Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (April 26, 2017)
Wednesday, April 26, 2017 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon Paw Prints Jodi Schneider McNamee Columnist Minimize your cat’s shedding Are you finding cat fur on your clothes, furniture, and even floating in the air? Finding Kitty’s hair on almost everything in sight is a fact of life for a cat pet par- ent. Kitty is not intentionally trying to drive you crazy, it’s just a side effect of her natu- ral shedding process. Shedding is a cat’s natu- ral process of losing dead hair. Indoor cats can shed all year-round. The growth of a cat’s coat follows a simple pattern. Her coat becomes thicker in win- ter when it’s cold and thinner in the summer. This system lets cats adapt to the weather outside, especially for feral and stray cats that spend all their time outdoors. Shedding is not depen- dent on the temperature. You won’t stop your cat from shedding by turning the heat down. Shedding is initiated by the amount of daylight available. When the amount of light reduces in autumn, the need to grow thicker fur is signaled by your cat’s body. Then the opposite hap- pens in spring, when the amount of light increases. But because shedding is affected by light availability, the year-round artificial light inside your home can essen- tially confuse your indoor cat’s body, altering the way she sheds. This means that you may not see heavy Open House & Free Raffl e Meet Dr. Hapke Friday, April 28 from 4-7 pm. during art stroll & My Own Two Hands Display at Sisters Art Works. MEANINGFUL MEDICINE shedding twice a year, but a lighter, more constant shed- ding all year long. There are a variety of medical, dietary, and stress- related issues that can cause Kitty to lose more hair than is normal. If you notice she’s losing an excessive amount of hair or has bald patches, contact your vet- erinarian immediately. Your cat may be suffering from allergies, ringworm, a bac- terial infection, fleas or a hormonal imbalance such as hyperthyroidism. If Kitty sheds a lot and your vet has determined that there is no underlying medi- cal cause, there are a few things you can do to mini- mize her hair loss. The most effective way to reduce your cat’s shedding is by giving her a regular brushing. This helps to collect fur before it falls out of your cat, meaning there will be less fur on your furniture and in the air. And less for your cat to ingest. Brushing your cat removes dirt, grease, and dead hair from her coat, and it also helps remove skin flakes, and stimulates blood circulation, improving the overall condition of her skin. Even if you have a short- haired cat, regular grooming is an important part of main- taining health. She may not have a coat that mats like a longhaired cat, but frequent brushing will cut down on shedding and the amount of hair getting ingested through her self-grooming. Just one or two brushings per week will help kitty to keep her healthy glow – and you’ll find that regular ses- sions are especially benefi- cial when Kitty ages and is no longer able to groom so meticulously on her own. As well as helping your cat to look beautiful and cut down on shedding, regu- lar grooming allows you to spend quality time bonding with your furry feline friend, and gives you the opportu- nity to check her body con- dition and spot any unusual signs of health problems, such as lumps or bumps. Remember to examine your cat’s skin and coat dur- ing your grooming sessions. Checking for hair loss, red- ness, bumps, cuts, fleas, or ticks can be a fast way to determine whether you need to go to your vet for a cat check. Brushing distributes the natural oil which helps main- tain skin and coat health, and with frequent grooming you can address tangles before they turn into mats on your longhaired cat. Since a cat’s skin is sen- sitive and very thin, use brushes and combs that are comfortable and appropri- ate for your cat’s type of coat and pay attention to how much pressure you’re Moth er’s Day Brunch Buff et 971-409-0908 Sisters Art Works Building I Draw Dreams For Inventors INVENTION HELP Product Designing using computer aided design CAD manufacturing fi les – 3D printing, CAD/CAM Virtual Prototypes • Patent Drawings Marketing Materials & Videos Brian M Keast • Sisters • 541-588-0661 idrawdreams@gmail.com www.idrawdreamsforinventors.com Reservations Required Open Thursday - Saturday for lunch & dinner 541-549-3663 At Aspen Lakes You’re like family to us! We feel that each patient is an important member of our extended family, and we will treat you with personable, compassionate dental care. Ben Crockett, D.D.S. Kim Hapke, Naturopath applying when you brush. If you brush Kitty on a regu- lar basis, the twice-weekly maintenance shouldn’t take long. And with a long- haired cat, brushing just a few minutes every day will keep her coat in good condition. You will not be able to stop Kitty from shed- ding alto- g e t h e r , because it is a natu- PHOTO BY JODI SCHNEIDER MCNAMEE ral process, Harley gets brushed to cut down on shedding. like eating or sleeping. However regular brushing from your house. may help reduce the amount Remove cat hair from of hair that falls out and may your clothes, chairs, sofas improve the quality of your and other belongings by rub- cat’s coat. bing the surface you want to So, to minimize the clean with a damp towel. It inconvenience of shedding, will attract the cat hair. And groom your cat on a regular a lint roller will pick up more basis and use a vacuum to cat hair and leave the surface remove the excess cat hair cleaner. Sunday, May 14 www.AspenLakes.com p 541-549-9486 f 541-549-9110 410 E. Cascade Ave. • P.O. Box 1027 • Sisters, Oregon 97759 Hours: Mon., 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; Tues.-Wed., 8 a.m.-4 p.m.; Thurs., 7 a.m.-3 p.m. 17 For tickets, call 800-827-7522 For information, visit SistersRodeo.com
