Cat Chat 2

[woospuss]

Hey guys, I've never had a longhaired cat before so I have some questions!

1. Do long haired cats need baths? If so, what products/soaps are good?

2. Does anyone have any brush and/or comb recommendations for a longhaired cat/kitten? Do kittens need different brushes than adult cats?

Thanks!

@Flossie & @Eremite
You guys have the cutest cats!!

I have owned many medium hair cats (not longhair but similar!) and I have only ever bathed them when they where a kitten as they came from the RSPCA and smelt. And beyond that we have no reason to bath our two, except if they got really dirty from something that effected their hair.

As for brushes, I use a variety for my cat Archie who in a medium hair but has stomach hair like a long hair cat.
(Quick pic to show his belly hair. Not a good pic but if you can see the white and brown hair sticking up near his stomach... thats all stomach hair... its ridiculously long and so soft! So it matts....)

I use a comb to get loose hairs out and find the matts. You can also get hand mitts that have a comb built into it, it may only pick up shed hairs but our two like the feel of being petted with it. I really like the fine wire bristle comb I bought, which is actually a puppy brush! It was cheaper than a cat one and more sturdy. This is very good for all over brushing and I can get a lot of hair out with it.
As for brushing a kitten, be gentle, and you wouldn't need to do it as often while they are small. Also use a soft brush, you would want them to get use to being brushed to make it easier when they are an adult.

[Keriae]

I'd get a zoom groom too, just because of how amazing they are! They're the only brush Smokey will tolerate.

[ru.]

Thank you guys for your responses!

He is 1/2 Ragdoll and 1/2 Domestic Longhair. He's likely going to be a longhaired kitty and I want to be sure that I am able to get him accustomed to being brushed regularly from a very young age because I don't want grooming to be a struggle.

Can anyone give be examples (links or pictures) of the type of combs and/or brushes that I should use on a kitten? I know that I likely wouldn't need to brush him every day, but I want to anyway just so that he gets used to being brushed.

Also, does anyone have any tips on the best way to get a kitten used to being brushed? I don't want him to think it's a game or think that he can attack or play with the brush or comb while he's being groomed.

@Keriae my brother uses one of those on his Maine Coon mix! Does it actually help to keep knots and matts from forming? Or is it more just to collect shedding fur?

[Keriae]

We actually bought one for the dog, but use it for our cat too. Unfortunately, my cat is shorthair, so he doesn't really get any matts. I just thought I'd suggest it c:

[Sixx O'Clock]

Thank you guys for your responses!

He is 1/2 Ragdoll and 1/2 Domestic Longhair. He's likely going to be a longhaired kitty and I want to be sure that I am able to get him accustomed to being brushed regularly from a very young age because I don't want grooming to be a struggle.

Can anyone give be examples (links or pictures) of the type of combs and/or brushes that I should use on a kitten? I know that I likely wouldn't need to brush him every day, but I want to anyway just so that he gets used to being brushed.

Also, does anyone have any tips on the best way to get a kitten used to being brushed? I don't want him to think it's a game or think that he can attack or play with the brush or comb while he's being groomed.

@Keriae my brother uses one of those on his Maine Coon mix! Does it actually help to keep knots and matts from forming? Or is it more just to collect shedding fur?

I use a brush like this one for all of my cats. It's versatile and they all love it.

When you're getting your kitten used to brushing, I recommend brushing him/her when they are more tired or mellow. That way, they associate the brush with comfort rather than with playtime.

[ru.]

So the kittens that I am considering right now, as I mentioned before are 1/2 Ragdoll and 1/2 Domestic Longhair. They're rescue kittens and so I have been getting updated photos every week or so. I have not chosen a kitten because they are still far too young and I want to choose based completely on personality/temperament, but I have been getting pictures of the males.
(The pregnant mother cat was going to be put to sleep by a rancher for no other reason than that they didn't want her anymore. :c Luckily, her and her kittens were all rescued before that could happen.)

I was just curious as to what you guys think about this infant's markings? It's a complete long shot, I know, because like almost all Ragdolls, he was born white and his markings are only going to develop completely as he matures. He's so young now and his eyes are only barely open, so I know that it's unlikely that we will be able to completely accurately predict his final colorization.
However, I was wondering if any of you guys had a guess as to what he could grow to be?
The foster mom's prediction is that he is a seal point or possibly a seal bicolor.
What do you guys think?

image7.JPG (24.23 KiB) Viewed 78 times

I use a brush like this one for all of my cats. It's versatile and they all love it.
-SNIP-
When you're getting your kitten used to brushing, I recommend brushing him/her when they are more tired or mellow. That way, they associate the brush with comfort rather than with playtime.

Ok, awesome! I'll check out some brushes like that! And thank you for the tips on teaching my future kitten to enjoy brushing. c:

@Keriae Thank you though anyway! I might ask my older brother about how that brush works for his longhaired cat! ^^

[Thalassic]

Looks more like seal bicolor to me, as his nose appears to be mostly light, with darker coloring on the top of his head, and seal point is the opposite.

[blazesong]

So the kittens that I am considering right now, as I mentioned before are 1/2 Ragdoll and 1/2 Domestic Longhair. They're rescue kittens and so I have been getting updated photos every week or so. I have not chosen a kitten because they are still far too young and I want to choose based completely on personality/temperament, but I have been getting pictures of the males.
(The pregnant mother cat was going to be put to sleep by a rancher for no other reason than that they didn't want her anymore. :c Luckily, her and her kittens were all rescued before that could happen.)

I was just curious as to what you guys think about this infant's markings? It's a complete long shot, I know, because like almost all Ragdolls, he was born white and his markings are only going to develop completely as he matures. He's so young now and his eyes are only barely open, so I know that it's unlikely that we will be able to completely accurately predict his final colorization.
However, I was wondering if any of you guys had a guess as to what he could grow to be?
The foster mom's prediction is that he is a seal point or possibly a seal bicolor.
What do you guys think?

image7.JPG

what color was the mother and father cat?? , iv been looking into cat genes so this would be a good test for me XD

[ru.]

I was thinking that he might be bicolor as well!
I know that the mother is sort of a seal tortie. I am not sure about the father.

The kittens siblings are 3 that appear to be flame point, one very dark tabby, and another kitten with similar markings to his.

I've attached a couple of sort of poor quality images, but they're the only photos that the foster mom has sent me that have the mother in them.

[blazesong]

i can just see the tabby , looks like black stripes

i'm thinking you have a seal point with white markings (i think mother cat might be a tori, but i might be working out genes wrong here) with a black tabby sibling it makes it likey , father cat was likley a tabby cat of some kind