Grooming a long-haired cat
In short: a long-haired cat cannot look after its whole coat on its own. Brushing two to three times a week, and every day during the moult, prevents knots, mats and hairballs. The rest of its care, bath, ears and claws, is done as needed, at home or at a professional groomer's.
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Why does a long-haired cat need help with its grooming?
A cat spends hours grooming itself, but its tongue does not reach the skin through long, dense fur. Dead hair stays caught in the coat, tangles and forms knots, especially during the moult. The hair it swallows while licking itself ends up as hairballs in its stomach.
Grooming a long-haired cat therefore has three purposes: removing the dead undercoat, preventing knots and keeping an eye on the skin. It is also the best moment to spot health problems, a flea, a scab or a sensitive area, before they take hold. Long-haired cats are no more fragile than others, but their problems hide under the coat.
| Breed | Fur | Brushing | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Persian | very long, fine, abundant undercoat | every day | tangles quickly, eyes to clean |
| Maine Coon | long, shorter on the back | two to three times a week | britches and belly |
| Norwegian Forest | double, water-repellent | twice a week, daily when moulting | heavy spring moult |
| Ragdoll | semi-long, silky | twice a week | armpits and ruff |
| British Longhair | long and dense | two to three times a week | thick undercoat |
Brushing, the first care for a long-haired cat
It is done in two stages. First a fine-pin tool, such as our slicker brush, in small sections and in the direction of the fur, to remove the dead undercoat. Then natural bristles, such as the Lady Prestige Démêlage, to smooth and spread the natural oils. A fine comb finishes the job: if it runs through without catching, the session is over.
To choose the right accessories for the coat, see our cat brush guide, which compares the tools. The same accessories are used on a dog, but a cat needs a lighter hand: its skin is thinner.
Wooden handle and fine steel pins: it removes the dead undercoat without irritating the skin. XS size for the head and armpits, S size for the body.
Knots and mats: prevent rather than cut
Knots always form in the same places: behind the ears, under the armpits, on the belly, on the britches and under the tail. Check these areas at every session. A knot caught early comes undone with your fingers and a detangler sprayed on the lock, without pulling on the skin.
A mat stuck to the skin should never be cut with scissors at home: a cat's skin cuts easily. Take it to a professional groomer or to your vet: it is a question of safety.
Non-greasy detangling conditioner with rice proteins: sprayed before brushing, it helps the brush glide through tangled fur. Particularly suitable for cats.
What grooming helps you spot
A grooming session is the best moment to spot coat problems before they get worse: a flea or its droppings, a scab, a red area, dandruff, localised hair loss. In indoor cats, a dull or greasy coat often points to a hygiene or diet problem. An older or overweight cat that no longer washes its back is sometimes in pain: these are health problems to show your vet.
Grooming also cleans the areas the cat struggles to reach. It is a matter of hygiene and comfort, not just beauty.
Should you wash a long-haired cat?
Rarely. A well-brushed cat only needs a bath if it is dirty, greasy or being prepared for a show. The bath always comes after a thorough detangling: water tightens tangled locks. Use a gentle shampoo formulated for cats, rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water and dry completely, as a dense coat dries slowly. Our guide can you wash a cat details the cases and the method.
Ears, eyes, claws: the other hygiene care
Cat care does not stop at the coat. The eyes of short-nosed breeds, such as the Persian, often run: clean them with a damp pad. Cleaning the ears is limited to the visible ear flap, without pushing anything in. Claws are trimmed at the tip, where they are white, if the cat does not wear them down on its own.
Hygiene under the tail matters too: a light trim of the britches prevents soiling. This care is simple but regular, and it protects your cat's health.
Ladybel tip
Start grooming your kitten from an early age, in short, rewarded sessions. A kitten used to the brush becomes a cat that comes to you of its own accord for its care.
How a grooming session goes
How to run a ten-minute session: settle the cat on a stable surface, brush the back and flanks, then the sensitive areas, and finish with the comb. A kitten or a nervous cat starts with the back and neck, where it accepts contact. Stop before it gets agitated, for its safety as well as yours.
Care is completed once a week by cleaning the eyes and ears, and once a month by trimming the claws. The same steps apply to a dog, but a cat needs shorter sessions. If your cat refuses all contact, a professional groomer will know how to groom it safely: it is their job, and they will remove mats without risk.
Grooming at home or at a professional groomer's?
Regular grooming is done at home: that is what makes the difference. The professional groomer takes over for whatever requires experience: a matted coat, a hygiene clip, a full bath for a cat that tolerates it badly. One visit per season is enough for most well-groomed cats.
To groom at home, a few accessories and products are enough: a slicker brush, natural bristles, a comb, a detangler and a gentle shampoo. Groomers use the same products, with the same instructions.
Moulting and hair loss in long-haired cats
Long-haired cats moult mainly in spring and autumn, and a little all year round for indoor cats. During the moult, brush every day: you limit loose undercoat in the house and hairballs. If the hair loss leaves bald patches or comes with scratching, see our page my cat is losing its hair.
When to see the vet
Red or scabby skin, a cat that scratches constantly, often vomits hairballs or no longer grooms itself are signs of health problems, not a lack of grooming: talk to your vet.
To find out more: our cat shampoos, the cat brush guide and the can you wash a cat guide. The prices and availability of our products are shown on each product page, and our advice is free.
Unsure how to care for your cat?
Tell us about its fur, breed and age: we make these products, and our advice is free.