If there’s any kind of cuteness scale in the world, fluffy little kittens are at the top of it. They are adorable doing just anything for the first time: first steps, first “meow” and first time playing with a toy. Kittens grow extremely fast, and if you want a fluffy friend that grows up to have certain characteristics, like long hair or short hair, there are some ways to tell before you buy or adopt one.
This information will give you a better idea as to how much grooming and vacuuming you are in for. So how to tell if a kitten will have long or short hair?
It is possible to indicate kittens’ hair is long or short around 8 weeks old. If your domestic tiger is going to have long hair, you should notice the tail beginning to get fluffy, as well as its ears and paws. If the cots of your kitty is silky likely it will be short-haired.
If you want to know all the pros and cons of all types of coat keep reading this article.
1. Your Cat’s Breed
One of the easiest ways to tell if your cat is going to have a long or short coat is by simply considering the breed. The fact is that there are certain breeds that are known for having a short or long coat.
For example, the Maine Coon, Persian Cat, American Curl, and Birman are all known for having long coats. Some of the breeds that have a reputation for being short-haired include the Abyssinian cat, exotic shorthair, Japanese bobtail, and American shorthair.
The breed of your cat should be able to tell you within a reasonable degree of certainty whether they will have a long or short coat.
2. Long Haired Cat Traits
There are certain physical traits that long-haired cats tend to have that you will want to keep an eye out for. Cats with long hair tend to have smoke colored fur. It is also common for these cats to have a tortoiseshell pattern, but this is not always the case.
Cats that have ear tufts are also likely to have fairly long hair as they start getting older. Tufts around the paws can also indicate a fairly long coat. These are just a couple of the physical traits that you’ll want to look for. Keep in mind that there are no guarantees one way or the other, even when one or both of these traits are present.
3. Your Cat’s Pattern
If your cat is going to have a long coat, you will probably notice a whirling or swirling pattern. While this is not always the case, it is still something that you should consider.
How to Care for a Long-Haired Cat
There are certain tips that you will need to keep in mind when it comes to caring for a long-haired cat. These tips will help you keep your cat’s coat looking good and healthy on a daily basis.
1. Brush Them Daily
It is absolutely imperative that you brush your cat on a daily basis. This will keep your cat’s coat from getting matted and tangled. You’ll want to get a brush that is gentle on your kitty so they will sit still while you brush them.
2. Bathe Your Cat
It’s not necessary to bathe even long-haired cats on a daily basis unless they are constantly rolling around in the mud. Giving your cat a bath every one or two weeks is a good idea though.
This will keep their coat clean and skin healthy. Make sure that you use a shampoo that is specially formulated for felines.
3. Check Them for Parasites
You’ll also want to make a point of checking your long-haired cat for parasites on a regular basis. Parasites like fleas and ticks can be easy to spot on short-haired breeds, but not so much with long-haired ones.
The sooner you discover the parasites on your cat, the sooner you can eliminate them altogether. If you’ve noticed your cat pawing at or licking certain areas of its body a lot, this could very well be the reason.
4. Get a Good Vacuum
One thing that a lot of people who get a long-haired cat don’t consider is their vacuum. You should at least consider buying a vacuum that is designed for handling cat hair. This will make picking up their hair off the carpeting in your home a lot easier.
Look at Your Kitten’s Coat
Once your kitten has reached six to eight weeks of age, you can get a much better idea as to whether they are going to have a long or short coat. Cats that will have a short coat tend to have shiny fur with a very sleek overall look to it.
Kittens that will eventually have a long coat tend to have fuzzy fur that is very soft to the touch. This is actually one of the best ways to finding this out about your cat from a fairly young age. You can almost always tell which type of coat your cat will have by looking at their coat when they are several weeks old.
Caring for a Short-Haired Cat
While shorthaired cats don’t need as much attention as long-haired ones in terms of grooming, it’s still important to keep a few things in mind. Short-haired cats should still be brushed on a semi-regular basis. It’s also a good idea to give yours an occasional bath. As we stated above, this is important for keeping the animal’s skin clean and healthy.
Short-haired cats can make your life a bit easier, but they do require grooming and proper overall care. You don’t want to let these things slide, because it could put your feline friend’s overall health at risk. Failing to brush and bathe your kitty opens them up to all sorts of infections and skin issues.
Conclusion
- You will most likely be able to tell if your cat is going to have long or short hair by simply considering the breed.
- If you aren’t sure what breed your new kitten is, you can always consult with your veterinarian.
- Take a look at the pattern of your cat’s coat. If they have a swirling pattern with whorls of color, they will probably end up having long hair.
- Cats that have fuzzy hair when they are six to eight weeks old will most likely end up with a long coat.
- If your cat is going to have a short coat, they will probably have shiny and smooth hair when they are several weeks old.
- It is important that you brush a long-haired cat every single day, and give them the occasional bath.
- Short-haired cats also need to be looked after properly when it comes to grooming and bathing.
