I didn’t really want to dish out 20 bucks on a Furminator so I got this cheap alternative. I can’t really say if it works just as well as the Furminator, but it definitely did the job.
If this is what you're talking about that is 1000% a furminator. I have one and instantly recognized it.
Not a fail.
Yes!!! I just got thishere a month ago and it’s the best I’ve used on my Sib. Soooo much fur.
Do you have a reason to give your cat a bath beyond shedding? I have a friend that does it because even though she loves cats she has cat allergies. The combo of baths, regular thoroughly cleaning her house, and allergy medicine keeps it from being an issue.
If the main reason you are giving your cat baths is just because you dislike shedding, I'd recommend investing in several different brushes that get at different parts of his coat, and vacuuming more instead of forcing him to deal with his trauma. The right brushes can be very effective and cats keep themselves really clean anyways. If you only have a basic type of brush, try getting a de-shedding tool.
If you really really want to do baths, the only advice I can come up with is to reintroduce it like you are teaching him from scratch. Slowly, gently, and with lots of treats and positive reinforcement. But I really recommend trying the de-shedding tools first.
We got this tool for around $15 off amazon and decided to give it a try. My poor bunnies are so full of fur from molting. My little guy hates being held/brushed/picked up, so it's difficult to groom him. We've tried every try of brush we could find.
So we got this knock off of a furminator, which it a metal comb with a blade concealed at the base. It can't cut the skin, but it can cut mats or knots if they get stuck in the comb. I've tried it on my own skin to make sure it it felt okay too.
It got so much fur out! This was all the fur we got during the second brushing. The first pile from the day before was twice as big! Though note: this is my girl bunny posing, my boy is super mad at me for brushing him so I'm getting the silent treatment.
Edit: I forgot to add thevkink, duh https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0178VW3PS/ref=cm_sw_r_other_awd_BeT.wbYZNV6GH
I have a cat similar to this, a nebelung, who is super fluffy. We use one of these. You wouldn't think it would work so well, but it really does get a ton of the loose fluff out. It's also not sharp so it doesn't scratch their backs.
They do have a fuzzy explosion going into summer but shouldn't have bald patches. A deshedding brush that is best to help knock the majority of it down. Not one with pins/bristles, or the loop type. It almost looks like a giant disposable razor:
About $8-15, lots of manufacturers.
To me, the shedding isnt really that bad most of the time. they do shed all year round though and blow an entire layer of their double coat twice a year though which is pretty intense. the fur will literally come off in clumps if you tug on it lightly and youll find little tumbleweeds around the house currently im using furminator deshedding shampoo which my friends say is working! and ( https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M5DS0Z7/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glc_fabc_vZWbGb0Q4N51V?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1 ) this brush! i also own a roomba that goes around the house every morning because we have 3 dogs, but my friend with just one dog (also a corgi) keeps her house spotless with just the occasional vacuum and mop or swiffer! the fur really doesnt bother me too much because it doesnt stick to anything unlike cat fur, it doesnt cling to my clothes, we dont have carpet, and the couches are leather. the car is a different story though i see fur blowing everywhere and it ends up getting stuck around the edges of the floor mat, but i just live with it and vacuum occasionally. my car has leather seats as well so im sure that makes a huge difference too. im sorry if this wasnt very helpful! but i think since you have experience with dogs already the fur wont be that crazy to you! none of my corgi owning friends have ever really complained about the fur tbh. you should definitely get a corgi, i never expected that i would love the breed so much but i think theyre now my favorite! their personalities are extremely weird and funny and they bring a lot of life to your household
You also need a furminator!
It's like the second stage after brushing -- get her used to brushing first (really 90% of cats like it and will come right over when you hold up their brush once they learn how it feels) then start furminating.
Lots of cats like that too but it's a little less like a good petting and more like a good hard scratch.
However, it will help the shedding thing. It pulls out the shed undercoat. It's fascinating and terrifying. You'll furminate enough fur to build yourself several other cats but she won't look any different.
Check the pics in the reviews.
https://www.amazon.com/FURminator-Long-Hair-deShedding-Large/dp/B0040QS3PO
I use this one, it was recommended specifically for basenjis:
https://www.amazon.com/Pet-Grooming-Effectively-Professional-Deshedding/dp/B01M5DS0Z7
Here’s the site that recommended it:
https://www.dogproductpicker.com/best-basenji-essentials-accessories-toys/
I got this over a year ago and it works really good on my long haired ragdoll who she’s a ton. Pulls clumps off and keeps the fur looking good. I’ve also used on my lab and long haired dachshund!
Try the Furminator before you brush.
>FURminator for Cats, deShedding Tool for Cats >https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07MZDGF5M/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_i_F9196NAXNQ8MGWC4FPPD?psc=1
If you can find the older model somewhere, I'd recommend this over the new ones btw
We always have a menagerie (6 cats and a dog currently) and we've used Furminators for years and love them. We have a couple different sizes because the dog has long hair while 5/6 cats have short, but you can use just one on everybody, really. It gets rid of loose hair without removing top coats. The first time you use it will take a long time but after regular use there's nowhere near as much shedding hair to remove.
It’s a furminator and you can get them in lots of places and Amazon. Furminator Short Hair deShedding Tool for Cats, Small https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B00452OHXU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_60VEMQ87JSXV6P367X3X
We’ve found that regular brushing is the only thing that slows down the shedding.
The one we use is the this original Furminator for long haired. The Furminator pulls out more hair by far than anything else I have used. The only downside I have had is that the "hair release" button doesn't work very well, so I have to pull the hair off the combs manually, which is no big deal.
I would also suggest you purchase a dematter comb to have when needed.
You can also buy a finishing brush or cheap brush if your cat really likes being groomed. You can do the hard work with the Furminator and then finish off with some light grooming with a normal brush. My cat doesn't like being groomed much, so I just try to make quick work with the Furminator. But for a cat that likes grooming, a simple brush at the end might feel nice.
Other side note on Maine Coons: when purchasing items, always purchase the largest size for cats or even look at dog versions instead. We have tried to buy large cat beds and stuff that say they can fit cats up to 20 pounds, but they are almost always too small. For instance, we wanted a raised food dish for out cat so he wasn't bending down so much to eat. We tried the "tall" versions of the cat dishes, and they were all too short, so we went to a dog dish instead.
Your MC may not be full grown until about 3 years old, but once she gets bigger, you will want to buy things that accommodate her size. Good luck and have fun!
We like the Pet Neat brush! Pet Neat Pet Grooming Brush Effectively Reduces Shedding by Up to 95% Professional Deshedding Tool for Dogs and Cats https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M5DS0Z7/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_i_GQ6DXFDVAE0FHNX7QD05
This is the one that finally worked for us!
It's black and purple and it's this
FURminator 10730 Long Hair Deshedding Tool for Cats, Large https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00M4QAFUI/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_fabc_KV1450RGEK3QQBC4W39X?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
I recommend using something with a shorter bristle... maybe like a furminator like this.
Got a De-shedding tool thats helping but yeah I think I'm gonna have to get him shaved https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00J9C6YYG/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o05_s03?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Cats like to be able to bury their waste; generally if you show them where the litter box is, they'll gravitate to it naturally. My strategy has always been to pick up the cat and place them in the box once so they know where it is. Most (not all, I'm sure) times that will be all you need to do, as long as the box is in the same place. If you move it, just do the same thing again to show them where it is.
For shedding - a Furminator!! You'll never need anything else.
Some cats like to go outside on a lead, but they absolutely do not need to, just make sure they're getting enough stimulation inside (changes in height like cat trees or cat shelves, treat puzzles, interaction with you where they're chasing toys, etc...).
I just want to thank you for asking these questions and thinking about these things. You're going to be an awesome cat owner!
Do yourself a favor and get this brush. Then brush your cat weekly.
You can also use this brush on the tail or after baths if you wash your cat.
Long haired cats MUST be regularly groomed. Bring her to the vet or a groomer, buy a Furminator (make sure you get the long hair version, it's generally cheaper on Amazon than in pet stores), and begin brushing her regularly (but don't over-brush). And clip her claws, as well, that way she can't scratch you. Here's a good video on beginning to clip your cat's claws on your own.
If the cat is too stressed to be groomed, they can be sedated at the vet, and since she's fighting it I'd suggest the vet for now. But then regularly groom her coat and nails and get her used to it. You'll probably have to supplement with professional grooming.
My family's long hair cat had two completely different personalities between them figuring out you actually have to groom a long hair (this from a dad who has a cocker spaniel and gets her professionally groomed!) She used to be grumpy because mats HURT, now she's a cuddle bug.
What kind of brush are you using (for the dog, not the paint)? A normal brush won't cut it with that fur- you gotta get one of those undercoat de-shedding brush tool things. The name brand most folks recognize is the Furminator, but there are a bunch of cheap knockoffs that work just as well. I got this one for my mutt who's part Malamute, part German Shepherd, part... every other kind of dog. It was a night and day difference- I'd had him for a month or so, brushing with a normal wire brush nearly every day, and the first time I used that thing, it created a pile of hair nearly half the size of the dog (and he's a sizeable boy). Now I use that about once a week (more often during the Spring Shedding Time) and vacuum carpets and couches and sweep / Swiffer hard floors on a weekly basis. I have a cat too, and that keeps the hair to a manageable level.
I'd personally look to cut those matted areas (if too thick to brush). Brush, I use something similar to this every week or so: https://www.amazon.ca/Pet-Neat-Grooming-Effectively-Professional/dp/B01M5DS0Z7
Brushing at home would be best in terms of less anxiety.
The furminator is a god-send for long-haired cats. I’ve also heard good things about this.
Brush your cat, at least once a week, with one of these. Your cat will have a healthier coat and healthier skin, and love you for it.