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If you have a cat as a pet, then grooming should be an essential
pet care routine. Grooming your cat every week is recommended to
keep him healthy, hygienic, and smelling good.
Cat grooming typically includes giving him frequent baths,
trimming his nails, and brushing. Regular grooming helps you
identify skin issues or injuries that may have gone unnoticed.
Timely attention to such matters prevents escalation into more
serious problems.
If you are a cat owner that needs initiation into grooming, here
are some common questions that can help you understand where to
begin:
Is bathing a cat necessary?
Yes, it is. Though cats are known to keep themselves clean by
licking, it is barely enough.
If your cat is aged, above normal weight, or arthritic, then he
will not be able to clean himself thoroughly by licking alone.
Bodyweight, advanced age or arthritis, can make it difficult for
your cat to stretch and reach all areas of the body. Bathing him
is important to keep him clean and disease-free.
Can I use my shampoo on my cat?
Never. Bathing products designed for human skin can damage your
cat’s delicate skin. Use only products formulated for cats and
kittens.
What is the correct age to start cat grooming?
It is always better to familiarize your cat with the process of
grooming even as a kitten. This way, your pet will adjust himself
to being handled and brushed.
Start with brushing your cat. Use cat and kitten brushes designed
for the purpose. Your cat may think of it as a play session. Do
so regularly, and your cat will realize that he needs to get
brushed as a routine.
Those yucky hairballs! How to prevent my cat from
throwing them up?
Cats tend to lick themselves to get rid of dust, dirt, and other
foreign objects on their body. When they lick, they tend to take
in the hair strands on their skin, into their mouth. Their
digestive system converts the hair into a ball. In most cases,
your cat will vomit it, and you can get rid of it immediately. In
rare cases, you may have to get the hairball removed surgically.
One way to prevent your cat from throwing up hairballs is to
brush him every day. With excess fur removed, your cat may not
cough out hairballs.
How do I remove mats from my cat’s body?
Mats are strands of cat hair that get stuck together over time,
becoming a big mass. This cluster of hair is not only irritating
for your cat but can also lead to infection in the long run.
You need to remove mats gently. Do not pull them as it causes
great pain and irritation to the cat.
If the mat is small and not too knotted, use your fingers to
un-knot them gently. In case of a big mass, use an oil-based
mat-softening spray to loosen the matted fur. Then, use a metal
comb to disentangle looser knots.
For deeper knots, first, separate the tangles into smaller ones
by holding the mat closer to the skin; then use the comb on the
separated tangles.
Cutting mats are not usually recommended. They are cut only as a
last resort. If you are unsure about grooming your cat, it is
better to get the advice of your vet. Consider hiring a
professional groomer, preferably one recommended by your vet.
Grooming a Maine Coon Cat
The principal reason people love Maine Coon cats is their
beautiful luscious fur. These kitties are large sized, and the
thick fur only compounds their royal appearance. Looking at a
Maine Coon makes the observer believe the kitty is wearing an
expensive and luxurious winter coat. The reality is that coat
actually protects those animals from the harsh climate of their
native New England habitat. The bulk of fur is required to
survive in those harsh conditions.
Grooming
The regal appearance of Maine Coon kitties has made them a sought
after breed by cat lovers. The appearance of this cat breed could
only be described as stunning. Do not be afraid if you are
thinking about the upkeep of such cats. Even with such a thick
fur coat, the Maine Coon is much easier to groom when compared to
other similar breeds. It is, however, necessary to groom a Maine
Coon cat. Only with grooming can the coat health could be
maintained. If a cat possesses an unhealthy fur coat, then many
other problems could arise like loss of hair or excessive
shedding. The best case scenario is a daily groom. If this is not
possible, then a weekly routine is a must. Remember you may love
to beautify your cat, but your kitty may hate it. The only way to
do fuss-free grooming is if you start the process when your cat
is still a puppy. The furball will get used to it and allow you
to groom its coat without much fuss.
Grooming equipment and
bath
If you wish to do the grooming yourself, and not entrust the task
to a professional cat groomer, then remember that the fur of the
Maine Coon cat, like its brethren in other cat breeds, is
susceptible to matting. To avoid such a jam, a daily brush is of
great help. Get a soft, bristle brush to do the job. A hard one
may scratch the skin of the cat. If this happens twice or more,
the cat may get turned off by your enforced beauty regimen. You
will find it harder to make your Maine Coon cat sit still so that
you can complete the grooming action. If you see the fur growing
on the toes being too long, use clippers to cut the same so that
they will be kept at their proper length.
It is an excellent idea to bath your Maine Coon cat. Although
cats like to keep themselves clean, the presence of thick fur
means you can bath the cat! Some Maine Coon cats not only
tolerate water but loves to bath too. As usual, the easiest way
to make a cat acclimatize to such activity is to begin the
process when the animal is at its puppy stage.
