Caring for a Himalayan Cat
Animal file: Himalayan Cat
The Himalayan cat was originally a cross between Persian and Siamese cat. In Europe it is considered a variety of the Persian cat. In the United States it is considered a breed.
Because of their long hair and their morphology, the Himalayan cat requires special care for it to retain its beauty and natural splendour. If you have one or are considering adopting one then you must get specific information about them.
In this AnimalWise article we will advise you on caring for a Himalayan cat, considering its unique characteristics:
Basic beauty care
Its dense, smooth and long coat requires careful brushing. The ideal frequency of brushing is three times weekly. However, the optimum is a mild daily brushing of just five minutes, with which you remove two root problems:
- The first problem you avoid is allowing knots in her hair to form, those must then be cut out.
- The second problem, and the most important, is that by doing so we minimise the intake of hair as the cat licks itself to preen. In this way you will avoid the annoying stomach hair balls that your cat regurgitates with great fatigue.
Eye Care
The Himalayan cat requires a strict care of its beautiful blue eyes. With a tiny cotton swab you must wipe them with lukewarm camomile tea. Do so whenever you want to perform a thorough cleaning.
Then dry them well with a piece of sterile gauze. For daily cleaning you can use saline solution, proceeding in the manner previously indicated.
Problems in the digestive system
If your Himalayan cat has digestive problems because of the bothering trichobezoars (hairballs in the digestive system), you can administer a solution of paraffin oil so that your cat can eject them, if you have no malt.
If you notice a general discomfort, take it to the vet as this is an insignificant problem that if left unchecked can become severe. After solving the problem, brush your Himalayan cat with added effort so there is no dead hair in its coat and a repetition of the event is avoided.
Other treatments
The Himalayan cat must be bathed when dirty, but taking special care to dry its hair thoroughly. A dryer that is as quiet as possible, and without exceeding the drying temperature, will be an effective tool for a healthy and beautiful cat.
If your cat seems to detest water you can also use wipes or shampoos to dry clean it. It is very important to pay attention to ensure a comprehensive care of the fur coat.
It is very convenient that a professional periodically cut the fur of this cat breed. Do not try to do it on your own without having prior knowledge as you can actually make a mess. Watch the stylist to see how he or she does it before putting it into practice.
Along with the eyes, we must also be attentive to the hygiene of its ears and teeth. Use a sterile gauze for the ears and insert it carefully every month, like so you will remove the remains of any left over wax. As for teeth, you will find on the market lots of useful products, AnimalWise recommends the use of toothpaste.
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Veterinary care
An annual visit to the veterinarian is required. He or she will provide the cat with the relevant vaccines and will monitor some common diseases in this breed. Obviously, if your cat has a problem it should go to the vet as often as required.
The most frequent pathologies for Himalayan cats are:
- trichobezoars
- facial abnormalities
- ophthalmological disorders
- mandibular alterations.
It is true that this feline breed requires more work and maintenance than others, but it is worth it to enjoy a pet that is friendly, quiet and sociable. In addition, a common trait with the Siamese cat is its enormous patience with children and capacity to adapt to other pets that may also live with the family.
Specific products for this breed
On the market, especially in shops specialised in cat aesthetics, you will find products specific for the Himalayan cat: shampoos and conditioners for example. It is advisable to use these.
Do not neglect the other basic needs of the cat, such as scrapers, a comfortable bed, brushes for long-haired cats or toys among others. Deworming is compulsory if the animal can go outside.
Likewise, it is also important to note that a premium diet will help and contribute to the cat having a striking physical appearance as well as a sense of well being.
All together, these recommendations will improve the quality of our cat's life. Always offer it what you can afford but make sure it is of good quality.
If you want to read similar articles to Caring for a Himalayan Cat, we recommend you visit our Basic care category.