Cats who came from Northern climate adaptations have long fur and large, stocky, bodies which work for them in the winter; but not in the summer.

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How much help do cats need? It depends on the intersection between our weather and their adaptations. I have three longhairs, but they are not the same. Our little Olwyn has a slender build, medium length fur, and a relatively scanty undercoat, while Reverend Jim has the full Maine Coon; big barrel-shaped body, dense undercoat, thick overcoat.

So when our mountain summer first heated up, he did a lot of lying around. This made him easy prey for me and my shedding comb. His body was throwing off fur to help him adapt.

Do all cats shed more for summer? Depending on our cats’ exposure to the outdoors, this shedding can be more or less seasonal. Indoor only cats tend to made less obvious shifts in their coat. But all cats react to increased temperatures by adjusting the growth cycles of their “down,” or underfur.

Purebred Norwegian Forest Cats are famous for shedding their long fur everywhere (except for their heads and tails) as a summer adaptation. This is most prominent in purebreds; the effect is diluted in their mixes.

Should I shave my cat? If we live in a Southern climate and our cat suffers from the heat, we can consider it. Persians who do not have access to air conditioning will benefit the most. They have stocky bodies and dense fur which really hold in the heat, and their short noses make high temperatures and high humidity especially trying for them.

As to whether “we” should do it, or have it turned over to a professional groomer; that depends on the cat. In any case, we should go for the Lion Cut, which leaves the tricky head, feet, and tail alone. The minimal cooling effect from fur removal there is not worth the stress on both groomer and cat.

Do not make it too close a shave; cats use their fur to regulate their temperature and protect them from sunburn. Lightly furred cats like the Sphynx, who have suede-like, barely furred skin, are also prone to sunburn, and need protection.

Look for signs of distress. It’s normal for cats to react to heat by being attracted to sources of cool, from draping their bellies over the marble sill of the bathroom to lying in the path of a fan or air conditioner. But if our cat is panting, this is a sign the cat is dangerously overheated. Wipe them down with a wet paper towel, get their paws into cold water, and see if we can’t get them into a cooler place.

They should perk up right away; if not, or their distress is repeated, a vet check is in order. Such excessive reactions to heat might signal a heart or respiratory problem.

If our home is air conditioned to a temperature we find comfortable, our cat will be too. Even so, grooming our cat is a year round task that keeps our cat healthy, helps us keep tabs on any trouble spots, and creates a happy bond between us.

Here’s some tools to help:

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Grooming does more than reduce shedding and hairballs. Grooming lets the cat get used to human contact, by persuading them with a feel-good reward that is built into the process. If our cat is hand shy, or skittish about contact, a consistent grooming schedule is a way to connect with the cat.

• Start slow. Kittens will regard it as a game, adults will regard it as an intrusion. They will learn to see the fun in your approach with comb (long hairs) or brush (short hairs.) Start with a few strokes along the back, like petting, and with adults, try the back of the neck and then a face touch up. Follow with a treat. Let them wrestle with the tool at first. Later, when they learn to enjoy it for its own sake, they will stop doing that.
• Don’t push. This isn’t a task to be completed. Grooming stimulates the cat and they can get rowdy. If this happens, stop. It’s time for a treat. As the cat learns to relax and enjoy the petting aspect, you can cover more territory in a grooming session.
• Once the cat enjoys the grooming, don’t start with the face. Start with the tail, and work your way towards the face, which is their favorite part to be groomed. This way they learn to wait for their favorite part, and have more tolerance for touchy areas like hindquarters and belly. If they bail midway, let them. Come back the next day to go over the missed parts. Remember, fun.
• They will probably want the treat anyway, but get some token strokes in before you give it to them. Otherwise, they will milk the stuation.
• Take this opportunity to check their ears, their paws, and their teeth. They will put up with it for the reward they know is coming, which is the face fussing as much as the treat.
• Enjoy it. Get some petting and ear rubbing and affection in, and make it part of the grooming ritual.
• Don’t be offended if they go off and do touchups on your handiwork. This is part of coming down from the stimulation of the grooming, which cranks the cat up.

Grooming isn’t always about keeping the cat looking good, since most of them feel they are quite capable of that, thank you. Grooming is a way to connect with the cat and take care of them. So approach it with love, and they will respond.

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Hairballs are the cat’s way of getting rid of the hair that is an inevitable part of their self grooming process. We can help the cat by sticking to our grooming routine, and offering two natural substances the cat seeks out for management help.

The first substance is what the cat will find in the wild. Grasses are a small but important part of the cat’s digestive system, and most cats love being offered pots of oats, rye, catnip, or such herbs as thyme, sage, or parsley. When cats have their own plants to eat, they are more likely to leave ours alone.

It’s this same instinct that drives them to our houseplants in the first place. Divert the need, and they will learn “mine” and “yours.” It’s best to make sure houseplants are safe, anyway, so here’s a handy list of non-toxic plants.

There’s also a malt syrup/mineral oil combination that makes the fur pass through the cat’s digestive system. Easier for everyone! I have not had any luck with the high fiber treats that are supposed to help, since my cats refuse to eat them. I think the high fat option is probably better for an animal who is a carnivore, since they do not need very much in the way of fiber.

Mr. Bond has a sensitive stomach, and I had to change his diet to a more meat based food. Before we got him straightened out, with Mr. Bond as nervous as an ingenue on opening night, I too often heard, “Honey, did we put away the augh-augh-augh!”

Which meant he had stepped on it.

Mr. Bond does not like to cause distress. On his own, he came up with fishing a dirty sock out of the hamper and putting it across the offending object.

So now what I heard was, “Hey, what’s this sock doing augh-augh-augh!”

Which meant Dear Husband had tried to pick up the sock.

Cats can also throw up from stress. Undigested food will have a different look, and needs to be addressed if it continues. But hairballs look the way they sound, and should not cause alarm.

A bottle of rug cleaner should be handy, and then our house is as fresh as anyone’s. A combination of a small amount of dishsoap with two parts water to one part vinegar works well and can be made up beforehand.

If something has lain unnoticed behind a chair long enough to dry up, a wet paper towel draped over it, and let to sit for a few hours, will let the carpet release all the problems.

Hairballs aren’t any fun, for us or the cat. We should try to make the problem “come up” as little as possible.

Apology for pun.

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There’s more ways to care for our cat with The Way of Cats than the article you are reading now. See all of my posts on CAT CARE.