National Hairball Awareness Day: Our Little Lion King

Just saw an instagram posting from Cat Crew California reminding everyone that today is National Hairball Awareness Day. With long-haired cats, it is hard to forget.

Here in advance is a pre-precerpt from Luna Norwood's pending book, Everyday Life with Cats (title tentative) on grooming cats (essential for avoiding hairballs - though some ill come no matter what) - and above is a picture of our little Bobolink with the long, long hair after the groomer gave up on the hairballs and turned him into a small version of the Lion King for a while.

DIY Grooming: Keeping Your Cat Looking and Feeling Their Best

When I first started grooming my cats at home, I wasn’t sure where to begin. Over time, though, I found that it’s not just about keeping their fur shiny or their nails trimmed—it’s about creating a routine that makes them feel cared for, and honestly, it’s become a special bonding time for us.

Brushing and Coat Care
Brushing has always been one of my favorite parts of grooming. For my short-haired cats, a soft-bristle brush once a week works wonders to keep their coats smooth and reduce shedding (and let me tell you, my couch thanks me for it). For long-haired cats, though, brushing is more of a daily affair—it’s the only way to keep mats at bay. I use a wide-tooth comb or a slicker brush for those, and I’ve learned to be really gentle.

If I come across a stubborn mat, I don’t tug. Instead, I gently loosen it with my fingers or a dematting tool. With Simone, my Himalayan with super-long hair that tends to curl, particularly on her belly, I have found helpful the small brushes meant for children of some ethnic groups (e.g., African-American) with wiry, curly hair. Those work for curls on cats, too—maintains the beauty but detangles the mess. If a mat is too tight or if my cat’s uncomfortable with the combing (some will complain; others will not), I leave it to the professionals—I’ve learned when to let the experts step in.

Read more posts on cats HERE.

To purchase copies of any MSI Press book at 25% discount,

use code FF25 at MSI Press webstore.

Want to read an MSI Press book and not have to buy for it?
(1) Ask your local library to purchase and shelve it.
(2) Ask us for a review copy; we love to have our books reviewed.

VISIT OUR WEBSITE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT ALL OUR AUTHORS AND TITLES.

Sign up for the MSI Press LLC monthly newsletter
(recent releases, sales/discounts, awards, reviews, Amazon top 100 list, author advice, and more -- stay up to date)
Check out recent issues.

Follow MSI Press on Twitter, Face Book, Pinterest, Bluesky, and Instagram.

Interested in publishing with MSI Press LLC?
Check out information on how to submit a proposal.

We help writers become award-winning published authors. One writer at a time. We are a family, not a factory. Do you have a future with us?

Turned away by other publishers because you are a first-time author and/or do not have a strong platform yet? If you have a strong manuscript, San Juan Books, our hybrid publishing division, may be able to help.

Planning on self-publishing and don't know where to start? Our author au pair services will mentor you through the process.

Interested in receiving a free copy of this or any MSI Press LLC book in exchange for reviewing a current or forthcoming MSI Press LLC book? Contact editor@msipress.com.

Want an author-signed copy of this book? Purchase the book at 25% discount (use coupon code FF25) and concurrently send a written request to orders@msipress.com.
Julia Aziz, signing her book, Lessons of Labor, at an event at Book People in Austin, Texas.

Want to communicate with one of our authors? You can! Find their contact information on our Authors' Pages.

Steven Greenebaum, author of award-winning books, An Afternoon's Discussion and One Family: Indivisible, talking to a reader at Barnes & Noble in Gilroy, California.

MSI Press is ranked among the top publishers in California.
Check out our rankings -- and more -- HERE.