Hairless cats have been popular for decades. This is, in part, due to their friendly, sociable, almost dog-like behavior at times. However, whatever breed of hairless cat you like, there are things you should know about their care before you decide to own a hairless cat. A life without fur can require more maintenance than you might initially think.
Maintain the health of your hairless cat’s skin
Just like humans, cats produce oils in their skin. A hairless cat is not able to remove these oils from the skin like a furry cat can. As a result, your hairless cat will accumulate these oils on its skin.
To help cleanse these oils, hairless cats require weekly baths with warm water and a hypoallergenic pet shampoo free of dyes and fragrances. When you bathe him, it’s important to make sure all the shampoo has been thoroughly rinsed out, as any shampoo residue left on the skin for a long time can cause irritation.
It is equally important to ensure that your cat is dry enough after bathing so that it does not get too cold. A simple wipe with a towel should do the trick. If not bathed regularly (and sometimes even if you follow a set bathing schedule), hairless cats can suffer from acne and blackheads just like humans. If your cat has a rash, you can clean the area with warm water and antibacterial soap. If this doesn’t help, a visit to the vet may be necessary to get the shedding under control.
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Cats with fur not only benefit from the fur removing natural oils from the skin, but the fur from the ears also removes dirt and debris. Without this fur, a hairless cat’s ears can get dirty quite quickly.
As with routine bathing, regular ear cleaning (something that can easily be done at the same time as bathing) helps prevent ear infections from excess debris. To clean your cat’s ears you will need cotton balls. Some tutorials will help you add the cleaner directly into the ear and there is nothing wrong with this method, but most cats are not very happy with the solutions being inserted into the ear canal.
For these cats, it may be easier to first saturate a cotton ball with a special ear cleaning solution and then remove the residue with the soaked cotton.
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Keep your nails trimmed
As with any cat, regular nail trimming can help prevent your cat from becoming entangled in objects such as blankets and carpets, as well as preventing painful ingrown nails. For hairless cats, however, keeping their nails trimmed is even more important. Without hair as a barrier, a hairless cat with long claws might accidentally scratch open wounds on its body. These open wounds could easily become infected.
Getting your cat comfortable with nail trimming, such as cleaning her ears, is easier when she’s young, but that doesn’t mean you can’t train your adult cat to allow nail trimming.
Keep your hairless cat warm
During the fall and winter months, make sure your cat has access to plenty of blankets and comfortable bedding. There are heated cat beds on the market (which are also excellent for older cats with arthritic bones). You can also choose to dress your hairless cat in clothes, but your cat will need to be introduced to his new wardrobe slowly. Also, keep in mind that due to their predisposition to oily skin, your cat’s clothes need to be washed quite regularly.
However, fur does not only insulate from the cold. It can also help regulate your cat’s body temperature in warmer weather. During the spring and summer months, make sure your hairless cat has plenty of areas to cool off, with air conditioning, fans, or commercially produced cooling mats. Plus, assuming your cat has no dietary restrictions, ice cream made from pureed food is a refreshing summer treat.
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Hairless cats make wonderful companions
If you put in the effort, hairless cats can make great pets. They are known to be extremely friendly and loving. This may be partly because they’re looking for a warm place to nap, but most cat lovers probably don’t care that their cat has other cuddle interests.
Read also: The best premium dry cat food
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