Summer is coming, and many owners will shave their cats before the scorching heat to dissipate heat quickly and look beautiful. However, do cats really need to be shaved?

Most people who advocate shaving cats do so for three reasons: the first is subjective beauty, the second is that shaving can make cats less hot, and the third is that owners are overwhelmed during the shedding season.

Unlike humans, cats’ heat dissipation system is on the fleshy ball pads on the soles of their feet, not the skin of the whole body. That is to say, if you are pursuing shaving to help your cat dissipate heat, the effect may not be as good as you expected, or even do more harm than good. .

Body hair is the goalkeeper

A cat’s body hair is the gatekeeper that blocks the skin from the outside world. When the sun is too high or the ultraviolet rays are too strong, the body hair can help the cat avoid being exposed to direct ultraviolet rays and balance body temperature. It can also strengthen the barrier against the attachment of fleas, mold, etc., protecting the cat directly. Received physical or other biological damage.

Therefore, if you shave all the cat's body hair, you will lose this layer of protection, which will expose the cat's fragile skin, making it easy to get sick or injured. Some cats will also be in a bad mood, affecting their appetite and energy.

The appropriate time for shaving is when the cat's skin is infected and has medical needs, in order to facilitate treatment, or when the long-haired cat's hair is tangled and clumps, you can trim it appropriately, and pay attention to the cat's physiology after shaving. Psychological condition, provide nutritional supplements and praise more.

How to help cats dissipate heat?

Please keep the areas where cats usually move around ventilated and cool. They must not be kept on balconies or in rooms with closed windows. If the indoor temperature is too high, turn on the air conditioner and fan to help cool down.

In addition, you can add one or two ice cubes to your cat's water. The cool water will make the cat feel more comfortable drinking it. Or you can make your own cooling mat, wrap the frozen ice pack with water in a towel, and let the cat rest on it to cool off.

Never take your cat out at noon, let the cat walk on the hot asphalt road, or lock your child in a hot car because you think you are just getting out of the car to go shopping for five minutes. These are very dangerous and irresponsible. Responsible behavior.

The normal body temperature of a cat is about 38 to 39 degrees. If the rectal temperature exceeds 39.5 degrees or the temperature is too high when touching the inside of the hind legs, the cat will begin to have abnormal symptoms, such as loss of appetite, lack of energy, or even vomiting and unconsciousness. If the eyes are clear, the eyelids and oral mucosa are congested, etc., it means that the cat may have heat stroke. Now you can move the cat to a cool place. It is best to turn on the air conditioner indoors and wipe the body with cold water. Do not put the cat directly in ice water to avoid blood vessels. contractions, and seek medical attention as soon as possible.

Comb your cathair

Owners who suffer from cat moulting season should pay attention to the frequency of grooming on weekdays. Especially if they are raising long-haired cats, they should groom their children more every day. This way during the moulting season, there will not be too much waste hair, causing poor air quality in the home or children. The problem of excessive licking.

As for owners who shave their cats because of their own subjective sense of aesthetics, I can only say that beauty is a matter of opinion. Compared with appearance, the physical health of cats and whether they live happily is what we should pay attention to. Just because you think you are beautiful does not mean that your cat also thinks you are beautiful. If your cat is unhappy because of your pursuit of beauty, you are putting the cart before the horse. Don’t blindly think that you are doing good to your children because you are giving to them. It is the owner’s responsibility to understand their needs and structures and make choices that actually help them.