Maine Coon haircut: proper grooming for the largest cat in the world

Exhibition standards do not provide for haircuts for cats. Despite the fact that animals do not enjoy such interference in their natural environment, some owners do not refuse grooming. But the Maine Coon can be called an exception to the rule - cats love water and bathing is not stressful for them. But the big cat must be accustomed to other hygiene procedures from childhood.

Do I need to cut my Maine Coon's hair?

There are different points of view - from a categorical “no” to a confident “yes”. In general terms, the conclusion sounds like this: you can trim the wool, but it would be better not to do this, but limit yourself to cutting for hygiene purposes.

1. Most often, Maine Coons are cut for several reasons.
2. Long-haired cats develop mats. An extremely unpleasant situation where the fault lies entirely with the owner. It is enough to devote time to your pet 2 times a week, and such phenomena will not occur.
3. Long molting. This is also a common event, especially when the animal is experiencing emotional stress. The length of the coat change period can be affected by weather and humidity, food quality, sexual health factors and even the length of the day. The shorter the daylight hours and the lower the air temperature, the faster the molting occurs. But if sudden warming occurs during this period, then the cat’s biological algorithms malfunction - the hair takes a long time to fall off, the body does not understand what time of year it should prepare for. In this case, haircut does not solve the problem, but only disguises it.
4. The Maine Coon actively licks itself, its long hair gets into the esophagus. Most often this ends in profuse vomiting and problems with the gastrointestinal tract. The hair clumps into clumps, forms plugs, prevents food from being properly digested, and even leads to the death of the animal. In this case, cutting may be an effective method, but you still need to contact a veterinarian and understand the causes of hair loss.
5. Skin diseases, formation of growths, ulcers, flaking and dandruff in cats. In this case, a haircut will help facilitate access to problem areas and make their treatment more comfortable. But you still have to identify and neutralize the cause of the disease.

Traditional hygienic grooming is not in doubt, and its benefits are not in dispute.

Important! Sometimes the grooming of Maine Coons is explained by another reason - to avoid washing. But bathing usually brings genuine joy to this cat, and a high-quality haircut always involves working with clean fur.

The dangers of grooming a Maine Coon

As for the risks when grooming cats, there are few of them, but each has a very specific natural background.

1. A cat's fur prevents hypothermia, so a short-haired Maine Coon's normal heat exchange, which is ensured by long hair, is disrupted. So, in the summer heat, cutting your hair can only harm your health and cause heat stroke.
2. Haircut affects the condition of the skin. Without wool, it is easily susceptible to mechanical and negative natural influences.
3. The structure of the coat deteriorates. The new hair does not have the necessary thickness and elasticity parameters that were inherent in the Maine Coon by nature. It quickly becomes tangled and the owner has to trim the pet regularly.
4. When molting, the Maine Coon's coat is renewed unevenly. The undercoat always changes twice a year, but the guard hair never falls out completely. It is much stronger, less subject to seasonal changes and is rarely updated. When cutting, this moment cannot be foreseen; all the wool is cut evenly. In the future, the Maine Coon remains for a long time without its signature luxurious hairstyle, for which the guard coat is responsible.
5. Cats also have vibrissae on their bodies - sensitive elements, without which a shaved Maine Coon loses the ability to navigate in space.

This is interesting! Experts believe that Maine Coons, after a haircut (especially not professionally), never return to their original appearance, and the growing hair forever loses some of its natural properties.

Cat after haircut

Maine, coons are groomed two to four times a year. Before the warm season - to regulate heat exchange. If you let your cat out for a walk around your summer cottage, she can easily pick up ticks, which can be easily removed before they have time to attach to the skin. If you cut your cat's hair before the cold season, be careful about drafts. Cats love to sit on windows and balconies, and they get sick just like people.

The conclusion is that for the Maine Coon the best solution is not a “radical” haircut, but prevention, regular washing and combing. To care for your pet’s skin, use the following set of tools:

• comb with thinned teeth,
• fine-toothed comb
• a comb with frequent small teeth to give a neat appearance without dirt and hairs,
• natural bristle brush,

The entire tool must be made of metal to avoid “sparking” and discharge of static electricity.

The edges of the cloves should be rounded to avoid damaging the skin. The order of combing is as follows: first with a comb with thinned teeth, then with frequent teeth and, finally, with a brush. If you need to quickly comb the animal, use a comb with teeth of different lengths.

To read: All about raising the cutest cats British Shorthair: description of the breed, reviews from owners

When shedding, a slicker is added to the set of combs, combs and brushes. Some of them are made in the form of a glove with teeth. It must be used with caution; not every cat tolerates this procedure. If the animal is shedding, brush it several times a week. The cat should not be allowed to lick the fallen fur; it must be removed in time with a brush. Shedding occurs several times a year and does not cause much trouble.

Washing is as necessary as combing. Like all Maine cats, Coons do not like water, but they can play with it, for example, with a trickle from a tap. Animals are bathed infrequently, once every 2-3 months, but if they get dirty or shed, you can give them an extra bath.

The order of water procedures is as follows:

• fill the sink or bathtub with water at a temperature of about 38 degrees,
• wet the fur and rub shampoo in the direction of hair growth,
• wash your hair only with plain water without shampoo,
• after bathing, be sure to rinse off the shampoo to avoid skin irritation,
• apply conditioner, then rinse it off,
• wrap your pet in a towel, and if he is not afraid, dry him with a hairdryer,
• comb.

To prevent the cat from being afraid, be sure to place a towel on the bottom. Otherwise, the paws may spread, and the animal will get scared.

Cats living near humans require constant attention and care. Whether or not to trim a Maine Coon is a personal matter for each owner, but keeping the pet clean, trimming its claws, cleaning its ears and eyes is simply necessary for the animal’s health, its well-being and good mood.

Preparing for the Maine Coon grooming process

Grooming Maine Coons is carried out in the following order:

• wool preparation;
• bathing;
• haircut (if necessary);
• ear cleaning;
• oral and dental hygiene;
• nail trimming;
• eye treatment.

Each item has standard action algorithms:

1. Preparation consists of basic degreasing. To do this, apply a special cream to dry wool. The first thing to do is treat the tail. It is necessary to distribute the product over the entire length of the hair. Salting of the hair on the tail is typical for purebred cats, but it is recommended to carefully treat both cats and kittens. In them, this part of the body begins to become dirty from 4-5 months of age.
2. Next, the composition is distributed over dry hair in the collar area and around the ears. Here you don’t need to rub it in, but simply apply it to your hair in an even layer.
3. The final stage concerns the processing of the cat's body.
4. After applying the cream, wait a few minutes and wash it off with plenty of water. The wool should be completely wet, the moisture reaching the skin itself. The cat's ears fold neatly back to safely wet her head.
5. Apply shampoo to the wet coat, rub in thoroughly (you can use brushes or other devices), paying special attention to the depth of penetration of the product on the tail, in the area of ​​​​the pants and collar.
6. The shampoo is completely washed off with water, the procedure can be repeated several times. It all depends on how often the Maine Coon bathes. This completes the degreasing.
7. The next stage is the use of coloring shampoo. It is different for each color, and therefore is applied separately to areas of the coat of the corresponding color.
8. The final point is conditioning. The hair “closes”, again acquires natural lubrication, becomes silky and beautiful.

Bathing a Maine Coon with newly grown hair may be more problematic than with other animals. The reason is that the cat has not yet developed new guard hairs, and the thick undercoat has too fine a structure and gets tangled in the groomer’s hands.

Important! When using any animal detergents, you must strictly follow the instructions for use.

Step-by-step description of preparation

Most coons have a favorable attitude towards water. There are specimens that are very difficult to wash, but the majority tolerate the procedure calmly. Some even like to splash around in the bath.

The first stage of preparation that a haircut requires is a thorough wash. First, water is collected into a large basin with high sides or to the bottom of the bathtub. It is very difficult to wet the undercoat of giant cats using a shower; water will roll down the guard hair. It is important to prevent any liquid from getting into your eyes or ears. Tearless shampoos are used to wash your hair. A little trick for owners of Maine Coon animals - dilute the shampoo with water in the palm of your hand and apply directly to the undercoat. This way the product is better distributed. When it comes to shampoos, it’s best to choose three options: deep cleansing, color-maintaining, and texturizing. Use them in the same sequence. Special gloves with rubber massage attachments are suitable for soaping the Maine Coon.

Without balm, the scales on the hairs do not close, so a small amount of the product will make the hair shiny and moisturized. All conditioning and nutritional products are selected for a specific animal. They won’t change the structure, but they will make the coon a real handsome man. However, before the exhibition, experts advise doing without air conditioning. Otherwise, the wool will seem greasy to the touch to the expert.

In order for the haircut to be successful, the shape does not change afterwards, and the wool is thoroughly dried. You can arm yourself with a hairdryer, a professional compressor, or resort to wrapping yourself in a towel. There are a lot of devices on sale now. Then each area is combed, the tangles are sorted out or cut. Dry in the direction of hair growth. In advance, you can familiarize yourself with the patterns of unique styling designed for the Maine Coon. Only after complete drying do they begin to process the wool with scissors.

Exhibition grooming of Maine Coons

In addition to the haircut, the Maine Coon will have to endure several more unpleasant procedures.

1. Cleaning your teeth, gums, and palate is done using special brushes and appropriate pastes. If the animal is accustomed to this activity from childhood, then no problems arise.
2. Treatment of the auricle - the upper part is wiped with cotton swabs, and it is recommended to take drops for the inner area of ​​the ear canal. They easily penetrate the ear, neutralize the dirt and wax deposits accumulated there, do not cause pain and are not capable of harm.
3. It is best to trim the claws before bathing - the Maine Coon will not be able to accidentally inflict a deep wound on the owner or a visiting specialist.
4. Treatment of the eye area and nose - remove traces of tears or purulent discharge, clean the hair around the pupil and nose.

Important! Owners who groom Maine Coons themselves should be aware that any manipulation with scissors is prohibited in the muzzle area, on the sideburns, collar and around the ears.

Grooming a Maine Coon at home

The owner who decides to cut his Maine Coon's hair needs to learn the basic rules. They must absolutely not be violated. In pursuit of beauty or practical benefit, it is important not to harm the cat.

• Only high-quality and clean tools are used.
• Before cutting, the cutting surfaces are disinfected.
• Grooming procedures are not carried out during periods of cat sexual activity.

If your Maine Coon has been groomed before and doesn't like it, he may react aggressively to the new challenge. Therefore, experts sometimes recommend giving a limited dose of harmless sedatives.

There are two main types of haircuts for Maine Coons:

1. “Lion style” - the Maine Coon is left with a luxurious mane up to the shoulder blades, a small tassel at the tip of the tail and overgrown paws. All other areas are shaved with a clipper, and closer to the genitals they are carefully trimmed with scissors.
2. Decorative hairstyle is an easier way to trim your Maine Coon yourself at home. The Maine Coon's body needs to be shaved with a clipper, leaving hair only on the head and chest. The legs and tail are overgrown, but with short hair.

You shouldn’t experiment with other haircuts on your own - a cat’s hair is difficult to style, and different lengths of hair will give the animal an unkempt appearance.

How do owners justify cutting their pet's haircut?

Two arguments can be heard from their lips. Both are insolvent.

Mats often appear in the wool

There are a lot of blasphemous videos on the Internet about grooming cats. With a machine in hand, mostly groomers from the USA, without thinking at all about the consequences, shave the animal's groin, armpits, hind legs and under the neck.

At the same time, they all seem to be firmly convinced that Maine Coons do not need fur there at all. The fashion for such cutting came from dog groomers. Indeed, these places in cats are most susceptible to the formation of tangles.

Firstly, this happens during the shedding period, and secondly, small particles and crumbs of filler can get into the wool and tangle it. Once noticed, tangles can be easily eliminated by combing the fur or carefully disassembling it using auxiliary products (for example, Pek conditioner by Iv San Bernard). And only if the initial stage of tangle formation is missed, you need to take up the scissors.

You need to cut it carefully. Large mats are located very close to the skin. The situation is further complicated by the fact that the animal’s skin in these areas is thin. Please note that getting feces and urine on your pants can also cause tangles. It would be a good idea to review the animal’s diet and have its health checked by a specialist.

The animal is hot

Don’t think that by cutting your cat’s fur during the hot season, you are making its life easier. “Extra” wool, in your opinion, actually plays a huge role in the thermoregulation of the animal. In particular, the Maine Coon's fluffy fur coat protects it from temperature changes, i.e. helps him cope with the heat.

Lack of fur reduces the animal's body's ability to withstand high temperatures. A groomed pet can easily overheat to the point of heatstroke, while an overgrown cat is not in danger of this.

Maine Coon care after the procedure

If your cat is groomed for the first time, she will almost certainly exhibit a stress reaction. At this time, while the Maine Coon gets used to new sensations, he may hide and even lose spatial orientation. It is necessary to support your pet and ensure that it is free from emotional stimuli.

Food is sometimes called one of the best ways to calm a trimmed Maine Coon a little - the cat is distracted by its favorite treats and life without fur no longer seems so terrible to it.

Some time after the haircut, the regrown hair will look like tow. This visual effect occurs due to the undercoat, which grows much faster than the outer coat. It needs to be combed out carefully and often - thin hairs get tangled easily and can form into one continuous “felt” tangle.

Otherwise, the organization of care for a shorn Maine Coon is no different from procedures for overgrown cats.

Maine Coon haircut: pros and cons

Objectively, there is not a single significant circumstance for which regular hair trimming of an adult cat can be recommended. Owner reviews contain virtually no important information about the need for such a procedure.

In order for a shorn Maine Coon to grow rich, crumbly fur again, the owner will have to work hard. Efforts aimed at achieving this goal will require more labor than weekly combing and maintaining the natural fur coat of a domestic giant. In any case, whether to cut your hair or not to cut your hair is a decision everyone makes for themselves.

Grooming in the salon

If a DIY haircut turns out to be unsuccessful, then pet salons are open to everyone. It is enough to choose a specialist with a good reputation, extensive experience, and make an appointment. In practice, cats may be anesthetized because their behavior during grooming can cause injury to both the groomers and the animal itself. Today, a wide range of sedatives for the Maine Coon breed are offered, which are harmless and have a short-term effect.

There are masters who do without temporarily putting clients to sleep. They equip the washing and grooming tables with special holders in the form of collars with fastenings, reminiscent of dog rings. They are completely harmless, but reliably fix the animal in the desired position. The groomer will quickly determine the degree of neglect of the coon and put him in order using high-quality, proven shampoos and conditioners. After drying, the wool will become lush and shiny. In the salon, the haircut will turn out natural, few people will guess about it.

Shaving involves removing hair from the body. There are several sizes of attachments for the cat master and owner to choose from. It is not recommended to use a razor often, because the double-layer wool helps to properly regulate body temperature. The groomer will never remove the whiskers (the long, single whiskers on the sides of the muzzle). Cats without them will begin to get nervous and have difficulty oriented in space. For claws, cutting must also comply with the rules.