Burrs are small, prickly seed pods that can become attached to a cat’s fur. When I took my cat, Muezza, out for a walk in a wooded area, I found these burrs attached to her fur.
So how to get burrs out of cat fur now? With your fingers, you can carefully remove the burrs. Use the scissors to cut them out if they are too sticky or twisted. Next, use a comb to untangle any leftover fur knots or mats. Finally, carefully massage a tiny amount of vegetable oil into the affected area.
However, things can go out of hand and you may need to seek professional assistance. Thus, I will cover how to get rid of burrs in detail and when to seek professional help in this article.
How To Get Burrs Out Of Cat Fur?
I’m providing a step-by-step guide so that you don’t make any rookie mistakes that might harm your cat. Thus, go through them consciously!
Materials Required
Here are the materials that were used to remove burrs from Muezza:
- Scissors
- Comb
- Vegetable oil
- Slicker brush
Step-By-Step Guide To Get Burrs Out Of Cat Fur
Here’s how the veterinarian took care of the burrs in Muezza’s fur:
Step 1: Manually Remove The Burrs
To start, don’t make the mistake of removing every burr tangled with your cat’s fur. I saw the veterinarian taking out the burrs that were not strongly tangled with my cat’s fur by using his hands.
As the veterinarian was also guiding me through what he was doing, he told me that taking out strongly tangled ones would be painful for Muezza.
Step 2: Use Scissor For Strongly Tangled Burrs
Right when the manual removal process was done, the veterinarian took scissors in his hands. Its purpose is to cut the burrs with it while not cutting any fur or skin of my cat.
Just hold the scissors parallel to the skin and carefully cut through the burr as close to the skin as possible.
Step 3: Get Rid Of The Remaining Burrs
A slicker brush is necessary to remove burrs from a cat because it has fine, closely spaced wire bristles. Therefore, they can penetrate deep into the fur without causing discomfort to the cat.
Using a slicker brush, gently remove burrs from a cat’s fur without pulling on the fur. The fine bristles of the brush can work their way around the burr and loosen it from the fur.
Step 4: Stubborn Burrs
At this point, there still might be some burrs present that are considered to be stubborn burrs. These ones cannot be removed manually and cannot be cut as they may be too close to the skin, and the slicker brush isn’t strong enough.
For these types of stubborn burrs, using a comb is necessary. Using a comb, begin at the ends of the fur and work your way down to the skin to slowly tease the burrs out.
Step 5: Removing Debris
Lastly, you have to apply a very small amount of vegetable oil to the affected area. This will help to soothe any irritation or inflammation that may have been caused by the burrs
When Should I Seek Professional Help?
I got to know that there are times when you do need to seek professional help. Here are the symptoms when you do need to seek a vet directly!
- The burrs are deeply embedded in the cat’s fur
- Excessive licking
- Excessive scratching at the affected area
- Swelling
- Redness
On the other hand, you must be confident in performing the removal. If your cat shows any signs of distress or pain, you should stop immediately and seek professional help.
Signs Of Burrs In Cat
Any cat owner needs to identify signs of burrs so that they can take action quickly which can save their cat. Prevention is always better than cure so let’s check out some signs that represent there are burrs present in your cat.
Excessive Licking
Cats generally have licking behaviors where they clean themselves by licking. However, excessive licking can mean problems such as burrs. Well, if you follow your cat’s behaviors then the excessive licking part will be very easy for you to identify. The cat may be trying to get rid of the burrs from its fur by licking.
Change In Eating and Drinking Behaviour
As a cat owner, you should be aware of how much food and water your pet consumes every day. A change in their eating and drinking behavior can mean a lot of things. However, one of them has to be that burrs are present in their skin. These burrs cause immense discomfort and thus a significant reduction in their eating behavior is seen.
Visible Presence
This is the most obvious one but yet worth mentioning. If you notice carefully in your cat’s fur, you will come across burrs present. These appear like tiny seed pods that are attached to the fur. Sometimes taking a microscope to look into the cat’s fur is a good idea to confirm the burr’s existence.
Discomfort
As a pet owner, you should know when your cat is uncomfortable. They might be twitchy, shift postures frequently, or avoid certain activities that require movement or contact with the areas that are impacted. Any indications of discomfort should be addressed right away.
Redness
As the cat goes through a lot of pain in their skin, they tend to itch their skin a lot. Similarly, biting is also a common habit that they do to get rid of burrs. This results in redness in their skin and is an excellent indicator as it’s quite visible from a distance.
How Can This Be Prevented in the Future?
You can take several initiatives to prevent burrs from getting into your cat in the future. Here are some of the effective initiatives that have been working for my Muezza:
Regular Grooming
I’ve been giving my cat regular grooming for a while now. This helps to remove any burrs that may have gotten tangled in their fur. A slicker brush or a fine-toothed comb can be used for this.
Here’s a video that might help with the grooming process.
Trimmed Fur
Burrs are less likely to get hooked and twisted when your pet’s fur is kept short and well-kept. Regular brushing of your cat’s fur can also aid in removing burrs that do become caught before they tangle.
Avoid Areas with Burrs
Avoiding areas where burrs are present is an excellent prevention technique. I just discovered that fields and wooded regions are where burrs are most common. Now I know how my cat ended up with burrs on her skin in the first place.
FAQ
Let’s check out some commonly asked questions regarding this topic.
Q: Which type of comb should I use to brush my cat’s skin to remove burrs?
In this case, it’s critical to use a comb that can remove them without giving your pet any pain or distress. A metal comb with widely spread teeth is the ideal kind to use in this circumstance.
Q: How Short Should I Cut My Cat’s Fur To Prevent Burrs?
Depending on your cat’s breed and specific coat type, the length of the cut may change. There is no set length, but make sure it isn’t too short to prevent your cat from becoming sunburned.
Q: Why Is My Cat Showing Distress Even After Removing Burrs?
There could be several causes for your cat’s dissatisfaction if it persists in showing signs of it even after the burrs have been removed. The burrs may have irritated or inflamed the skin and it’s recommended to go to a vet immediately.
Conclusion
Once you know how to get burrs out of cat fur, the process isn’t that hefty. All you need are some common household items and patience. Make sure you’re confident in what you’re doing and if ever in doubt, do not hesitate to consult a vet!
Nevertheless, burrs shouldn’t be neglected and must be immediately taken care of. If not, there’s a chance of more serious health issues, which no pet owners would like. Starting from skin irritation to constant distress, your cat would suffer a lot.
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