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About Longhair Cat Notes
Longhair Cat Notes is a small, free library about one thing: living with a long-haired cat's coat - brushing, mats, shedding, sanitary trims, hairballs, and knowing which jobs are yours and which belong to a professional. It's written for ordinary cat households - plain steps, no jargon, no miracle promises - and it's made by the team behind PawLine, a research-based dog and cat Q&A app. PawLine app, patent pending.
How the guides are written
Each guide starts from the situations long-haired cat owners actually face, then gets built from veterinary sources, linked below. Lines that matter - which jobs are home jobs, which signs are medical - are stated plainly, with the consistent advice to let a real vet make the real call. These guides are general information, not veterinary advice - your vet knows your cat.
Sources
- The Danger of Hairballs - Cornell Feline Health Center: long-haired breeds' greater hairball risk, the daily brushing-and-combing recommendation, seasonal shedding, and the warning never to give laxatives without veterinary supervision.
- A Hairy Dilemma - Cornell Feline Health Center: normal hairball frequency, the vet-or-groomer haircut plan for cats who refuse brushing, and the red flags that mean examination without delay.
- Cats that Lick Too Much - Cornell Feline Health Center: the share of a cat's day spent grooming (Cornell: 30 to 50 percent of their day), when licking becomes abnormal, and why the owner checks for mats but a veterinarian intervenes beyond that.
- Feline Skin Diseases - Cornell Feline Health Center: skin as the body's largest organ, why diagnosis needs an exam, and the itch-inflammation cycle.
- The Special Needs of the Senior Cat - Cornell Feline Health Center: why older cats groom less effectively, daily brushing's benefits, and checking the skin while you stroke.
- Loving Care for Older Cats - Cornell Feline Health Center: hands-on grooming help for seniors, particularly crucial for longhaired cats who become uncomfortably matted.
- Choosing and Caring for Your New Cat - Cornell Feline Health Center: the grooming basics, training kittens to accept brushing, nail-trim lessons from your vet, and the dull, patchy coat as a sign of illness.
PawLine, the app behind this site
PawLine answers dog and cat questions with research-based responses tailored to your pet's breed, age, history and situation - including "is this shedding normal?". Free to download; see the store listing for current offers, pricing and trial terms.
