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While cats are famous for their effective self-grooming
practices, domestic cats often do require human supervision and
support. Grooming of cats takes planning and practice. Cats are
fussy by nature and they require an educated touch. This means
that the owner needs to be aware of what the cat is okay with
what it is not. While planning to groom your cat, it is always a
good idea to start early and develop the habit when they are
still young kittens. Gradually the time spent in grooming is
increased until the cat is able to accept it as a part of the
daily routine. Any kind of restrain or force is to be avoided as
any kind of stress associated with this experience will make it
even more difficult next time.
There are different grooming techniques and routines for long and
short haired cats. For shorthaired cats, grooming only once a
week is enough whereas longhaired ones require grooming almost
every day. For shorthaired cats a fine-tooth flea or tick comb is
used along with a bristle brush, rubber mitten and grooming pad.
Before beginning to groom or comb the cat, ensure that it is
relaxed and stress free. The flea comb is used on shorthaired
cats to check for flea dirt and fingers are used to loosen up
dead hair. Once the dead hairs are disengaged, the brush is used
to comb the cat from the head to the tail. This removes any
remaining dead hair and stimulates the blood circulation in the
body.
For longhaired cats, grooming products such as wide toothed comb,
detangling sprays, rakes and other kinds of slickers are used.
Longhaired cats require grooming almost regularly. The skin of
the cats is massaged gently before combing. This is basically a
check for flea excreta. A wide toothed comb takes care of the
dead hair and is ideal for combing specific locations such as
armpits and between the hind legs. A rubber glove or a damp
cotton swab is used to collect and remove the dead hair.
Dematting is one of the most important grooming activities as far
as cats are concerned. Matts or knots in the fur are extremely
uncomfortable for cats. Such knots are difficult to negotiate at
home and make it difficult for the cat to move around. The best
way to deal with such knots is preventive action. By grooming
according to a healthy routine, such knots can be avoided
beforehand. Never use scissors to get rid of knots. Try untying
them gently from the core causing as little discomfort to the cat
as possible. Severe matts are usually shaved off and are
typically performed at a vetโs office.
Home Grooming Your Cat
A happy cat is invariably a clean cat. You can bathe your cat and
trim its nails. It is also essential to keep your cat's eyes,
teeth, and ears clean. The fur too must be clean and healthy.
Before you start grooming your cat at home, remember that a few
cats hate being groomed. If your cat falls into this category,
there is a high chance that your cat may attack and injure you.
In such cases, make an appointment with a cat groomer or a
veterinarian. Do not try to groom your kitty at home.
Cleaning and brushing
For all practical purposes, there is no need for you to clean and
care for your cat's fur. Your kitty cleans itself through her
grooming tools- teeth and tongue. There are some days, however,
that your cat becomes so dirty that you will be compelled to run
it a bath. The process to clean the kitty should be of maximum
efficiency and minimum stress. It is a good idea to brush
the cat. The action not only removes dead hair, grease, and dirt
from your kitty's fur but also stimulates the circulation of
blood and removes flakes from the skin. A healthy glow can be had
and kept if you brush your kitty twice a week. This is especially
true for senior cats who slowly lose the ability to groom
themselves.
Skin and shedding
Do pay close attention to the skin of your cat. The skin
condition indicates your kitty's overall health. The cat will
scratch itself excessively in-case of a bad skin condition. There
will also be an excess of licking or chewing. The skin is
vulnerable to external parasites and also to allergies emanating
from stress and seasonal changes. A combo of these could also be
a problem. It is important to investigate the factors which
affect the skin of your cat. Most cat owners visit the
veterinarian to deal with their cat's skin problems. Your
cat sheds hair due to natural causes. It is a process of
off-loading dead hair. Cats which spend most of their time
indoors may shed all through the year. You can minimize the
accompanying inconvenience by regularly grooming the cat. Vacuum
the house to get rid of cat hair. Take note that while shedding
is natural, having bald patches are not. This can be due to an
underlying health problem. You must take your cat to the
veterinarian. The ears of your cat can pick up sounds like you
opening a bag of food on the other end of the house. Like all
other organs, the kitty needs some help when it comes to keeping
the ears clean. Examine the ears for wax and debris and clean
them.
