Somali Cat: Care For Ears, Eyes, Claws And Hair

2023 Author: Molly Page | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-11-27 22:49

How to care for the coat of a Somali cat?

Somali cats have an adorable soft and silky semi-long coat. To take care of it, it is recommended to get a good massage metal brush with rounded teeth with an antistatic coating. If such a brush is not at hand, then you can remove static electricity using a spray bottle with clean boiled water. You should also buy a furminator or a good slicker, a comb with long sparse teeth and a fine comb. A natural bristle brush will do the trick. Some Somali will require a mats spray.

Brushing the Somali cat is recommended 1-2 times a week, and during molting (in spring and autumn) - 3-4 times a week. The first step is to comb the Somali with a rare comb to prepare the coat for a more thorough combing. Along the way, you should disassemble the mats with your hands and (or) a fine comb. Then the dead undercoat is combed out. Furminator is well suited for this purpose. If finances do not allow you to buy it, you can use a good slicker, but combing it out is less effective and requires more effort and time than combing with a furminator. Combing out the dead undercoat in somali should be in the direction opposite to the growth of the wool. Then, in the same direction, the wool is combed from the tailbone to the head with a massage metal brush, paying special attention to the collar and pants, without touching the tail. When dead hairs are combed out,tousled wool is smoothed with a natural bristle brush in the direction of wool growth (except for pants and collar). At the end, the wool is carried out with damp hands, collecting the combed out dead wool and hairs of the undercoat.

In addition to combing the coat, you must daily monitor the area of the cat's anus. If her stool is loose, it can stick to the hair growing on the tail and dry out there. In this case, use hypoallergenic wet wipes for children.

How should I bathe Somalia, and how often?

Somali cats love to play with water. During such games, they boldly lower their paws into the water, which can give the impression that the Somali are not afraid of water. Indeed, many representatives of this breed are not afraid of water, and even readily "dive" into a bath with water or jump into the shower with the owner. Still, the bulk of Somali cats relate to water in the same way as millions of other felines. It is advisable to bathe such cats together, so that one person can, without being distracted by the pet's impulses, to get out, concentrate on washing it. For bathing, use either a bath or a basin. If the owner wants to bathe in a basin, then two basins must be used. This will be much more convenient and faster. The water level in the basin should not be higher than the line of the cat's back. If the Somali are bathed in a bathtub, it is not necessary to fill it with water, it is enough to remember that when pouring from the shower, you should create a good pressure of water and direct the jets against the growth of the cat's fur. This will wash out the wool better.

Bathing shampoos should be discussed in more detail. The shampoo can be almost anything (shampoo for long-haired cats, strengthening shampoo, medicated shampoo, and so on), but it is mandatory (!) For cats. Human shampoos or soaps can cause an allergic reaction, they are not suitable for the ph level of the skin, so the cat may develop dandruff. These shampoos dry not only the skin, but also the coat, making it brittle and faded. The same goes for other hair care products (balms, rinses, conditioners for wool) - they must be made specifically for cats.

Bathing your Somali cat will also require a large absorbent bath towel or a few small ones.

Before bathing, the owner should prepare everything needed and place it on hand. Read the instructions before using detergents. In particular, you should find out whether it is necessary to dilute the shampoo with water before use. A small towel or rug is placed on the bottom of the tub or basin, so the pet's paws will not slip.

The cat is placed in a container, its coat is moistened with warm water to the skin and shampoo is applied. After gently beating the foam, wash the wool and then rinse. If the coat is very dirty, then these steps must be repeated again. Special attention should be paid to the tail, belly and limbs when bathing somali. After the wool is free of dirt and fine debris, apply a balm or use a conditioner / conditioner for wool (according to the instructions for use). The last rinse of somali wool should be especially careful to avoid subsequent adhesion of hairs due to shampoo and care products remaining on the wool. To be more effective, wash off against coat growth.

Drying is recommended with towels. If the Somali behaves obediently, then it can be wrapped in a large bath towel for a couple of minutes. The wool should not be rubbed with a towel, but should be gently blotted so as not to damage its structure. It is recommended to use a hair dryer only in case of urgent need, but it is best to let the coat dry naturally. While the cat is drying, it must be kept indoors, free from drafts and air conditioning. It should be borne in mind that completely the skin and hair of the cat will dry out only after 4-8 hours (depending on the season). After an hour, it may seem that the coat is dry, but inside (the undercoat and skin) there is still moisture that can cause a cold. When the coat is dry, it is brushed with a natural bristle brush in the direction of the growth of the coat from head to tailbone.

Bathing in water is recommended before exhibitions, as needed, or for prophylaxis (twice a year) during the beginning of the molt season (spring-autumn). Frequent bathing is not only not good for Somalia, but even harmful.

If the cat's coat is slightly dirty, then such contamination can be removed with dry shampoo. Shampoo-powder is applied to the contaminated area, wait 5-10 minutes until it works, and then it is combed out onto the newspaper with a massage metal brush or a natural bristle brush. Such cleaning is useful in cases where water procedures are contraindicated or impossible (pregnancy, postoperative period, lack of water, etc.).

How to care for the teeth of a Somali cat?

It is recommended to examine and brush your Somali teeth once a week. But examination alone is not enough, the cat needs to regularly brush its teeth to keep them white and healthy for many years. It is very sad when, in old age, cats have sore gums, which do not allow them to eat solid food normally, and their teeth are overgrown with tartar and yellow plaque.

Inspections are especially important when the Somali is still a kitten, as the owner must carefully monitor the change of teeth in his pet. It happens that the milk tooth did not fall out in time, but the molar tooth already "claims" to be in its place, which, in turn, being unable to take the correct position in the dentition, begins to shift and grow incorrectly. Regular inspection will help you notice and solve this problem in time.

Brushing your teeth is a must-have for keeping your cat's mouth healthy … But not all toothpaste is suitable for this business. A special animal paste is required. There are no foaming components in it, so it is safe and easy to use. The toothbrush must have natural bristles and a suitable size. If you don't have a toothbrush, you can use a piece of gauze wrapped around your finger or a cotton swab dipped in boiled water. It is recommended to brush the teeth of a Somali cat from all sides, but when the pet strongly resists, then you can brush only from the outside, without abandoning subsequent attempts to teach the pet to brush teeth from all sides. It is recommended to clean the teeth from the remains of food by sweeping movements from the gum to the edge of the tooth. Animal toothpastes do not foam, so they do not need to be rinsed off. Therefore, after completing Somali dental care, the cat should be praised, encouraged and released - everything,the procedure is complete!

Sometimes there are situations in which it is not possible to fully brush your teeth, for example, on a trip. In this case, it is recommended to use special sanitary napkins, sprays or chewable tablets. Before using hygiene sprays and tablets, it is recommended to read the contraindications and recommendations for use.

How to care for the ears of a Somali cat?

Somali have erect ears, which are quite well "protected" by hair, so the ears should be given special attention only when there is a real need for it, but it is necessary to examine the ears regularly (once a week). During the examination, the owner should pay attention to the inner surface of the pet's ears: how dirty it is, whether there are any injuries or parasites. If the ears are clean and intact, they should be left alone until the next examination. If excess sulfur has accumulated in your ears, then you need to clean them. It is recommended to remove dirt and wax with a piece of cotton wool dipped in a special lotion, which can be found at any pet store or veterinary pharmacy. Some Somali cat owners, unable to obtain such a remedy, use any vegetable oil. Usually, the ears are cleaned with cotton buds with restraints (for newborns) or cotton pads.

In no case should you try to clean deep in the ear canal, as it can be easily damaged, which can lead to complications with hearing and even hearing loss. For a more thorough cleaning of the ears of a Somali cat, it is recommended to use special drops with the same name. When cleaning, make sure that the lotion (oil) does not drip off the cotton wool, otherwise it may enter the ear canal and cause bacterial infection and similar problems. To remove minor dirt from Somali ears, special animal care wipes are suitable.

If scratches are found, they should be disinfected first. In case of inflammation, the skin can be lubricated with baby cream, but if the inflammation has occurred inside the ear of somali (otitis media), then you should immediately seek help from a veterinarian. If you find activity of parasites and serious problems with the ears of a Somali cat, it is recommended to also show your pet to a veterinarian.

How to care for the eyes of a Somali cat?

Somali eyes should be examined daily, as well as wiping them. The purpose of examinations is to establish the condition of the eyes. To implement it, you do not need to allocate additional time, since the inspection takes no more than a minute, and the owner looks at the cat's face repeatedly throughout the day. Such examinations allow you to notice in time redness or yellowing of the mucous membrane, trauma, increased discharge and other problems that require special attention, often with the assistance of a veterinarian.

Basic eye care for a Somali cat is rubbing its eyes with a piece of cloth or a special eye tissue. If the wearer uses a fabric, it should be low-pile, such as cotton or gauze. Such fabric more gently cleans the eye from secretions and dirt and does not injure the mucous membrane with the nap. The villi, like cotton wool or fur, are long and thin and can cause irritation. The cloth used should be slightly damp but not wet to keep the fur around the eyes dry. To do this, the cloth should be moistened in cool boiled water or a special solution for the eyes and squeezed well. Special wipes for the care of cats' eyes do not require any preliminary preparation, they can be used immediately. If the fur around the eyes does get wet, it should be gently blotted (without rubbing,as this can lead to baldness in these areas) with a paper towel.

Before using eye products (ointments, drops), be sure to read the instructions for their use and contraindications, and make sure that they are intended for the eyes themselves, and not for the area around them.

It is recommended that you have a special eye wash lotion on hand. If a foreign object gets into the cat's eye, it must be quickly removed. It is for the gentle and safe removal of foreign bodies from the eyes of cats that this lotion is needed. Rinsing the eyes with plain water or herbal infusions is not recommended, as well as using drops for human eyes.

In case of eye injuries, strong purulent discharge, redness that does not pass for several days or a noticeable yellowing of the mucous membrane of the eyes, the cat must be shown to the veterinarian.

How to care for the claws of a Somali cat?

Claw trimming is recommended only for “domestic” cats that are not outdoors. Being at home most of the time, Somali cats do not need long, tenacious and sharp claws, like those that have to climb trees, defend themselves from other animals, and so on.

For practical and aesthetic reasons, cats are advised to trim their nails about once or twice a month. The frequency of grooming is conditional, since the nails grow differently for different cats. The interval between haircuts is also influenced by how short the owner cuts his pet's nails.

A special tool is used to trim the claws - a nail clipper or guillotine tweezersthat must be perfectly sharpened, otherwise they will break the claw. Not all cats are loyal to this procedure. It so happens that even over time, addiction does not occur, and Somali continues to avoid it. This often happens when the owner injures the vessel during a haircut or uses a poor quality nail clipper, which bends the claw and hurts the pet. To develop a cat's loyal attitude towards clipping, you need to be extremely careful, but cut confidently, holding the pet's paw firmly with one hand. A good fixation of the limb will help to avoid accidental injury to the vessel, which most often occurs when a cat tries to escape. To form a loyal attitude to the haircut, it is important to praise the Somali for their good behavior and patience during the procedure, and in the end to reward them with a “tasty treat”.

For a painless haircut, only the transparent part of the claw should be cut off, without touching the pink areas (living tissue). Do not cut more than 2-3 mm at a time from one claw. You should not cut the claw obliquely, otherwise it will become short, but remain sharp.

Considering what has been said about a possible injury to the vessel, before starting a haircut, it is necessary to prepare a piece of cotton wool or a cotton swab, a hemostatic (corn starch, food gelatin, hemostatic powder) and a disinfectant (chlorhexidine, 3% hydrogen peroxide solution, etc.) and place them so that in case of damage to the vessel, they could be used immediately.

About how to cut a cat's claws, it is advisable to consult with the breeder or contact a pet salon or veterinary clinic. If this is not possible, then at least watch a video on the Internet, how to do it correctly.

Authors: wolchonokW7, Gurieva S.