The condition of your cats' coat is a reflection of their health. Building a sturdy foundation including a complete and balanced diet, regular grooming, and efficient flea prevention play a prominent role in a silky-smooth coat.
Here are some tips to foster good habits for your cats' coat:
Groom your cats regularly
Brushing not only keeps your cats' hair from becoming tangled or matted, especially around the ears, in the armpits or along the back of the legs, but also helps distribute natural skin oils along the hair shafts and strengthen their coat overall. Moreover, it helps keep your cats cool during the summer months by removing loose and dead hair. Consider investing in a high quality grooming tool.
- Keep sessions short
- Use positive reinforcement (treats, praise, toys)
- Avoid associating brushing with being forced to stay still
Add protein to your cats' diet
The hair coat is composed almost entirely of protein, so a protein-rich diet is essential to help the hair strands thrive.
Add omegas to your cats' diet
Incorporate foods into your cats' diet that have high levels of Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acid. They assist in getting nutrients to their coat, making it healthy, shiny, and strong. Adding vegetable oil and flax seeds can also help.
Get the right product
Finding the right product for your cats' hair type is a key to health. Bathing your cats might seem like a daunting task, but staying calm will help them enjoy it. Read more about giving your cats' a stress-free bath here.
Watch out for stress
High levels of anxiety or stress, especially if it is chronic or long-standing, will affect the appearance of your cats' coat, particularly its shine and texture, and many cats will shed excessively when they are under stress. Your home should provide places where your cats can retreat and feel safe.
Source: WebMD
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