How to Remove Static From Dog or Cat Fur

Don't let your cat become a walking bundle of static.
i fluffy cat image by Helena Kiyan from Fotolia.com

Friction can cause your pet’s fur to build up a lovely electrical charge, perfect for discharging every time you pet him. This is especially likely if you have a fluffy animal and a very dry house. There might be little danger, but it is a nuisance.

Step 1

Measure the humidity in your home with a hygrometer, which are cheap and widely available from household stores. If the relative humidity is much below 30 percent, it is too dry. Aside from turning your dog or cat into a battery, the dryness is doing neither you nor your pets any good at all.

Step 2

Position a portable humidifier in your main living room to maintain a humidity of somewhere between 30 and 50 percent, if your home is too dry. Fill up the wells as per the instructions. Alternatively, place several shallow bowls of water in the room or introduce some large pet-safe houseplants.

Step 3

Squirt a little pet conditioner into a (clean) plant mister, fill with water and shake thoroughly.

Step 4

Spray some of the solution onto your hands, rub them together and stroke your pet. This usually is enough to remove the charge.

Step 5

Mist your pet along his body, if his fur is still crackling. Using this mixture is a short term but highly effective solution to static-filled fur.

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