Cat grooming is an important part of your pet’s life. It does not only make your cat look nice and well-trimmed. Proper cat grooming is essential to prevent possible health problems. Most cats are very proud and fastidious by nature. Many of them provide a perfect cat grooming to themselves. Sometimes cats titivate themselves even better than some people do. But if your kitty has suddenly come across some abnormal bump or lump on her skin while licking herself, she will unlikely apply to a cat groomer for help. That’s where your help is required. Regular cat grooming will help you maintain a sleek and silky coat of your cat, provide her with a proper nail & ear care and keep you pet in perfect condition. Have a look at these general cat care tips. They will help you get much benefit from your cat grooming.
Brushing and combing
You must have noticed your cat lick her coat several times a day. On the one hand this is pretty good as your kitty saves you trouble of removing dirt or other debris off her hair. But at the same time it may be rather dangerous as it can lead to forming the so-called hairballs. While shedding the cat licks dead loose hair and swallows it. The more excess hair she has, the more of it your kitty will ingest. When getting inside the cat’s stomach the hair does not digest. Instead, it clumps in hairballs and may get stuck in the intestines. It is good if your cat will cough this hair up. Though, this process is pleasant neither for her nor for you. The more dangerous side effect is that a great number of swallowed hair may block the intestines and some surgical measures will be necessary. You can help you pet by regular cat grooming.
- A thorough brushing is the key to a beautiful sleek or fluffy coat of your cat. Different cat breeds require different brushing time. For example, single-coated cats such as the Burmese, Siamese, Cornish Rex require very little grooming. Cats with dense short hair resembling American and British shorthairs need to be trimmed monthly. A long and flowing hair of cats like the Persian requires daily brushing.
- Get you pet accustomed to her cat grooming procedures. Start with little. Touch her paws, ears and tail. Give your kitty a gentle stroke down her back. Then try to use some cat grooming tools. Reinforce her good behavior with words of praise and, of course, her favorite treats. Do not drag out your grooming sessions. Just 15-20 minutes of brushing and luxuriant hair will no longer be a rarity for your cat.
- Make sure to use the right grooming tools. A brush or comb with stainless steel fine teeth will be perfect for shorthaired cats. A bristle or slicker brush with wide-set natural or rubber bristles will remove dead loose hair. A steel comb best fits cats with long floating hair. A flea comb may also be of great use. And do not forget about new devices such as a furminator deshedding tool. As the name suggests, it will reduce the amount of excess hair both on your cat and your belongings.
- When you groom your cat take care to remove all the mats and tangles from her coat. You can use the sharp end of your brushing tool to work out these mats. If the mat is impossible to untangle simply cut it off. Be careful and use only blunt-pointed scissors. You don’t want to leave a bitter trace on your pet from cat grooming.
Bathing time
If bathing is not your cat’s favorite grooming routine do not give way to despair. Try to do this cat grooming process as pleasant as possible.
- Start with brushing your cat’s coat. This is the main preliminary measure.
- Pour about 2-4 inches of lukewarm water into a sink or bathtub. Make sure to put a rubber mat on the bottom so that your cat can stand firm on her feet.
- If you wish to prevent getting soap into the eyes and ears do the following. Put a few drops of mineral oil into both eyes. You can also use eye ointment. To protect the cat’s ears place cotton balls into the ear canals.
- Lather your pet with a cat shampoo from head to tail. Make sure to use only shampoos for cats. When soaping your pet avoid such sensitive areas as eyes, nose and ears.
- Once done with the lathering give your cat a thorough rinse. Drain the soapy water and refill the sink with clean water as many times as needed. To rinse the cat you can use a shower spray nozzle, a plastic pitcher or simply a cut. Make sure not to aim water at the eyes and ears.
- When the coat is free of soap wrap your cat into a big towel and let her dry out. You can also speed up this process by using a pet dryer.
Nail trimming
This procedure is also important in cat grooming. To avoid broken nails, scratches on your body and shredded furniture do the following.
- Do cat nail trimming on a regular basis. It is also the basis of the cat grooming routine. Once a month will be quite enough.
- Clip only that part of the nail that begins to curl. Make sure not to cut into the quick. It contains nerve endings and blood veins. Cutting it causes pain and bleeding. If you have nevertheless done it, do not panic. A styptic pencil, which should be in your cat grooming kit, or some cornstarch will come to your aid.
Teeth, Eye & ear care
Teeth, eyes and ears are vital organs of your pet. So, make sure to take care of them properly during the cat grooming process.
- Clean your cat’s teeth regularly with a cat toothbrush and special toothpaste.
- Provide a proper dental home care to your pet and you will avoid future problems.
- You can always find a groomer to take care of your pet’s teeth.
- To clean your cat’s ears squirt a few drops of ear solution into the ear canal. Wipe the dirt or debris with a cotton ball or a Q-tip. Make sure not to push it too deep into the canal.
- When cleaning your cat’s eyes, wipe all the sticky substances off the eyelids. Use a soft cloth dipped in warm water.
Professional touch-up
Remember you can always have a professional groomer do the cat grooming job for you.
- Visit a petsmart grooming salon where you will get all the grooming packages you need. Bath & groom add-ons will make your pet healthy and happy. Cat grooming will become a pleasure for your kitty.
- The proficient staff will provide high-quality grooming services to your pet. The brush & more service will give your cat a brilliant look.
As you can see, cat grooming is not only about stroking or brushing your pet’s coat once in a while. Cat grooming also includes regular bathing, nail trimming, teeth & ear cleaning. Do not forget that it is possible and necessary to make the cat grooming procedure fun and pleasant for both of you. It also helps improve and strengthen the bond between you and your feline.
A fun and joyful cat grooming will make you best friends!
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