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Grooming and hygiene25 minLevel: BeginnerUpdated on August 20, 2026

Caring for a long haired cat's coat at home

Persians, Maine Coons and their kin need a precise brushing routine: how to comb, prevent mats and read the coat as a signal of your cat's health.

Audience
Pet owners
Species
Cat
Scope
Valid everywhere, Italy, European Union

What you need before you start

  • Un pettine a denti larghi e uno a denti stretti in metallo, adatti al pelo lungo
  • Una spazzola a setole morbide o un guanto di gomma per la rifinitura
  • Un posto stabile e antiscivolo dove il gatto si senta al sicuro
  • Qualche premietto piccolo per associare la spazzolatura a qualcosa di piacevole

A short haired cat looks after its own coat almost entirely. A long haired cat does not: its tongue cannot untangle a dense, soft undercoat, and after only a few neglected days the first mats appear. This is not about looks. A mat pulls on the skin, hides wounds and parasites, traps moisture and becomes painful, sometimes forcing a shave under sedation that ten minutes of combing twice a week would have avoided. This guide explains how to build a sustainable routine at home, where knots start first, how to make brushing something the cat tolerates, and why the coat, on top of being beautiful, is one of the most reliable barometers of a cat's health.

Why a long coat does not maintain itself

A cat spends much of the day grooming, but its self care has a physical limit: the tongue removes dead hair at the surface, it does not untangle the undercoat that knots at the root. In long haired breeds the undercoat is abundant and the moult renews it constantly, so dead hair stays trapped in the living coat and starts to compact. The result is twofold: mats against the cat's skin and hairballs swallowed during grooming, which sometimes turn into a digestive problem.

Where knots form first

Mats do not appear at random: they start at points of friction and in places hard for the tongue to reach. If you know this map, you check the right areas first and catch the knot while it is still a soft tangle rather than a hard plaque stuck to the skin.

  • Behind the ears and under the jaw, where the hair is fine and the cat struggles to reach.
  • The armpits and inner thighs, under constant rubbing as the cat moves.
  • The area around a collar, if the cat wears one, from the steady friction.
  • The rear end and the base of the tail, where residue and moisture also gather.
  • The belly, which the cat exposes little and which is therefore rarely checked.

The brushing routine step by step

A good session always follows the same order, so the cat learns what to expect and cooperates more. You work in layers, from the wide comb to the fine one, and you finish with the part the cat likes best, to close on a positive note.

  1. Pick the right moment

    A relaxed cat, perhaps after a meal or while resting, lets you handle it far more willingly. Do not chase an alert cat: wait an hour.

  2. Start with the wide toothed comb

    Run the wide comb over the whole body with the lie of the coat, to open the fur and find the points where the teeth catch. Those catches are the early knots.

  3. Work the undercoat with the fine comb

    On the areas without knots, pass the fine toothed comb, which gathers dead hair from deeper down. Work in small sections and never force against a tangle.

  4. Untangle knots while holding the base

    If you find a soft mat, hold the hair at the root with one hand so you do not pull the skin, and open the tangle from the outside in with your fingers or the tip of the comb.

  5. Finish with a soft brush or glove

    A final pass with soft bristles or a rubber glove collects the loosened hair and leaves the coat glossy. It is also the part almost every cat enjoys.

  6. Close with a treat and a note

    A treat right after cements the habit. Note if you found many knots, redness or parasites: this is useful information over time.

The coat as a health signal

Brushing is also the most frequent health check you will ever give your cat. With your hands on the coat twice a week you notice changes before anyone else: fur going dull, an area thinning, a scab hidden under the coat. Many illnesses leave a signature on the coat before they give any other obvious sign.

Coat signals not to overlook while brushing. When several appear together, speak to your vet.
What you noticePossible meaning
Coat suddenly dull and dryA change in diet, dehydration or a metabolic issue worth assessing
Mats returning quicklyThe cat is grooming less than usual, perhaps from pain, obesity or general malaise
Areas thinning or visible skinItching, parasites, allergy or over grooming driven by stress
Black specks like pepper grainsPossible fleas: check with a fine toothed comb
Widespread dandruff and scabsA skin problem worth a check, especially if the cat is scratching

Frequently asked questions

How often should I brush a long haired cat?
As a general rule two or three times a week all year, rising during the moult in spring and autumn when almost daily brushing may be needed. The exact frequency depends on the individual cat: some undercoats are so dense they mat within two days, others hold up longer. The best method is observation: if you already find early tangles at a check, shorten the interval. Short frequent sessions beat rare long ones, because they prevent mats rather than having to untangle them.
My cat hates being brushed, what can I do?
Almost always the refusal comes from sessions that are too long, from knots pulled painfully or from an uncomfortable tool. Start over with very short sessions, even just thirty seconds, on the areas the cat enjoys such as the head and back, and always finish with a treat before it gets annoyed. Build up the duration little by little over weeks. If the cat reacts when you touch a particular spot, there may be pain there: that is the moment for a visit, not for insisting.
Can I shave my cat in summer to avoid brushing?
Shaving is not a harmless shortcut. A cat's coat regulates temperature and shields the skin from the sun, and shaving to the skin can cause burns and alter regrowth. Shaving makes sense in specific cases, such as extensive mats that can no longer be teased out, and it should be done by experienced hands. For summer the right path is still regular brushing, which removes excess undercoat and keeps the cat cool without exposing it to the risks of a full clip.
Are hairballs normal in a long haired cat?
An occasional hairball is within the range of normal, because the cat swallows hair while grooming. It becomes a signal to look into if the retching is frequent, if the cat gags with nothing coming up or if its appetite changes. Regular brushing is the first defence, because it cuts the amount of hair the cat swallows. If hairballs stay frequent despite a good routine, discuss it with your vet, who can suggest dietary support and rule out other causes of vomiting.

What to do next

Build a ten minute routine two or three times a week, working from the wide comb to the fine one and checking first the spots where knots start: behind the ears, armpits, inner thighs and base of the tail. Never cut a mat with scissors, close every session with a treat, and use your hands on the coat as a health check, noting dull fur, thinning areas or parasites to report to your vet.

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Caring for a long haired cat's coat at home · Animiyo