The long hair comes from a recessive gene, so you can see short hair offspring from longhairs and vice versa from a domestic short hair.
Cat sitters love domestic long hair for their long hair, but this means they are not able to maintain their own coats, so require to be groomed every day. This is a crucial part of cat care. Often experts advise that the domestic longhair be bathed every week or two. However many others believe that if they are regularly groomed and they do not go outside that this is unnecessary.
Bathing is difficult with a cat, though it is easier if introduced as part of regular routine to a young kitten.
The extremely long haired cats are very prone to matted fur, especially if they venture outside. This can become so bad that they grow “wings”. The worst places for matting are under the legs and arms. This will annoy the cat and hinder his movements and on an outside cat, could result in him being caught in bushes or trees. The cats forcing away, can result in bald patches and perhaps injuries. If the cat has matting, the use of a de-matting comb should detangle it. The cat may not like the comb, but regular combing will remove the mat and stop them reforming.
New cat owners may feel tempted to cut the mats away using scissors, instead of combing it out. Caution with doing this, the skin may appear like a mat and you may cut the cat. If inclined to do this, be prudent, little by little and cutting away from the cat. There are special grooming electric clippers, but these need care as well. If in doubt, take the cat to a professional groomer or the vet. Many professional cat sitters such as London pet sitting will tidy up the cat as part of their service.
The matted fur and uncleaned skin in the area can contain a lot of bacteria, so if you do cut the cat here, be sure to clean up the wound thoroughly to avoid infection.
