-step removal of tangles in an advanced stage is carried out as follows.
- Let someone help by holding the animal tight.
- Hand groping a ball of wool and evaluate how close it is to the skin.
- If the hairs cannot be unraveled from the lump, then you just need to cut it or shave it with a clipper.
- We cut the hair in parts and very carefully. To do this, take a comb (comb) and substitute it between the scissors and the skin of the cat.
- You should start with a small part of the woolen lump, gradually getting close to the skin.
It is important! You need to seek the help of a professional if you can’t cut the winders yourself.
Preventative measures
So that the warlocks do not appear, you need to take care of your pet. A cat needs to be combed at least once a day for 10-15 minutes. This can be done with different devices: a comb for down, for undercoat, massage combs, a combing device - a furminator (combing device that allows you to quickly and easily remove dead hair).
When it’s hot outside, you can cut your pet. This can be a difficult task, so it is better to take the cat to a veterinarian. When bathing your favorite pet, it is better to use a suitable shampoo that will make the coat silky, for example, Perfect Coat 8 in 1, Luxurious Lioness, Biovax, Herba Vitae. After the animal is bathed, it should be thoroughly combed, and if it is not afraid of a hair dryer, dry it.
It is important! Combing should take place at least 2 times a week. Some cats get used to combing and begin to treat the procedure as a pleasure session. It is important to pay attention to the choice of a comb - it should not have hard teeth.
The cat itself can recognize its ailment and will try to deal with it and comb out the tangles in every way, but only the pet owner will help to remove them qualitatively. The main thing is to accustom your furry friend to such a mandatory procedure, then over time he will get used to it and will not resist. Healthy coat is very important for the well-being of your pet.
See how clippers are trimmed using a machine, see below.
