Ristokat Himalayan & Persian Cattery : Care Information

Coat Care

Your Himalayan or Persian cat or kitten will probably have lots of long hair. To keep mats, tangles, and shedding to a minimum, we recommend that you comb your cat daily using a wide-toothed steel comb. Many pet owners elect to shave or trim the cat or kitten's rear-end area, and that is fine. Other choose to shave the entire cat each summer. However, if your cat is a Himalayan, you will find that when the hair grows back the light body color will be much darker. Himalayan cats' coats darken naturally with age, but shaving your cat will greatly speed up that process. This is not an indication that there is anything wrong with the cat, but purely aesthetics. In addition to combing, you should consider giving your cat a small amount of hairball remedy once a week or so - the product we use is Laxatone. It is very similar to the Nutrical, and most of our cats think it's a great treat! This will help prevent large hairballs forming in their stomach.
One thing to remember is that cats, unlike dogs or horses, have a limited capacity to tolerate discomfort at the hands of humans. Knowing this, start with those areas the cat may not like groomed, such as under its arms, between the hind legs, rear-end, etc. End the grooming session with an area the cat likes, such as behind the ears or under the chin. This accomplishes two things - you have gotten through the "bad" parts while the cat still has some patience, and you have ended on a positive note.

Eye Care

Because of their flatter faces and large eyes, Persians and Himalayans may have watery eyes. Sometimes you might see it as a clear liquid, and sometimes it may look brownish in color. This is normal, and not something you should be overly concerned with. The brownish color often comes from the dry food (dust and particles getting into the tears). Simply use a warm wet washcloth and wash the eye area each day - this will keep the face clean, and keep down any staining.
However, if you see a goopy eye discharge, this is not normal, and indicates an eye infection, scratch, cold, or viral infection of some type. You should take your cat to the vet if you notice this, and they can determine the cause and a course of treatment.