Cat hair stripping: what it is, how it works and what it is for


What is cat hair stripping, what is it for and when is it absolutely necessary? Everything you need to know about this beauty practice and beyond.

Sometimes practices that seem monstrously cruel turn out to be extremely useful in the care of our pets: we are talking about the stripping of the cat, but also of the dog. It is a rather widespread practice that, if carried out by expert hands, will not make our domestic feline suffer. Let’s see what this practice consists of, when it is necessary and how it is implemented by the most experienced groomers.


Cat hair stripping: what is it?

Among the various techniques for the care of the cat’s coat, we have probably also heard of that of the ‘stripping’ of the hair: the name could already suggest what it is. The sound produced by the word easily gives the idea of ​​tearing, of eliminating part of the hair, and it is actually so.

‘stripping’ in fact means ‘to tear’ and is applied on the dead coat, which would have fallen anyway, but it accelerates the process of shedding the hair in the cat. This is not a necessary procedure but it can certainly prove to be very useful, especially from an aesthetic point of view.

It is no coincidence that it is a technique that is used to show the physical characteristics and muscles of animals, whether it is cats or dogs.


Cat hair stripping: how and when to apply this technique

Although it may seem like a real torture, comparable only to waxing, in reality if done by expert hands it will not be so painful and unbearable for our four-legged friends.

The hair is pulled at the root with the hands or by means of some tools, in particular special small knives. The cited knife is different from the others because it has no blades, which acts mechanically for the removal of that area of ​​hair.

The best method, although it may seem strange, is the manual one: the expert groomer will know which is the dead hair to pull and, since it is a part of the coat already ‘uprooted’, it will not make our cat suffer.

In practice, the hair must already be ‘wide’ in the bulb and not perfectly attached to it: it is obvious that if it is new and just grown hair, plucking it would cause pain to the cat or dog.

Cat stripping: when it is not the case

Usually we do not recommend this technique if the skin of the cat or dog is already irritated: such a trauma, although not painful if it is dead hair, could still favour the onset or worsening of redness and infections. Once stripping is done, washing with specific and delicate products is not recommended : it is better to give the skin time to stabilize.


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