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How long does it take for a cat to pass a hairball?

If your cat has a hairball and you’re wondering how long it usually takes to get rid of it keep reading.

How long does it take for a cat to pass a hairball?

A cat usually takes two to three days for it to pass a hairball. But, if it is taking longer than this you need to contact your vet for some assistance or try out some off the shelf hairball remedies to help it along faster.

What you will need to deal with the hairballs

 

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01. Smartbites Hairball Control (Best Option) Click here for the price on Amazon
02. Hairball Paw-Gel for Cats Click here for the price on Amazon
03. Hairball Remedy Plus Click here for the price on Amazon

So now you know how long it takes for a cat to pass a hairball. But, what symptoms do you usually expect to see if your cat has hairballs? Does wet food help prevent them? How does a vet remove them? Keep reading for these answers and more.

 

What symptoms do cats have with hairballs?

If you have a cat with hairballs you may be wondering what the symptoms are. Is it obvious or quite tricky to see?

The symptoms for hairballs in a cat is gagging, retching, or what is known as “dry vomiting”. It is quite painful to watch but hopefully within sometime naturally it will either pass it or vomit it out. If this doesn’t happen you will need to consult your vet or try an off-the-shelf remedy because she could be blocked.

So, now you know what symptoms you can look out for a cat with hairballs. But, how can you help a cat pass a hairball?

How can I help my cat pass a hairball?

If your cat has a hairball you might be thinking of ways that you can help him out.

To help your cat pass a hairball you can try some natural remedies such as flax or fish oil. These oils will coat the hairball to help your cat pass it naturally. Going forward you can prevent this by using hairball prevention jelly (Click here to see the price on Amazon).

So, now you know how you can help your cat pass a hairball. But, is it true that wet food can help with this?

Does wet food help with hairballs?

You may have heard some rumors about wet food being beneficial for hairballs. But, is there any truth in this or is it just rumors?

Yes, it is true, wet food can help your cat to prevent hairballs. This is because wet food has high water content. Meaning, it will improve her hydration. Any additional moisture you can give to your cat will help her to eliminate regularly and avoid these hairballs.

So, now you know what food can help cats with hairballs. But, if this doesn’t work, how do vets get rid of them?

How does a vet remove a hairball?

If you have real problems with hairballs and you have tried multiple remedies and it’s not working. You may be wondering, if you visit the vets, how will they tackle this?

A vet will remove hairballs by either using a scooping tool or removing it from her abdomen. For the former, the scoop will be placed into your cat to remove the hairball while she is medically sedated. Regarding the latter, this would include surgically removing the hairball by cutting into her abdomen.

So, now you know the techniques that a vet is likely to use to remove a hairball. But, is there any other way to help your cat?

Can you help a cat cough up a hairball?

If your cat has a hairball and you can see her retching, coughing, and gagging it can be painful to watch. So, you may be looking for any other way to help her cough it up or just get rid of it, right?

To help your cat cough up a hairball you can try a hairball gel (Click here for the price on Amazon). This can be applied to your cat’s paw. She is expected to lick the gel off her paws and help her pass the hairball. Strictly speaking,  it will not cough it up, but it will help to get rid of it.

So, now you know how you can help your cat get rid of hairballs. But, is it true that Vaseline can help?

Can I give my cat Vaseline for hairballs?

So you may have heard people talking about the benefits of vaseline with hairballs. But, is this correct, can it help?

Yes, Vaseline can be used for hairballs. Some cats have used it successfully. The Vaseline is placed on your cat’s paw. She then licks it off which will help to lubricate her digestive tract. Which, in turn, will help her pass the hairball.

So, now you know Vaseline can be used for hairballs. But, do you need lots or just a little?

How much Vaseline do you give a cat for a hairball?

So, now that you know you can use vaseline, it is a good idea to get an idea of the amount that you will need.

According to this site, you can use half a teaspoon twice a day of petroleum jelly or Vaseline to help your cat with hairballs. This will help her to pass the hairball naturally. It is believed that this can help with constipation related issues as well.

So, now you know how much vaseline you need. But, is there any food that can help with this issue?

What can I feed my cat with hairballs?

If you have a cat with hairballs you might be thinking of some proactive ways that you can stop this happening.

You should feed wet food to a cat with hairballs to help with hydration, which, in turn, will help her pass the hairball easier. Anything that you can do to help your cat increase her water consumption will help including getting a water fountain (Click here to see why I rated this one best) can help.

So, now you know what you can feed a cat with hairballs. But, what about olive oil?

How much olive oil should I give my cat for hairballs?

So you may have heard that you can use olive oil to help your cat with hairballs. But, if you do this, how much should you be giving your cat to be safe?

It is believed that one teaspoon into your cat’s food for 3 days in a row will help your cat with hairballs. There are other benefits of this olive oil as well. It is believed that it will improve your cat’s fur health. In particular, helping it to look shiny and nice.

So, now you know how much olive oil you should give your cat for hairballs.

How often should I give my cat hairball medicine?

If you are considering giving your cat hairball medicine or remedies (Click here to see the availability on Amazon) you may be wondering how much you should give her.

When using cat hairball medicine or remedies you should carefully read the label to see the suggested amount. Generally speaking two or three days a week. But, this can vary. You can also be proactive and give your cat high fiber foods. Some of these are designed specifically for hairball prevention.

So now you know how often you should give your cat hairball medicine. But, how can you avoid hairballs?

How can you avoid your cat getting a hairball?

Now you have learned the number of different remedies, natural, and medicines, that you can consider using. As well as techniques that you can use for prevention. But, are there any extra things that you can do to help this?

You can avoid your cat getting hairballs by doing simple things such as grooming her regularly. Getting rid of this loose fur proactively will stop her from licking and consuming it which causes the hairballs.

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What is spiral flea dirt? (+ Can Cats Be Treated?)

If you have a cat and you have noticed that it has weird spiral-shaped specs of dirt on it. you may be wondering what this is, is it fleas?

What is spiral flea dirt?

Spiral flea dirt is a matter left behind from fleas. It consists of dried up blood and feces. It looks black with a texture similar to a grain of sand. But, sometimes it is in the formation of a spiral or coil. Hence the reason it is called spiral flea dirt.

What you need to get rid of the flea dirt & fleas:

 

Description	Image	My Rating
01. Vet’s Best Flea Shampoo (Best Option) Click here for the price on Amazon
02. Bayer Flea Prevention Click here for the price on Amazon
03. Frontline Plus Flea Treatment Click here for the price on Amazon

So, now you know what spiral flea dirt and some suggestions to get rid of it, but why does it look like this? Where do you usually find it? How can you be sure its flea dirt? Keep reading to get these answers and so much more.

 

Why does some flea dirt look like spirals?

Now that you know what spiral flee dirt is you may be wondering why it is in this spiral formation in the first place, right?

Spiral flea looks like this because it is the way that fleas excrete their feces. They either excrete in spherules or coils. According to this site, younger fleas excrete spherules but older ones, over 10 days old, excrete coils which cause this spiral looking flea dirt.

So, now you know why some flea dirt looks like spirals. But, where do you usually find it?

Where do you usually find flea dirt?

If you are looking for fleas to check if they have finally gone, or maybe you are just curious to find the common areas where to find them keep reading.

Spiral flea dirt is commonly found on your cat’s fur. But, the common areas are around its belly, back,  under her arms, or even on her paws. Fleas on her paws is quite a common area for outdoor cats in particular.

So, now you know where you can find flea dirt. But, how do you test for flea dirt?

How do you test for flea dirt?

If you want to know if your cat has fleas you may want a way that you can test to see if she has flea dirt.

A common way to test for flea dirt is by using the “water test”. This includes getting some paper and wetting it. Then get some flea dirt and sprinkle it on the wet paper. If the paper turns red or brown it is flea dirt. And, it is safe to assume your cat has fleas.

So, now you know how to test for flea dirt. But, now you know you have fleas in the house or on your cat, what is the best way to get rid of it?

How do you get rid of flea dirt?

So, you have discovered that your cat has fleas and covered in flea dirt. So, what now?

There are three steps to get rid of flea dirt:

• Get rid of the flea dirt.
• Treat the fleas that are causing the flea dirt.
• Check back later to see if they have gone for good.

Getting rid of flea dirt.

The first part of this process is getting rid of the visible flea dirt. The best way to do this is to use a fine-tooth flea comb (Click here for the price on Amazon). Comb through your cat’s fur to get rid of the flea dirt. I understand that this will not get rid of the ongoing problem this will just eliminate the obvious dirt. But, this is the first step.

Get rid of the fleas.

To truly get rid of this problem you need to eradicate the root cause which is the flavor is the original cast for. The best way to do this is to use a flea treatment (Click here for the price on Amazon) or even a flea shampoo (Click here to see the price on Amazon).

Check back later to see if they have gone for good.

So now that you have got rid of the visible flea dirt and treated the fleas. It is important to check to make sure the fleas have not come back. So, you should check around your cat’s fur first. Make sure there are no signs of the fleas dirt. Still, see them? You need to rinse and repeat this process.

Does flea dirt mean an infestation?

If you have noticed that your cat has flea dirt you may be wondering if there is a chance that she just has dirt with no fleas, but is that even possible?

If you can see flea dirt then you most definitely have a flea infestation problem. Cats only have flea dirt as a symptom of having fleas on their body. When you see flea dirt it means many other fleas are breading very fast.

So, now you know if you see flea dirt it is safe to assume there is an infestation. But, do we need to worry about our hair if our cat has fleas?

Can cat fleas live in human hair?

If you have established that your cat has. You may be getting paranoid wondering if they can get into your hair, right?

No, fleas cat fleas do not live in human hair. However, there is a good chance that they will bite you. Fleas like to bite and extract your blood. The common areas to find these bites is on your ankles or lower leg area.

So, now you know cat fleas do not live in human hair but are likely to bite you. But, what about your bedding?

Can fleas live in your bed?

So, now you know that cats fleas are likely to bite you,  is there a chance that they could be lurking and living in your bed?

No, cat fleas are not likely to live in your bed. They are most likely to be found in your cat’s fur or maybe under your bed. But, a higher chance is around your cat bedding and sheets especially if they have their own cat bed (Click here to see why I rate this cat bed).

So, now you know cat fleas are not likely to live in your bed. But, dos this flea dirt have eggs in it?

Is flea dirt eggs or poop?

So, now that you have discovered fleas on your cat. You may be wondering if there are any eggs in it.

Flea dirt does not contain eggs it is primarily flea poop and blood. When the flea consumes your cat’s blood they leave waste behind and this is what you are seeing. This is the reason why it is called flea dirt.

So, now you know that flea is mainly feces and blood with no eggs. But, earlier I talked about checking to see if the fleas are gone, remember? But, how do you do this?

How do you know when your cat’s fleas are gone?

If you have been treating your cat’s fleas you may be keen to know when the fleas have gone for sure, right?

You will know when your cat fleas are gone by looking for some signs. Is your cat scratching like crazy? Is there any flea dirt visible? You can check her fur and around her bedding. But, when you are checking her fur make sure you check around her belly, paws, and at the base of her tail.

So, now you know how to know your cat’s fleas are gone. But, do fleas burrow under human skin?

Do fleas burrow under human skin?

If you are paranoid or worried about cat fleas you may be wondering what they will do to your skin, right?

Cat fleas don’t burrow under human skin. But, they will happily bite you and draw blood. However, there are some species of fleas, such as the sand fleas (also known as the jigger flea) according to this site that is known to burrow into human skin and transmit diseases.

So, now you know cat fleas are not likely to burrow under your skin but other flea species can do this.

Should I keep my cat outside if it has fleas?

If your outdoor cat has been confirmed to have fleas you may be wondering how to deal with this, are you stuck with her indoors?

You should not let your cat outside if it has fleas. Also, when you read the instructions, effective cat flea treatments usually advise you to not allow your cat outside for at least a week after the treatment to check if it has dealt with the fleas.

So, now you know you should not let your cat outside if she has fleas.

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Why is My Cat’s Fur Turning Yellow? (Is this normal?)

If you have noticed that your cat is turning yellow you may be scratching your head confused wondering why this is happening.

Why is my cat’s fur turning yellow?

If your cat’s fur is originally white and you have noticed it turning yellow the chances are this is from dirt or stains. This tends to happen while it is on its day to day journeys. You can try and clean it but be prepared, most cats do not like being cleaned.

Now that you know the fact that your cat is turning yellow is probably to do with dirt and stains and nothing to worry about.

However, if you are considering cleaning your cat you may be wondering if baby wipes is a potential option, why cats hate water, how to clean a stinky cat, and so much more.

Can you use baby wipes to clean a cat?

If you are are interested in quickly cleaning your cat you may be wondering if using baby wipes is a good idea to avoid using water.

Yes, you can use baby wipes to clean your cat. However, you must use unscented baby wipes. This means that there should be no perfume in the ingredients at all to avoid irritation.

So, you’ve learned it is possible to give your cat a quick clean using some unscented baby wipes. But what if you want to give your cat a more thorough clean?

How do I clean a stinky cat?

if you have a cat that is really dirty, soiled, and smells, using baby wipes is not going to cut it. Therefore, you may be interested to learn how to give him a good clean to remove the odor and smell. Here are the steps.

01. Control the area.

Firstly, you will need a tub, ideally some kind of pet bathing tub or a baby tub if you’ve got nothing else. It’s important to put something in the bottom of the tub to avoid your cat slipping over while you bathing her.

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This could be a simple bath slip mat or even towels if you do not have this. apply some cat shampoo (Click here for the best cat shampoo) and warm water into the bath. but make sure that the water is not hot it needs to be warm.

02. Get your cat ready.

You need to trim your cat’s nails (Click here to see if a trimmer or grinder is better) before you place her into the water. This is generally good practice anyway but is very helpful to avoid the excessive scratching that you may get while you were trying to bathe her for the first time.

Brush and Groom her (Click here to see the best grooming brush) before you place her into the water. You need to do this first because, when she is wet, it can be quite difficult.

Then you will need to put some ophthalmic ointment on to protect her eyes from the shampoo.

03. Bathing Time.

Gently place your cat into the water, make sure that the fur gets wet to the root. The soapy wet shampoo will then give it a good clean at the root level. This will also get rid of the odor which is deep into the fur.

However, do not put her face into the water. This will be a disaster. Instead, use a wet flannel but make sure that it is clean. Make sure that you wash all of her body, including the armpits, which tend to collect sweat and odor.

04. Drying off.

To dry her off you will need two towels. The first towel will do most of the heavy lifting, in the end, it will be quite saturated. You need to vigorously rub your cat, against the grain, meaning, from tail to head. But, be prepared, she will get annoyed.

Remove the saturated first towel and continue to dry until your cat is completely dry and ready. Now that she is dry you need to brush its fur, to stop it from tangling and matting.

05. Treat your cat.

Offer you cats some treats, by now she may be traumatized. So, make her feel happy at the end. This will help when you need to bath her again in the future.

Why do cats hate water?

If you have raised a cat before and have seen how they react to water then you may be wondering why they hate water so much.

Cats hate water because historically, in the wild, cats never had to deal with water. They purposely located himself in dry areas away from water.  Meaning, they did not have to deal with it. This fear of water has passed down from their ancestors.

Now you know that the fear of water is something passed down to his ancestors.

Is it cruel to dye your pet’s fur?

If you have ever used dye before for preparing your cat for shows or even just for fun at home, you may be wondering if it is cruel to do this.

Using dye on cats is frowned upon by some cat owners, while others disagree. Whatever you believe, you can use dye without harming your pet. But, make sure that you use the correct one. The human dye is not safe because it is not designed to be ingested.

Is it OK to never bathe a cat?

If you have ever attempted to bathe a cat or your worried about even trying to do it, you may be wondering if you can get away without ever doing it.

You do not have to bathe your cat. However, it is advisable to do this because it will keep the fur clean, manageable, and help you avoid it tangling. Also, it will avoid big matted fur patches building up. because you typically grooming brush after each other

Is food coloring safe for cats’ fur?

If you have used dye to prepare your cat for a show or any other reason, you may have also considered using food coloring, but is that a good idea?

Food coloring can be safe for cats. But, only if it is FDA-approved. This site reports that it is safe. It is also known that allergies in food coloring is quite rare. Mostly, allergies are found in the proteins in food.

How often should you wash your indoor cat?

If you have an indoor cat. You may be wondering if it’s worth washing her regularly or just now and then.

It is advisable to bathe your cat every 4 to 6-weeks. Even though she is an indoor cat she can still get dirty and get her fur tangled. Most cats hate bathing but, the Aspca also has tips on how to make this bathing experience less stressful.

If you have a white cat and you have noticed that her fur is getting discolored, you may be wondering how to get it back to that beautiful original color again.

How do I get my cat’s fur white again?

If you are wondering how you can get your cat’s fur white again keep reading because I have some tips that will help you.

To get your cat fur white again. You can use some cornstarch or baking soda. Work it into her fur using your fingers. Once applied, brush it out using a firm brush. It will help to get rid of the dirt, oil, and odors that may build up.

So, now you know that you can use cornstarch or baking soda to help to regain your cat’s white fur. But, what about if your cat has fleas, feels itchy or has dandruff? Can vinegar help this?

Can you wash a cat with vinegar?

You may have heard rumors that cats can be washed with vinegar. You may have wondered if this is just a rumor or is true.

Yes, you can use vinegar to wash your cat. Some cat owners use it to relieve their cat’s scratching, itching, or irritation. Vinegar is also known to kill off fleas, so it is another reason why some cat owners like to try it.

However, before you consider giving your cat a vinegar wash, it is advisable to consult your vet and make sure that there will be no issues.

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How Long Does it Take Frontline to Dry?

If your cat has fleas and needs treatment. Then there is a good chance you are planning on using Frontline to combat it. But, how long do you need to wait for it to be fully dry and effective?

How long does it take the Frontline to dry?

It takes up to 48 hours for Frontline to dry. You may think it looks dry before this, for example within hours, but it will take longer than you think to be dry and effective to fight off the fleas.

Now that you know how long it takes for Frontline to dry keep reading to learn if frontline is safe for human touch if it will wash off in the bath, if the fleas will jump off after treatment, and much more.

Is Frontline safe for humans to touch?

Click here for the price on Amazon

In this section, I will explain if Frontline is safe for you to touch with your naked hands. Also, what concerns are there regarding the ingredients it has.

It is not a good idea to touch Frontline, according to this site, there are some concerns with its ingredients. In particular, Fipronil. It is a known carcinogen. And, the risk is increased with sunlight.

Will Frontline wash off in a bath?

In this section, you will learn if Frontline will wash off if you bath your pet. Frontline plus is often advertised as waterproof, so will this mean it will stay on? Let’s see…

No, Frontline will not come off in the bath, as long as it’s dry. It needs up to 48 hours to dry. Following this, it will be effective for up to 30 days. So, it is best practice to avoid applying it directly after your pet has bathed. Make sure they are dry.

In summary, even though it’s waterproof, you need to wait till its dry before bathing your pet.

Do fleas jump off after a treatment?

After you have applied Frontline you may be expecting it to instantly take effect and stop fleas jumping off. So, in this section, I will explain if this is the case.

Once the Frontline solution has dried in fleas will be killed off. You may still see some fleas jumping on your pet, but they will be killed by the Frontline solution, so they are unlikely to jump off. No treatment can prevent fleas from jumping on your pet, unfortunately.

In summary, you may see fleas jumping on your pet, but they will be dealt with by the Frontline solution.

How do you know when fleas are gone?

If you have applied Frontline you may be wondering when you truly know they are gone for good. For that reason, in this section, I will explain.

The best way to know if fleas are gone is if you monitor them. If you have not seen any in a few days, then the chances are they are gone. But, you need to keep monitoring them to make sure they do not return.

Now you know when the fleas are gone by simply monitoring them constantly. In the next section, I will look into how long these fleas are likely to stick around.

How long will I see fleas after treatment?

You can expect to see fleas return 10-14 days after treatment if you are using pest control and insecticide. If you are using Frontline, the fleas may return, but they will be killed within the 30-day effective period. Assuming it has dried in.

The two main methods for Flea Treatment

When you are treating for fleas there are two main things, treating your cat for fleas (Click here for the best solutions for your cat), using solutions like Frontline, and also treating your home. Without both, you may be stuck in a loop of treating them, and them returning. But, how long after treatment will you expect to see them?

Pest Control

If you have paid for pest control in your home, they will usually use insecticide. Even after this has been done it is common to see fleas return with 10-14 days. However, this is not necessarily a cause for concern. Because, as long as the pesticide is there, it can still handle the fleas that return.

Using Frontline

With Frontline the solution will be effective for up to 30 days. But, this is effective up to 48 hours, once it’s dried in. Then, you may see fleas return on your cat, but they will soon be dealt with by the solution.

Why can’t humans take Frontline?

While your cat is being treated for fleas yo may notice that you have noticed a few on your body, or in your hair. The natural thought might be, can’t you just use the same Frontline solution on your skin? In this section, I will explain.

How Frontline works

To understand this you need to understand how Frontline works. The solution mixes into the glands of your pet’s skin. Once it’s dried in it will stay effective for up to 30 days. This works well for cats and dogs because they do not wash as frequently as us humans.

The problem with humans and Frontline

The problem with us humans, when it comes to Frontline is how frequently we wash our skin. It is too much for it to stay in our glands and remain effective.

Also, as discussed earlier, there are some concerns about how Frontline affects human skin, based on the Fipronil ingredient.

Can I use Frontline every 2 weeks?

If you are noticing quite a lot of fleas on your furbaby you may be wondering if its worth using Frontline more frequently. Meaning, more than every 30 days. In this section, I will let you know if this is possible or ever done.

Before considering a higher frequency it’s worth consulting your vet. There are some cases where some vets may use it more frequently, according to this site,  but I would suggest checking this with them first.

Related Questions:

In this section, I will answer some questions related to cats and fleas. If you have any other questions you need answering please feel free to contact me.

Do Feral cats get fleas?

Yes, feral cats get fleas. They are more susceptible to fleas than other cats because they have no clean living environment. Also, they have no access to health care if they run into any problems.

Many concerned onlookers often worry about how feral cats deal with fleas. I can say this, it’s not easy for them.

How do cats catch fleas?

Cats catch fleas by coming into contact with other infects animals. The fleas can also be in-home carpets or other home furnishings. Usually, their eggs can be found in these locations. When the eggs hatch they can easily jump onto your cat.

Some cat owners are left confused when their indoor cat catches fleas, but believe it or not, it is quite common.

Does flea treatment still work if on fur?

No, flea treatment will not work if it is only on your pet’s fur. It needs to be applied directly to their skin for it to be effective. This is because it needs to mix with the glands in your pet’s skin to take effect.

If you have a pet with thick fur you may find it a bit of a challenge to get to their skin. But, unfortunately, this needs to be done if you want it to take effect.

How long after flea treatment can I pet my cat?

It is recommended that you wait for the flea treatment to dry completely before you attempt to pet your cat again. It is also important to monitor your cat for any unexpected behavior following the treatment. This is required for at least the first few hours after application.

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Should You Pick Your Cat’s Nose (Is it dangerous?)

If you are noticing your cat’s nose getting dirty and gunky (In a hurry? Click here for the best solution on Amazon) then you may be wondering if you should clean it and how to do this.

Should you pick your cat’s nose?

You should not pick the inside of your cat’s nose without seeking your vet’s advice. However, you can consider wiping his outer nose off with wipes. the best way is to use unscented wet wipes for this.

What you will need to clean your cat’s nose:

Description	Image	My Rating
01. Seventh Generation Wipes (Best Option) Click here for the price on Amazon
02. Pampers Unscented Wipes Click here for the price on Amazon
03. Elements Unscented Wipes Click here for the price on Amazon

Now that you know that you can consider cleaning your cat’s nose with wipes. Keep reading to learn two other methods, the problems with these methods, the best wipes to choose, and much more.

 

What are the best options to clean your cat’s nose?

In this section, I will reveal some of the best methods to clean your cat’s nose. Some of them are more effective than others, but I will make that clear to make it easier for you.

• Unscented Baby wipes (best option)
• Normal man-sized tissue
• Damp cloth

Unscented Baby wipes (best option)

Using an unscented baby wipe is my preferred method. This allows you to wipe your cat’s nose off and immediately get rid of it. The unscented is preferred so no perfume may irritate your cat’s skin or nose.

Normal man-sized tissue

Another method is using man-sized tissues. Some people dampen these tissues and wipe their cat with it.

My issue with man-sized tissues

The problem I have with this method is the fact that it breaks off easily especially when it is wet. And, if you are not careful, bits can land in her nose, are you with me?

Damp cloth

The final method is using a damp cloth. To be honest many cat owners prefer this. Why? because they are readily available and quick and easy.

My issue with a damp cloth

The problem I have with the damp cloth is the fact that the cloth you use may not always be clean. Meaning, people often reuse these clothes after using them for other things.

Such as putting furniture cleaner on it, forgetting, then indirectly trying to wipe the chemicals on her nose, are you with me.

3 Best unscented wipes to clean your cat’s nose

In this section, I will share with you three of my best-unscented wipes that you can use. For each one, I will explain the pros and cons to make it easy for you to see what works best for you.

01. Seventh Generation Wipes (Best Option)

Click here for the price on Amazon

Pros:

• Simple to dispense (Flip-top lid provided)
• Sensitive wipes (delicate on cat fur or baby skin)
• Unscented
• Soft (makes wiping easy)

Cons:

• Does not conceal the smell, if there is any
• They are not biodegradable (contains a synthetic ingredient)

What I like about this Seventh Generation Wipes

These unscented wipes are designed for babies, as you can probably tell from the image above. However, they are ideal to use on your cat. I love the fact that they have a simple dispensing mechanism.

Meaning, the flip-top lid it has. This not only looks cool, but it also keeps the wipes moist and fresh, are you with me? As I said, they are designed for babies.

So, they are made to be sensitive. So, your skin or cat fur will benefit. Because they are so soft, it makes wiping up easy to do.

In summary, if you are looking for a wipe that is easy to clean off your cat’s nose and also sensitive, then this sounds ideal for you.

What I dislike about this Seventh Generation Wipes

As much as I love these cat wipes they are not perfect. Firstly, the have no scent, which is good but be prepared, they will not mask any stinky smells, are you with me?

Also, they are not biodegradable. this is because they do contain a synthetic ingredient. So, for those people that will only use truly eco-friendly products, you may hesitate because of this.

02. Pampers Unscented Wipes

Click here for the price on Amazon

Pros:

• No Parabens or perfume
• Unscented
• Mild (easier on skin or fur)
• Used in some hospitals
• Water-based wipe

Cons:

• If your hands are dry or cracked, may sting a bit (contains organic alcohol)
• The packaging is not resealable

What I love about this Pampers Unscented Wipes

These unscented wipes are from the well respected Pampers brand. No doubt you have heard of them before, right? Well, again, let’s address the elephant in the room, yes they are designed for babies. But, they are ideal for cats as well.

Not only are they unscented, but they also do not contain parabens or perfume. They are so reliable they have been known to be used in some hospitals. This is probably because they are water-based wipes.

In summary, if you are looking for an unscented wet wipe that is from a well known, reputable brand, then this sounds like the one for you.

What I do not love about this Pampers Unscented Wipes

These wipes are known to contain some organic alcohol, so if you have an open cut or broken skin, they may give you a mild sting. Also, I wish the packaging was resealable.

03. Elements Unscented Wipes

Click here for the price on Amazon

Pros:

• Made with purified water (& naturally derived ingredients)
• Mild and gentle on your skin or cats fur
• No Alcohol, dyes or Parabens used
• Flip-top case (keeps them moist)

Cons:

• They are not biodegradable or sustainable
• Has a slight chemical smell

What I appreciate about this Elements Unscented Wipes

These Elements wipes may look basic but don’t be fooled, they do the job. I like the fact that they use naturally derived ingredients and purified water.

Apart from this, they are mild and gentle on your skin, or your cat’s fur, which makes life easier. Its also refreshing to learn that they do not use any alcohol, parabens, or dyes. Finally, that flip-top lid, that it comes with is quite handy!

In summary, If you are looking for an effective unscented wipe that will keep your cat’s nose clean, these sound good for your needs.

What I do not appreciate about this Elements Unscented Wipes

Its a shame to see that they are not biodegradable, for those that are keen on this, this may annoy you. Also, not sure if it’s just me, they do have a slight chemical smell.

Related Questions:

In this section, I will answer some questions related to cat cleanliness. If you have more questions feel free to contact me.

Do cats clean themselves?

Cats do clean themselves using their tongues. They do this instinctively by following their mother’s direction from an impressionable kitten. However, they still need to be maintained and groomed.

If they are not maintained well your cat may start to smell bad. This can be quite embarrassing for you considering you may not even notice it.

What is cat dander?

Cat dander is flecks of skin that infiltrate the atmosphere of your home. Some people are allergic to this dander. Hence, you may hear people say they are allergic to cats, but it is likely to do with the dander they spread.

Using a good air purifier can help (Click here to see why I rate this one the best) can help to control the cat dander in your home, if this is an issue for you.

How do cats react with anxiety?

Cats can react in various ways to anxiety. Such as not eating, not wanting to socialize, or avoiding certain rooms in your home. It is sometimes quite subtle and hard to detect.

There have even been some cats that pee on towels (Click here to see how to stop this) which can be very frustrating cat owners, as you can imagine.

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How to Get Ink Out of Cat Fur (Best 3 Ways)

If you have been in the unfortunate position to get ink on your cat’s fur (Click here for one of my best solutions to remove ink from your cat’s fur on Amazon), you may be wondering if you can actually get rid of it, right?

You can remove ink from your cat’s fur. You have three options. You can either let it naturally grow out, try to shampoo it, if it is not much, or trim out the ink if it is not a large area. Natural growth is the preferred method but it takes a long time to go.

Now that you know its possible to get rid of the ink from your cat’s fur. Keep reading to learn exactly what you will need to get rid of it, the pros and cons of each, and much more.

What you will need to get rid of the ink

Description	Image	My Rating
01. Pro Pet Works Shampoo Click here for the price on Amazon
02. Sminiker Pet Trimmer Click here for the price on Amazon

How to get ink out of cat fur

In this section, I will explain the three main approaches to removing ink from your kitty. This will help you to understand your options. Here are the choices:

• Naturally, grow it out
• Shampoo it
• Trim it out

Naturally, grow it out

This is the easiest, safest, and cheapest method. But, it takes time to work. The reality is, some people may not be able to wait, because it can take some time. This involves letting nature taking its time and growing out of the old fur. If you can’t wait that long, check out the next option.

Shampoo it

If you feel that you cannot wait for the ink to grow out and it is not that bad, you may be able to wash it out. This is usually only effective if it’s not that much ink, are you with me?

There are quite a few shampoos, that are designed for your kitty, that you can use. Also, some of them use natural products to avoid the harsh chemicals some of them have.

Trim it out

If you can’t wait, and shampoo is no working, the last resort is trimming the fur. To be honest, I would avoid this if possible, but if it’s your only option you can consider it. Also, it is only really applicable if the ink is only in a small area. If it is a large area, seek professional help.

My best Cat Shampoo to remove stains and ink

In this section I will share with you three of my best cat shampoos that can be used to remove the cat ink, as discussed earlier, it is applicable for small areas that does not have much ink. It’s worth a try in my opinion.

01. Pro Pet Works (Best choice)

Click here for the price on Amazon

Pros:

• No alcohol, added colors or harsh chemicals.
• Uses natural organic ingredients.
• Made for sensitive, dry or itchy skin
• No detergent or soap suds (better for her eyes)

Cons:

• The smell is quite strong
• Not all cats will love this

What I like about this Pro Pet Works shampoo

This shampoo has no alcohol, added colors, or harsh chemicals. In fact, it only uses natural organic ingredients. This is better for your kitty. Especially when compared to some shampoos that are laced with chemicals.

It is formulated for sensitive, dry or itchy skin. The good thing about this is it will be easier on your cat’s skin even if she doesn’t suffer from sensitive skin, are you with me?

It doesn’t contain any detergent or soap suds, this means that you won’t have annoying soap suds irritating her eyes.

What I dislike about this Pro Pet Works shampoo

One thing I must say, it has quite a strong smell. The best way to explain it is a weird cherry smell, a bit like cough syrup, are you with me? The reality is, this smell may annoy some cats or even you.

02. Bodhi Shampoo

Click here for the price on Amazon

Pros:

• Moisturises dry or itchy skin
• Great for sensitive skin
• Uses natural oatmeal ingredients
• Not detergent or alcohol
• Nice, subtle apple fragrance

Cons:

• The scent is quite weak.

What I like about this Bodhi shampoo

This shampoo moisturizes your cat’s skin. This is great for itchy, sensitive, or dry skin. And, even if she does not have these issues, she will benefit by preventing this, are you with me?

It uses natural oatmeal ingredients. These natural ingredients help to avoid chemicals. It also does not contain any alcohol or detergent. This makes it better on her eyes when you wash her.

It has a subtle scent, not super strong. Some people will appreciate this, rather than an overpowering scent that takes over the room, are you with me?

What I dislike about this Bodhi shampoo

I mentioned earlier that the scent is quite subtle, remember? Well, to be honest, some people will find it too subtle. Maybe they could improve it by making it a tad bit stronger.

03. Petway Shampoo

Click here for the price on Amazon

Pros:

• No harsh chemicals
• Uses natural oils, fruit & veg extracts (adds shine to her fur)
• Eliminates frizzy fur coats
• Biodegradable material
• Not tested on animals

Cons:

• Some cats may not appreciate the smell

What I like about this Petway shampoo

This shampoo does not contain any harsh chemicals. It uses natural oils, fruits, and vegetable extracts. This is beneficial because it adds shine to her fur (Click here to learn what to do if your cats fur is turning yellow). The good thing is, it eliminates frizzy fur coats.

I love the fact that it has biodegradable materials. Anything that helps the environment in the slightest I am in favor of, are you with me?

Also, an added bonus is that it is not tested on animals. Any animal lover will love this, right?

What I dislike about this Petway shampoo

The only thing I would say about this is, not every cat will love the smell. I guess this is the case with any shampoo, even if there is no fragrance, its quite subjective.

My best cat trimmers to remove ink

In this section I will share three of my best pet trimmers. This is in case you have no option but to trim out the ink stains in your cat’s fur, as discussed earlier. For each option, I will explain what I like and do not like.

01. Sminiker Professional Trimmer (Best Choice)

Click here for the price on Amazon

Pros:

• Low noise and vibration
• Nice selection of combs
• Has a rust-proof titanium blade
• The blade is sharp and durable (keeps sharp)
• R-shape edge (prevents you from cutting your cat’s skin)

Cons:

• The shaving head is a bit big
• A bit tricky to break down and clean

What I like about this Sminiker pet trimmer

This trimmer has low noise and vibration. This means that it will avoid your fur baby getting scared or anxious with the vibrations. It comes with a nice selection of comes to fit most fur lengths.

It also comes with a rust-proof titanium blade. As you can imagine, some blades get rusty with age. And this clever design avoids this happening.

Regarding the blade it is also nice and sharp, to make the job simple and avoid you tugging at your cat’s fur. Also, it is designed to stay sharp.

Also, it has an R-shaped edge. This clever feature prevents you from accidentally cutting your cat’s skin, are you with me?

What I dislike about this Sminiker pet trimmer

This trimmer has a fairly large head which can make it a bit tricky to trim. It’s not the worst, but it’s worth mentioning. Also, breaking it down to clean it can be a bit tricky.

02. Oneisall cat trimmer

Click here for the price on Amazon

Pros:

• Quiet with low vibration
• Sharp & safe blades
• Wireless usage
• Can be used even when charging
• Simple cleaning (Detachable blades)

Cons:

• No clear indication when the battery is low
• Hair may get trapped around the guard

What I love about this Oneisall cat trimmer

This pet trimmer has a nice low vibration, which stops your kitty from getting irritated. It has sharp, but most importantly, safe blades.

One of the things I love is the fact that it is wireless. And, not just that, you can still use it when it is charging. This makes a big difference, especially when the battery runs out (more on this later).

The blades can easily be detached. This makes it easy to clean it out.

What I do not love about this Oneisall cat trimmer

Earlier I mentioned that it can be used while on a charge, remember? Well, this is lucky because one of my annoyances is the lack of indicating that the battery is low.

Also, from time to time, you may notice that the fur get tangled around the guard. Yes, you can detach the blades and clean them, but it’s still annoying.

03. Ceenwes cat trimmer

Click here for the price on Amazon

Pros:

• Super quiet design
• 2-year after-sale support
• Cordless design
• Lightweight
• 70 minutes usage (from just 5-hour charge)

Cons:

• Fur tends to get caught up
• The scissors could be sharper

What I appreciate about this Ceenwes cat trimmer

This trimmer is super quiet. if noise is a concern for you, then this one is for you. It comes with a 2-year after-sale service, which is quite reassuring.

I love the cordless design. This gives you so much freedom when compared to a corded version. Are you with me? It is also nice and lightweight.

The battery is quite good as well, in my opinion. You can expect approx 70 minutes of usage from a 5-hour charge.

What I do not appreciate about this Ceenwes cat trimmer

From time to time you may notice that the fur gets clogged up in the blade. Meaning, you will need to keep cleaning it to clear it. Also, the scissors provided are quite blunt. Meaning they could be a bit sharper, are you with me?

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Maine Coon Cat Matted Fur: How to get rid of it

If you have a Maine Coon cat and noticed some matted fur, you may be looking for some simple solutions to get rid of it…

Can I get rid of my Maine coons matted fur? Yes, you can get rid of your Maine Coon’s matted fur. However, there are some simple techniques you can use to avoid making life hard for yourself. 

Now that you understand that it is possible to get rid of the matted fur, let me share with you some actionable tips to get rid of them, explain what actually causes them, how to prevent them coming back and much more…

What causes my Maine coon’s matted fur?

The matted fur (sometimes looks separated) is typically located around areas on your cat’s body that cause a lot of movement. Therefore, you may find it underneath her tail, under her chest or even around her legs, because these areas create a lot of movement.

Shedding

Shedding is another known cause of matted fur. This typically happens when the loose fur falls onto your cat and stays there, over time, if this is left unattended, it becomes thicker and harder to get rid of, which then escalate into matted fur.

Unable to groom himself.

If your cat is feeling sick, overweight or feeling pain when grooming, you may find that she will stop grooming. In time her fur will become neglected and matted.

The matted fur will eventually get worse. With time and further neglect, it can become unmanageable.

Typical reasons for this include:

• Obesity
• Arthritis
• Dental problems

Why you mustn’t get her fur wet (When it’s matted).

Some cat owners decide what they want to take matters into their own hands by trying to wet their cat’s fur, in an attempt to get rid of the matting.

I can tell you from now, this is not a good idea. The reason I say this is because the water can actually tighten up the tangled fur. This will make it even harder to get rid of the problem.

Therefore, your efforts to get rid of a problem becomes harder. Often, cat groomers will suggest using detanglers or anti-static spray, to get rid of the mess.

One of the mistakes cat owners make, to cut corners, is reuse cosmetic products made for humans, such as detanglers, to save money. It may sound like a good idea, from a financial perspective, but, It’s not a good idea for your cat, are you with me?

Why? Because cat-specific products have been specially formulated for cats for a reason. They have different requirements to use, for example, different ph levels.

Why is matted fur so bad?

You may be wondering to yourself what’s so bad about the matted fur in your cat and can you not just leave it as it is.

Apart from the obvious reasons that it looks bad and I’ll give me an I saw there are some genuine reasons why you want to take action with the matted fur before it becomes uncontrollable.

Skin irritation

When your cat has matted fur, it blocks oxygen and moisture to her skin. Over time her skin will become irritated and dried out. Then she will start to over-compensate by trying to groom these areas more than usual.

This typically ends up with her ingesting excess fur, this can then lead to health-related problems.

Trapped urine and faeces.

On some of these heavily matted areas, such as on the back of your cat’s legs, you may find it starts to trap urine and faeces. Not only does this smell bad, but it can also lead to other health-related problems.

Parasites

Leaving tangled or matted hair for a long duration will increase the chances of attracting parasites.  This obviously causes immense irritation and pain for your cat. And, can also lead to further health problems.

Therefore, as you can see, keeping on top of your cats grooming and avoiding matting is the best way forward.

How to remove your Maine coon’s Matted fur

So far you have learnt exactly what causes matted fur and the dangers of ignoring it. In this section, I will reveal some solutions on how you can get rid of it…

01. Using your fingers.

In the first instance, if you are lucky, you may find that you’ve caught the matted fur in its early stages. Rather than investing in any other solutions, or over-complicating matters, you may get away with simply brushing your fingers through her matted fur, to get rid of it easy.

02. Wide-tooth comb.

If you’ve tried running your fingers through your Maine coon’s fur and it has not made any difference, then you can try using a wide-toothed comb (Click here to see if this great comb is still available, on Amazon).

The best way to use this is to make sure that you grasp the end of the fur closest to the skin. This is to avoid tugging her fur. As you can imagine, tugging at her fur hurts.

Gently get the wide-tooth comb and place it near your fingers and then comb away from your hands to the end of her fur. This will avoid causing any unnecessary pain to your cat.

If you notice that your cat has a particularly thick undercoat, you can actually use an undercoat comb (click here to check availability of this one on Amazon) to deal with this. It is well suited for this particular issue and can save you some time and stress.

03. Using a de-matting comb

These de-matting combs (Click here to see why I selected this) are specifically made for the matting. Therefore, they are ideal, if you have failed with the other two methods.

The unique thing about these combs is, they are designed to cut through the fur as you brush, to get rid of really persistent matting. In fact, they’re often called razor combs for this reason.

Again, while using these combs, hold that base fur, close to her skin, are you with me? This is for the same reasons as discussed earlier.

04. The clippers method

If all else fails, and she still has this unsightly matted fur, it’s time to get the groomers involved. Typically, groomers will end up using some clippers to get rid of the matted fur.

So, it is advised to let the professionals take over. You don’t want to make any unnecessary mistakes with these clippers, trust me.

How can you prevent your Maine coons fur getting matted?

As you may have heard before, prevention better than cure, right? Therefore I’m going to share some techniques to avoid this happening…

01. Running your fingers through her fur

On occasion, you should routinely rub your hands through your cat’s fur. This can easily be done while you are petting her. If you notice any small matted fur, it’s your chance to get in early and sort it. Better to act now before it gets out of hand.

02. Bathing

Another tactic to use in bathing your cat (click here to see if it is really a good idea to bath your cat). It doesn’t necessarily have to be done on a regular basis. But, it’s a good idea on occasion, especially if she gets really messy, such as getting heavily soiled or spilled ink on her (Click here to see how to remove this), etc.

03. Trimming & Brushing your cat’s fur.

On occasion, trimming your cat’s fur will help to keep it maintainable. You should also help your cat by brushing and grooming her fur. Especially with Maine coons because they have such long fur. Its easier for their fur to get out of control.

I understand that cats naturally groom their own fur. But sometimes they need help, this will reduce the chances of matted fur developing.

What if the matting is out of control?

If you have used all of these solutions and you are still finding it hard to deal with your kitties matted fur, then you need to get a professional groomer involved.

It’s not worth taking any risks with your cat and, generally speaking, professional groomers know exactly what to do in these difficult situations.

What is the best brush for a Maine coons hair?

Because Maine coons have long hair, it is important to get a comb which will help them. In particular, ones that are made for shedding.

Reason being, they are typically good for getting rid of really matted or stubborn fur. These brushes tend to have wire bristles.

Related Questions:

In this section, I will answer some questions related to Maine coons and grooming. If you have any extra questions that have not been answered, please feel free to leave a comment below.

Why do Maine coons meow so much?

Your Maine coon meows too much because you haven’t trained her not to. If you respond to her every demand, she effectively clicks her fingers and you do whatever she wants. The result is, she will continue to meow and make noise.

This kind of behaviour similar to a spoilt young toddler. You know, when their mother does everything at their beck and call? In time, she becomes trapped, doing everything her toddler demands, are you with me? The solution is to gradually stop this trend.

Does matted fur hurt your Maine coon?

Yes, matted fur can hurt your Maine coon. Initially, it may not be so much of an issue. But as the matted fur gets tighter and larger, it becomes a big issue. Eventually leading pain and discomfort.

One of the biggest issues as they get larger and cause pressure on your cat’s skin to the point when I find it painful to lie down with the mats on their body. Ideally, prevention is best, this is why other cat owners use cat brushes that are gentle, for those cats that do not love being brushed (Click here to see the best choice).

Does the time of the year make a difference for matted fur?

Yes, the time of year does make a difference. In the winter cats become more susceptible to getting matted fur. This is because in winter time your cat will develop a thicker coat, this is why some cat owners use cat wall brushes to help (Click here to see why I rate this one the best).

This winter coat of fur, which is larger and thicker, will make them more susceptible to picking up large clumps of matted fur.

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My Cats Fur Looks Separated (Now What?)

If you have noticed separated fur on your cat, you may be looking for a solution to get rid of it (Click here for my best cat grooming combs to help this) and to understand why it’s happening.

How do I get rid of my cat’s separated fur? The best way to get rid of separated fur is to help your cat by grooming their fur. This is typically done by using a cat comb and it is also a good idea to consider shampooing their fur on occasion.

Later on, in this article, I will give you some advice on how you can groom their fur (Click here to see why I rate this comb so highly), such as de-matting it and other useful techniques.

What does healthy cat fur actually look like?

So by now, you understood how to help to get rid of your cat’s separated fur. But, how do you actually know when you’ve done a good job, and your cat is looking in good shape?

Ideally, your cat’s fur should be shiny and smooth looking. It should have a coarse texture without being brittle, are you with me? It is quite hard to describe this, but once you see it you’ll know what I mean.

As for the skin…

Their skin should be smooth without looking flaky. if you see flaky skin it could be an indication that it could be dandruff or it’s getting dried out. Also, their skin should not be too greasy and without bumps on it. If you can see greasy skin this could be an issue, but more on this later.

How do you get rid of mats in your cat’s fur?

If you notice that your cat’s hair is matted then this is a big problem, if you do not get on top of it. This is typically seen in long-haired cats who have fur which is typically hard to manage. This is usually avoided by preventing it in the first instance, such as using a wall grooming brush (Click here to see what I mean and why this is the best one).

Using a simple de-matting comb (Click here for my best choice) and some effort you can help to de-matt your cat’s fur. This is so that it doesn’t have big unsightly mats of fur that it can’t deal with.

Make sure you use gloves

But, before you even think of de-matting their fur, you need to make sure that you put on some heavy-duty gloves.

Why?

This is because your cat is likely to put up some serious resistance when you start combing those difficult and painful mats out of her fur.

Think of it this way, if you had really long hair with knots in it, and someone attempted to aggressively comb them out, wouldn’t you be apprehensive? Let’s be honest, it would be quite painful. And, chances are, you would put up resistance yourself, right? So, be mindful of this.

Adult Cats, without experience, can be hard work…

This resistance is even harsher if it is an adult cat, that has never been de-matted or combed before, as you can imagine.

Therefore, if you find this to be overly difficult, and you find that your cat is getting quite vicious. You need to stop, give it a break and then maybe try again at a later date, are you with me?

If all fails, get a professional groomer

If you find that even after you’ve given it a break and attempted to do it again, your cat is still not enjoying it, or shall I say not co-operating, because in hindsight they never really will enjoy it.

Then you need to think about getting a professional groomer involved. This is because they have the experience and knowledge of how to do this without injuring your cat or aggravating you in the process.

Why is my cat under-grooming?

If you notice that your cat is not grooming properly, it is a very good chance that it is connected to some health-related problems. The challenge is finding out which particular problem it has.

To give you an indication of what is possible, I’m going to list a few of these potential problems and then provide detail about them.

• Arthritis
• Old age
• Injured
• Dental issues
• Obesity

Arthritis and old age.

Arthritis and old age typically go hand in hand. As your cat gets older they will find it harder to do basic tasks such as grooming themselves.

As you may know, arthritis causes serious joint problems in your cat. And, can make grooming a painful exercise. Therefore, you could find that she is not grooming properly because she is in pain.

Injured

If your cat has been injured in some way she may not groom herself properly, which could cause problems. This is simply because basic grooming techniques are going to cause problems and aggravate the injury.

Therefore, it is a good idea to consult your vet to understand exactly what the injury is. Especially if it’s not obvious.

Dental problems

As you probably know, cats use their mouth (and tongue) to groom themself. And, therefore any dental related problems is likely to cause them to stop grooming.

Sometimes these issues are quite obvious. However, there are occasions where it’s quite hard to see or your cat is keeping it to itself.

The best thing to do is to consult your vet to understand exactly what the issue is. Because in some cases it could be a simple fix. And, in some cases, it could be fixed and get them back to grooming again.

Obesity

If your cat has gradually become overweight, to the point of obesity. This could be causing her to stop grooming. Believe it or not, if she doesn’t look after her weight it can affect her doing basic things like grooming.

What about if your cat is over-grooming?

Overgrooming, as you can imagine, is the opposite of under grooming. It is when your cat is grooming himself to the point of injury. This will be quite obvious because you’ll see skin irritation, patches or other obvious signs.

Usually, this is to do with some kind of parasites or irritation that has occurred in their skin. And, they are overcompensating by continuously biting, nibbling or excessively licking the infected area.

The best way to deal with this is to consult your vet to understand exactly what the issue is. This will help to see what can be done to get rid of the root cause of the problem. Rather than just dealing with the symptoms, are you with me?

If it is a flea problem they may give you a good flea shampoo (Click here to see my best fleas shampoo) which can help to get rid of it. But, either way, your vet will have some good advice on this.

Greasy or Clumpy fur

If you notice that your cat seems to have greasy or clumpy fur. This again could be due to some physical problems. The best thing to do is to consult your vet to understand what the issue is.

But, in the meantime, you can intervene by lending a hand with grooming by using a wide-toothed comb to clear up some of the greasy or clumpy areas of the fur.

Related Questions:

In this section, I am going to answer some questions related to cats and fur. If you have some other related questions that you need answering, please feel free to drop a comment below.

Q: How often should I bathe my cat?

As you know bathing your cat is sometimes required (Click here for the full article). Not all cat owners do this because cats are quite good at grooming themselves. And, in some cases, you can get away without doing it.

However, there are situations where this is necessary and some cat owners do this on a regular basis regardless.

To cut a long story short, you shouldn’t bathe them too regularly and anything less than every 4 to 6-weeks I would suggest is not a good idea.

Q: How does their diet impact their skin and fur?

Like us humans, cats rely on their food intake to regulate how the body functions.

Therefore, the right level of protein, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals is needed to maintain a healthy-looking coat and skin.

The challenge with this is these things are not instantly noticeable. And therefore, a lack of one particular macronutrient is not instantly noticeable, but, can cause deficiencies at a later date. Therefore, it is important to monitor this.

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Do Cats Smell Bad? (Odor/Foul/Breath/Fur/Skin/Dander)

If you are considering getting a cat or just curious you may be interested to know if cats smell. If they do, there are obvious solutions such as air purifiers (Click here for my best air purifiers for cats), but do they really smell?

Do cats smell bad? No, not usually, especially if they are domesticated. However, I agree that this is quite subjective. There are instances when a cat really does smell bad, for example, if you have a male unneutered cat that wants to mark territory or if your cat has health issues (more on this later).

Now that you know understand that they can smell sometimes, I will now move on to explain what causes these smells, how you can prevent these smells and much more.

Why do cats smell bad?

You may be wondering what actually causes a cat to smell bad, as you now know there are instances where it definitely does smell.

The reality is there are a number of different reasons why your cat could be smelling. For that reason, I’m going to break down a number of different issues that can cause this to happen.

Mouth smells.

If you notice that your cat has really bad breath this is usually linked to an issue with dental hygiene. Similar to human beings, if there is inflammation in their gums this can cause the gum to not sit against the tooth correctly.

You may wonder what this has got to do with the bad-smelling mouth, but give me a second to explain. This inflammation causes crevices in the gum which allows excess food to gather there.

The food will then decay and cause a really bad smell. This is usually the smell that you can identify as a bad mouth odor.

Male un-neutered cats

As discussed earlier, un-neutered male cats are likely to spray in your house. But why is this happening? Because a male unneutered cat will typically want to spray and mark its territory.

This is so other intruders know not to mess. Weirdly, this smell is not disgusting to cats. However, for humans, it is a really bad smell which is hard to get rid of.

Skin odor

Another issue that causes cats to smell is their actual skin. This is not always that easy to diagnose because their skin is covered by layers of fur.

However, simple parasites, diseases or other ailments can contribute to odors. The smell will elevate beyond the skin and make you believe that the fur is smelling.

Weird Smell in their Ear.

Another common issue is the smell in your cat’s ear. Granted this is not as common as mouth or skin odors but it is a factor that we need to discuss. Let’s be frank, any smell that you notice needs to be discussed and understood, right?

These are orders are usually to do with mites that can collect in the cat ear. These mites look like little raisins that collect around their ear and unleash a really powerful odor.

Smells from behind

When I say “behind”, I mean around their rectal area. These smells can be attributed to a number of different problems.

However, a common issue that is noticed, particularly if you have a long-haired cat, is diarrhea. As you may know, diarrhea makes their bowel movements almost impossible to control.

Therefore, this can end with feces being caught on your cat’s fur. This can then get dried into the fur and leave a really bad smell about the house.

Other related issues can include urinary tract infections which could also lead to bad odor in this area.

How to stop your cat smelling out the house

So, right now we have discussed some of the reasons why your cat may be smelling. However, we haven’t discussed how you can proactively stop these things happening (click here to see how this pine pellet litter box can help to make a better smell in your home).

Therefore, in this section, I will go through a number of different ways that you can use to prevent this smell in your house.

The litter box area.

Smells around the litter box area are quite common. This can be caused by a badly managed box (Click here to see the best cat door to help hide away a stinky litter box). The litter box may not have been cleaned out frequently enough or in some cases, it is just a genuine accident, such as the cat stepping in the mess as it leaves the litter box, are you with me?

Some cat owners use hooded cat litter boxes to get around this issue (Click here to see why I choose this as my best one).

Another technique that can be used, which a lot of cat keepers swear by, is mixing baking soda with the litter to reduce the smell. But, if you use a good scented litter, regardless of it being clay or crystal litter (Click here to see why I rated this one best) it will really help.

However, nothing beats keeping it clean in the first instance to eliminate the chances of the smells. Therefore, you should be cleaning the cat litter box out daily and a follow up with a deeper clean at least two or three times a week.

You need to use some common sense as well. Even though I say a daily clean is enough, if it is unexpectedly full up it is a good idea to clean it anyway, know what I mean? Basically, on an ad-hoc basis as and when it is needed.

If you find that you are not keeping on top of it there are other considerations that may help you This could be as simple as investing in a device that does some of the cleaning for you automatically.

Mess outside of the litter box

In some cases, you may discover that there is some mess outside of the litter box. Sometimes this is down to general mistakes by your cat maybe they are stepped in it and walked it outside of the litter box.

However, there are some instances where this is clearly not an accident and could actually be the result of a medical issue.

If this is the case you need to consult your vet to get your cat checked out because using or pooping outside of the litter box (Click here to see the best clumping cat litter) is not standard practice for cats and cause for alarm.

If we assume it was a genuine accident there are ways to clean this up and to make it smell better. One of them is to use an enzymatic cleaner to clean up some of the mess. Or, if it’s an item that is not of high value you could even consider just throwing the item away.

Cleaning up regularly around the house.

Apart from using direct methods, such as cleaning up the litter box, it is recommended to have a general tidy-up of the house on a regular basis.

In particular, you should vacuum as much as possible. Why? because this will clean up some unseen flecks of dander from your cat and, other small particles of mess which can, in time, contribute to bad smells. You can even consider using baking soda to sprinkle around the carpets and other areas in the house.

Cat grooming.

Another technique that you can use to reduce bad smells is to keep your cat regularly groomed.

Yes, they do naturally groom themselves by licking themselves. However, there are certain instances where they may not be able to clear all of the mess which will need your help.

Grooming their fur and using tools such as de-matting combs (Click here to see my best Dematting Combs) will help to keep them clean and reduce the smell.

Cat air purifiers.

Cat air purifiers (click here to see my best Air Purifiers for cats)  are a very good technique to help to reduce the odor in the air. Apart from purifying the air, they also help to reduce allergens in the air as well as this.

Furnace filters.

Furnace filters are used in many houses and are a magnet for collecting cat fur, dander and other related matter which will contribute to bad odor.

Therefore, regularly maintaining and changing these filters will help to reduce the odor in your house.

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Can I Use Baby Shampoo on My Cat (Will it hurt)?

If you are considering bathing your cat you may have looked at the best cat shampoos available (Click here for my best choice on Amazon). But, maybe you have even been considering other solutions, such as baby shampoo. But, can that really be used?

 

Can you use baby shampoo on a cat? Yes, you can use baby shampoo on a cat. However, it is not ideal and not really recommended. This is because cats do not need a bath unless they have really got uncontrollably dirty. Also, there is shampoo designed for them which is much safer.

Now that you know that it is ok, but not recommended (Click here for my article comparing two top cat shampoo brands Vet’s Best vs Tropiclean Cat Shampoo), let me explain why this is not a good idea. Also, other similar options to avoid, how to bath your cat correctly if needed and more. Keep reading…

Why shouldn’t cats really use Baby shampoo?

The reason I say this is not ideal is for two main reasons. I mentioned earlier, briefly, cats generally do not need to be bathed. The only exception to this is if they get exceptionally dirty. When I say “exceptionally” I mean, so much so they are unable to actually lick and groom the dirt off, are you with me?

For example, if she fell into a big bucket of mud or even worse, tar. In this situation, she could not physically clean this off. And you wouldn’t want her to attempt to lick this off, right?

Apart from these rare exceptions, cats typically groom and bathe himself ( Click here to see my article: Is it Bad to Give Your Cat a Bath?). Even if they do need to be bathed. Baby shampoo is not the ideal remedy.

This is because there are specific cat shampoos that are available on the market that are designed for their skin sensitivity and pH level.

However, as I said earlier it is possible to use baby shampoo. But you have to make sure that you use the correct one which is going to be mild enough for their skin so it does not cause irritation.

What is the difference between baby & normal shampoo?

The biggest difference between baby shampoo and adult shampoo is the fact that they are advertised to not cause eye or skin irritation. The big sale is its “kind for kids”. The angle used in these advertisements is it’s allegedly “tear-free”.

This is the reason why people believe that baby shampoo is a better choice than an adult shampoo with regards to using it for cats.

How is this achieved?

They claim to achieve this by not using any Artificial Colours or other chemicals in the product. However in reality, if you really look into the ingredients of some of these products you will see there is not a lot different to the adult version.

In some cases you will find the same chemical agents and sulfates found in the adult version but with a  reduced quantity. Therefore, making it a solution should not be used for cats. And, questionable even for babies.

Will baby shampoo hurt your cat?

It depends on which one you use. If you go for an unscented shampoo then it reduces the chance of irritation and the alkaline level is closer to a cat’s. Therefore, there is less chance of it irritating your cat’s skin.

There are also some soaps, such as the castile soap, which has been known to be used with cats. This particular soap is known to have additional moisturizing qualities that will stop your cat drying out.

However, the best solution is to use actual cat shampoo, which has been specifically designed for their needs.

What is the difference between cat and dog shampoo?

You may be wondering could you not just go ahead and use a dog shampoo instead then? The reality is you cannot do this because most dog shampoos can be toxic and very dangerous for your cat.

The reason for this is, dog shampoo is formulated specifically for dogs. However, dogs have very different sensitivities to cats. Therefore the chemicals used in a dog product can cause severe irritation or even be toxic for a cat. Therefore, it is not advised to consider doing this.

Is Johnson’s Baby Shampoo good for cats?

If you have been searching the web for solutions or confirmation that you can use different types of shampoos for your cat.

You may have come across people discussing if it is a good idea to use Johnson’s Baby Shampoo for your cat. For that reason, in this section, I’m going to discuss if this is a good idea or not.

Firstly Johnson’s Baby Shampoo is called baby shampoo for a reason. This is because it is designed for babies and not cats. Are you with me?

Therefore it is not a good idea to use this on your cat. The reason why people gravitate to Johnson’s Baby Shampoo is because it is quite a mild shampoo.

If you do have to use baby shampoo, then most people look out for one that is unscented, not concentrated and does not have any additional chemicals in it.

The Johnson’s Baby Shampoo ticks a lot of these boxes. Which makes people believe it is a good solution to use for their cat.

How about short term usage?

On a short-term basis, to be honest, you may get away with using it. But regardless, it is not a long-term solution and I would not advice using it for your cat.

If bathing your cat is something that you need to do on a regular basis it is better to buy a specific cat shampoo rather than trying to cut corners.

Related question:

In this section, I am going to answer some questions related to cats and shampoo. If you feel there are some questions unanswered, feel free to drop a comment below.

Q: Can I use Dawn dishwashing liquid for my cat?

You may have heard rumors that you can use Dawn dishwashing liquid for your cat. People have discussed if this is a good idea to use for their cats, in particular for flea control. The reality is some cat owners have used Dawn liquid for their cats and swear by it.

According to this site the one that works is the original blue version. However, I wouldn’t advise this as a solution for your cat.

If you have a flea problem with your cat there is specific cat flea shampoo solutions (Click here to see) that you can get hold of instead of using Dawn for this reason.

Also if you do still consider going ahead with this, regardless of the warnings, make sure that you don’t consider using just any random dishwashing liquid, in the absence of the dawn original blue, because you really do not know what the effects will be.

Q: Is it ok to never bathe my cat?

Yes, you can get away with not bathing your cat. Think about it this way in the wild how do they survive without us bathing them?

The only exception to this rule is if they have a medical issue and they are unable to groom themselves. Or, you may have a rare issue where they fall into a substance that completely covers their coat.

In that situation she will be unable to clean themselves so you would need to help her. For example, as I said earlier, she fell into a whole bucket of mud, paint or tar. Obviously this is rare. You probably will never have to deal with this.

Q: Why is my cat licking obsessively after bathing with shampoo?

If you have recently bathed your cat and you have noticed that she is obsessively licking herself, you may be standing there and scratching your head wondering what this could be. For that reason, in this section, I’m going to explain what this may be and how you can get around it.

The chances are, if you see your cat behaving in this manner, it is because she is desperately trying to dry herself off after leaving the bath.

This can happen if you have not correctly rinsed her, before allowing her to leave the bath. And, it can cause issues. Why? Because the soap suds will effectively be licked up by your cat and then digested.

These soaps odds are not designed for a cat to digest and therefore can cause digestive irritations. Also, the leftover soap which hasn’t been rinsed off can dry out the skin.

Therefore it is important to completely rinse any soap suds before you allow your cat to leave the bath. Also, make sure that she is dried off properly once she leaves the bath.