Maine coons are a furry lot but have manageable fur coats to look after. Pet owners don't have to worry about keeping their fur both mat and tangle-free, since the right grooming techniques used on these cats is what you will need to equip yourself with. All animals need to be groomed meticulously especially those which are long-haired and fluffy. Shaving them down to keep their fur layered at a minimal length, will not only be easier for you to maintain, but will also keep your furniture a whole less messy from shedding deposits. There are no two ways about this, since grooming is as essential as watching what your pet cat eats. You'll find ways on how to keep its fur luscious, clean and knot-free with these helpful tips on how to groom your cat. Maine Coon Grooming Tips With careful grooming and the right way of doing it, comes the essential part of making sure you have all your cat's grooming tools ready for use when the time calls for it. Before we discuss grooming a Maine coon cat, let's first take a look at what you need to keep on hand to assist you as you groom your cat. ✔ Razor letter opener (for stubborn knots) ✔ Undercoat rake (fluffing fur before they tangle) ✔ Scissor nail trimmer ✔ Wide tooth comb (1 inch, stainless steel) ✔ Plastic brush with nylon bristles (for regular combing) ✔ Fine tooth comb (stainless steel, meant to comb fur around the facial region) ➦ Buying the Right Products It is important to have the right products on hand when it comes to your cat. Stores may have Maine coon specific products or those that cater to long-haired felines. Be sure to check the back of each product and opt for something more herbal based than chemical, if you can help it. Shampooing and conditioning is as important a habit to cats as it is to us humans, so make sure to buy a reliable pair of these. ➦ Getting Rid of Mat Spots The first thing you need to do, which is the case with every pet, is to first calm him / her down before you start working on them. Stroke your cat's coat and wait for him / her to relax and sit in a stationary position. The next step is to use the plastic brush to make sure there are no hidden tangles. If you hit a spot where the matted hair is too caught up to smoothen out, give your cat a bath and use a cat-friendly conditioner to smoothen out the knot, or apply baby powder to the area (when the fur coat is dry) and use your fingers to work through the tangle. If that doesn't work, dry up the fur of your cat and look for the knots again, placing the razor letter opener where the mat is, and snipping it off gently. You can also hold a comb beneath the matted spot before you trim this away using a sharp pair of mini scissors. ➦ Taking Care of Its Fur Maine coons have a beautiful layer of fur that have to be maintained every two weeks to leave it fluffed up and smooth. When hair grows too long, cut it down to a lion's cut by shortening fur all over the body to about two inches high and leaving hair long around the face. Use the fine toothed comb to remove any tangles in its facial hair, and snip off any knots if they don't loosen up through combing. Not tending to a cat for a long while can lead to dandruff and skin issues that can arise through negligence. Tangles can turn oily over time and prove to be quite painful an experience for your cat if you struggle with these hard to undo knots after a long lapse from its last grooming session. ➦ Nail Clipping Let your cat first get used to the fact that it is time to trim his / her nails, making sure not to snip away at paw flesh if it gets fidgety. Have your pet cat calm down first, using a soft tone to get it to relax before you trim its nails. Using a nail clipper meant for cats, snip off the nail gently by first holding the claw between your fingers and finding the exact area that you'll need to clip off without injuring the smooth flesh below. Trimming helps keep your cat's claws short and free from building bacteria, and avoids nasty rips and tears in your furniture and of course stops your pet from scratching your eyes out with its sharp claws. Make it a habit to comb through your cat's fur regularly, so that you avoid the situation of a tangled mess. Baths should be given once a week, and careful attention directed at its eating habits is important. Things like fish oil and canned pumpkin can work for your cat if you have a hairball invasion situation on your hands. Include this in its diet and find other ways on how to combat shedding and skin problems if any.