The cat has beautiful fur. Worms: Dull and sticky fur will not take long to appear. What does it look like

The general condition of your cat's coat and skin is good indicator her health. A healthy coat should be shiny and smooth, not rough or brittle, but healthy skin should be elastic and clean, not greasy or flaking. However, although the shine and texture of the coat is influenced by its health and nutrition, regular external care keeping a cat's fur also helps keep it in good condition, clean and tangle-free, no matter what type of coat he or she has.

What types of hair do cats have?

Together with the selection of breeds, today the coat of cats varies from completely hairless Sphynxes to smooth-haired Orientals, from domestic shorthairs to longhaired cats with truly silky fur, while some cat breeds practically do not shed.

Some cats that live in cold climates, especially open spaces, have two powerful seasonal sheddings per year (in spring and late autumn), during which whole clumps of undercoat can fall out. However, many cats in our homes shed lightly almost all year round.

How does a cat's diet affect its fur and skin?

The skin is the largest part of the body, and skin cells change very quickly. Most pets have almost all their skin covered with hair and change it several times a year. To keep the skin and fur in healthy condition, your cat needs balanced diet, which contains easily digestible proteins, carbohydrates, fats, minerals and vitamins, and provides the appropriate amount of calories to meet all the animal's energy needs.

If nutrients are poorly digested, they will not only be unavailable to meet the body's needs, they will also place undue strain on the liver and kidneys, which are supposed to eliminate indigestible waste. Ideal Diet should be individual and suitable for the specific age of the cat and its health. High quality and balanced diet, as a rule, is the key to a good and beautiful coat. A cat whose diet is not sufficient to meet her needs will have a dull, dry coat with increased shedding.

What role does medicine play in ensuring a cat’s healthy coat?

Many skin diseases affect shine and appearance your pet's fur. Allergic diseases skin and seborrhea cause itching and changes in normal sebum secretion, which also leads to excessive shedding or even patchy hair loss.

If your cat's skin or coat problems are caused by a medical condition, general state Both the pet's coat and skin often improve dramatically after the disease has been treated or brought under control.

How important is regular grooming to ensure a cat's healthy coat and skin?

Daily brushing also reduces the amount of hair your cat may ingest while grooming itself. Another benefit of brushing your cat daily is the dramatic reduction in the amount of hair and dander that can be scattered throughout the house. For some people with mild cat allergies, daily brushing can reduce the allergens enough that they can comfortably share their home with such a cat.

Regardless of coat type, you should check your cat every day for mats, which may form behind the ears, in the groin, or in the armpits. If you check your cat's fur and skin regularly, you will also have a better chance of spotting any lumps, lumps, or tumors on her body early.

How often should you bathe or wash your cat?

Most healthy adult cats are finicky and rarely need a bath. The frequency of bathing your pet may need will depend on his age, lifestyle, and any health problems. For example, an older cat with arthritis who has difficulty grooming himself may need fairly regular baths. If your cat has skin allergies, your veterinarian may prescribe a wash with medicated shampoo as an additional therapy.

Cats should only be washed with shampoos that have been specifically formulated for them, as their skin is different thickness and a different ph than human skin, so even baby shampoo may be too harsh for their skin. Since all cats lick themselves vigorously after bathing, it is extremely important to completely rinse off any detergents and shampoos to prevent your pet from swallowing them, otherwise it could lead to digestive upsets and other harm.

Why might a cat have fur problems at certain times of the year?

Some cats may suffer from skin irritation associated with low winter humidity in our homes. Other cats are allergic to tree and plant pollen - this problem is especially acute in the spring. And another group of cats are allergic to fleas or other insects, where even one bite can cause a rash and hair loss.

If you bathe or groom your cat and she quickly develops fur or skin problems again, you should take her to veterinary clinic for examination. Sometimes skin problems such as rashes, itching, a large number of dandruff, increased shedding, oily coat or bad smell may indicate serious illness. In many cases, the disease can be easily diagnosed and treated, but sometimes diagnostic problems arise and you may need to see a dermatologist.

The main takeaway is that the appearance of your cat's fur and skin are the first indicators possible problems with her health. A healthy animal does not shed excessively, and there should be no dandruff or oiliness on the top layer of fur.

The shiny fur of a cat attracts the eye, you want to touch it - and in general, when the fur looks good, it immediately becomes clear that the cat is healthy and well-groomed. Your cat's fur may become dull over time, from... various diseases or other factors.

Check your diet

Diet is extremely important for a cat's health. They have their own characteristics in this matter. As you know, cats are predators, in other words, carnivores. Some call them "hyper-carnivores" because, unlike many other carnivores, they truly cannot survive without meat.

We know that cats have a high need for animal protein, but that's not all. They need several special amino acids that are found only and exclusively in meat.

It is also very important to have Omega-3 in your diet. fatty acids, which are contained in some types of fish. Good producers They add fish to the main type of protein for this very purpose.

But economy-class food should be excluded, as well as an incomprehensible product that is sold by weight under the name “cat food”. What is included in this food and where it comes from is generally unknown to science.

Make sure there are no tangles or matted fur.

The presence of tangled hair and tangles causes constant discomfort to the cat, and therefore affects its well-being and overall health. Tangles are a medium for development various kinds pathogenic bacteria, because they are warm and moisture regularly gets there.

In addition, tangles constantly pull the skin with their weight. Therefore, very often, under the removed mat, you can find inflamed skin.

Some breeds of cats have difficulty keeping their coats clean and mat-free because their fur is too long and soft. The cat is physically unable to put it in order. In this case, you should help her.

Teach her to put up with daily procedures: alternate brushing with giving treats, and, of course, be very careful, because cats have very sensitive and thin skin.

Injuries to the tongue and mouth

Cats create beauty with their tongue - and they have no other tool for combing their hair. Therefore, it is clear that if it hurts them to lick themselves, they are unlikely to do it effectively. But not every cat will allow a person to examine its mouth, especially if it hurts there. If for some reason your pet decides not to trust you in this matter, call for help.

It is best if this is a veterinarian or at least a person competent in handling cats - who knows how to hold them correctly. Perhaps the cat will be offended by you or even bite you, but still check oral cavity- The cat's health is more important.

Health to you and your cats!

Igor Stus

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The cat is a common animal that lives in many houses and apartments. When a pet is healthy, its well-groomed appearance pleases the eyes of the owner and household members. But sometimes the animal’s health fails and its appearance changes for the worse. For example, a cat may develop greasy hair, which many owners initially mistake for normal dirt. It is especially visible in furry animals. white with long hair.

To get rid of the problem, the owners are trying to buy out the mustachioed inhabitant of the home. This method really helps if the pet is simply dirty. But if after some time the hair becomes greasy again, this most often indicates oily hair (tail) syndrome.

Why does a cat's fur become oily?

The appearance of oily fur in domestic cat often due to the following reasons:

1. The animal may get dirty with something greasy, and in this case the owner simply has to bathe it;
2. Cat fur can be contaminated by children while playing with the animal (after all, kids love to cuddle, stroke and carry furry pets in their arms);
3. Disease causing increased activity perianal glands (in this case, the problem is due to the fact that the cat has oily hair on its tail, and the pet itself constantly rubs its butt against rough surfaces (for example, a carpet), trying to free the glands from accumulated secretions);
4. Violation of keratinization processes or oily seborrhea may become a provoking factor leading to increased greasiness wool

In any case, if the owner notices that the cat’s fur seems to be greasy, he must find out the causes of the problem and take measures to eliminate them.

Features and symptoms of the disease

High greasiness of the coat is a disease that most often affects unneutered cats. True, it can also appear in pets that have been castrated, but much less frequently. The main cause of oily fur on a cat's back, tail, or other parts of a fluffy's body is a pathology called perianal gland hyperplasia. Sebaceous secretions accumulate on the skin in excess. From there it gets onto the animal's fur, severely polluting it.

The symptoms of greasy coat syndrome are as follows::

• Oily hair appears at the base of the cat's tail, back or sides;
• "coat" pet becomes dull, sticks together into tangles;
• on the pet’s skin a wax-like composition that has a brownish color and exudes a rancid odor;
• the skin in those areas where there is greasy hair becomes inflamed and red;
• often weakened and matted hair falls out;
• on a surface skin scabs appear;
• become inflamed hair follicles, and then many small pimples appear in their place.

If the disease progresses to chronic form, the area of ​​the body with damaged hair may become completely bald. The appearance of scabs on the skin leads to the unfortunate cat developing eczema.

Diagnostic measures

Only a veterinarian can accurately answer the question of why the cat’s fur has become fat and what to do to restore it to its former beauty and healthy shine. Diagnosis of a suspected disease involves a preventive examination by a veterinarian. During this procedure, a specialist examines the pet and, if necessary, recommends passing appropriate tests. If, in addition to greasy fur, the cat's skin is flaky and itchy, or dandruff appears, he should also be shown to a dermatologist.

How to treat pathology?

Treatment high fat content The coat of cats is developed by a veterinarian and depends on what caused the pathology.

• Dirt. If a cat’s oily hair appears once, after contamination, then there is no need to treat the animal. The pet should only be washed well.
• Oily coat syndrome. In the case when the furry suffers from the syndrome of greasy fur and dry, irritated skin, the owner should take him to an appointment with a veterinarian. The specialist will prescribe a series of tests to determine the causes of the disease and prescribe appropriate treatment.
• Vitamin deficiency. The first priority When a cat's fur is dull and greasy, his body becomes saturated with vitamins. The animal is prescribed a course of vitamin therapy, which helps normalize the functioning of the perianal and sebaceous glands pet. Good effect gives the drug Hokamix-30.
• Cleaning the glands. Treatment of fatty fur in cats also involves freeing the perianal glands from excess secretion. The procedure is carried out an experienced veterinarian, which squeezes out the accumulated contents. If the glands are often inflamed, the specialist suggests surgical intervention for removing. As an option, you can consider periodically washing the glands under anesthesia (but this method is ultimately harmful internal organs cat).
• Improper keratinization or oily seborrhea. To eliminate the problem, it is advisable to use special shampoos such as Dermilena or Meladerm. Lactaderm shampoo also gives a good effect. It helps to temporarily cope with the problem of greasy fur in a cat, cleanse it of secretions and remove bad odors.

Cat hair represents the health of your pet. If it is smooth and shiny, then everything is fine with your pet. Conversely, dull fur with signs of increased oiliness signals that the mustachioed inhabitant of the house is sick. Probably, some kind of malfunction occurred in his body, and the animal needs the help of a veterinarian. The specialist will prescribe drug treatment, and your pet will quickly recover and will again delight its owners with a healthy appearance.

However, if your pet cannot or does not want to properly clean his coat, he will need to be bathed more often.

• The frequency of bathing depends on the cat's breed and activity level. For example, long-haired or very active cats should be bathed more often. More frequent bathing It will also be needed if the animal suffers from arthritis and finds it difficult to care for its fur.

Prepare your pet for a bath. Some experts recommend putting a few drops of mineral oil in your pet's eyes before bathing to protect them from shampoo. You can also plug them with cotton balls to prevent water from getting into your cat's ears.

Brush and wash your cat. Before bathing, you should thoroughly comb the animal's fur. After this, soak a soft washcloth in clean warm water and wipe gently ears and the area around the ears. You can also lightly wipe the animal's face.

Prepare a bath. Fill the bathtub or sink with some warm (not hot) water. There should be enough for you to wash your cat, but not too much so that the animal becomes completely submerged in it. If you bathe your cat in a bathtub or basin, place a towel or non-slip rubber mat in the bottom. This will make the cat feel safer.

Carefully place the animal in the bath. You may need someone's help to hold your cat in the bath. Cats generally do not like water, and your pet may resist.

• To protect your hands, you can wear long sleeves and gloves to prevent your cat from scratching or biting you while bathing.