Cat Grooming
Cat grooming is an integral part of cat ownership. As well as helping to keep your cat's coat in good condition, carefully and gently grooming him also helps you to bond.
- Do the back first: brush in the direction the hair is lying, working backward from head to tail.; Grooming powder can be used on especially soft coats that are prone to matting; it will separate the hairs, soak up excess natural coat oils, and make combing and brushing easier. Sprinkle the powder on and work it into the coat with your fingertips before brushing and combing it all out.
- Comb out loose hair without pulling on any knots, as this will be painful for the cat. Gently tease these out by holding the hair near the skin with on hand while combing with the other. Don’t tug at a knot.
- With a soft bristle brush, gently busy the belly
- Use a soft brush on the tail, too, as it is very sensitive.
- Wipe around the eyes and nose with cotton balls moistened with lukewarm water (squeeze the excess out). Use a fresh cotton ball for each eye and the nose. Wipe very gently under the tail with another cotton ball, then use a dry cotton ball to dry the areas wiped.
- A toothbrush is ideal for grooming the facial area. Finish off by stroking the cat all over with a grooming pad to leave a smooth, shiny finish to the coat. If the claws need trimming, do this last.
When to groom your cat:
Once a week for shorthaired cat grooming should be sufficient, whereas longhairs ideally should have daily attention. The more often you do it, the easier and quicker it is to keep the coat tangle-free, glossy, and looking good. You need to pick the right time to groom; walking the cat up to do it is not a good idea, and neither is grooming when he is unsettled for some reason. If your cat becomes fidgety and stressed by grooming because he was not accustomed to it from an early age, do it in shor, frequent sessions to gradually get him used to the process.
Never force the cat grooming; wait until he’s in an amenable mood before trying again. Offering thin morsels of this favorite food can help settle him and take his mind off what you’re doing as well as help him associated grooming with something rewarding and pleasurable
It can be helpful to have someone hold the cat, talk to him, and offer treats to distract him while you concentrate on the grooming.
Grooming short coat cats:
Simply using your hand to groom will suffice for many shorthairs; it will loosen and stroke off dead hairs, tone muscles, and be pleasurable and soothing for both you and your cat.
Alternatively, use a moderately stiff brush to brush lightly but thoroughly from head to tail to remove any loose hairs. Pay particular attention to the throat, armpits, and inner thighs. Next use a fine-toothed comb all over from head to tail to remove parasites, flaky skin, and loose hairs. Then use cotton balls moistened with lukewarm water to wipe around the eyes, nose, and under the tail (use a clean piece for each). Finally, wipe with a grooming pad to leave the coat soft and shiny.
~Tip
Always do a small skin patch test 24 hours before bathing your cat with a wet or dry product to be sure he’s not allergic to it.
Bathing:
Cats usually don’t need bathing (in fact, most hate being wet at all), unless:
- You are preparing for a how.
- The coat is very dirty or contaminated with chemicals or oil.
- The cat needs shampooing with a fungicidal or insecticidal wash for health reasons (in which case you should wear protective plastic gloves).
Always use a specially formulated cat shampoo and coat conditioner, never products intended for use on human hair, as these may prove harmful if absorbed through the cat’s skin or accidentally ingested. You will probably need an assistant while bathing your pet, even if he has been accustomed to the procedure since kittenhood. It’s easiest to bathe the cat in the kitchen sink.
- Quarter-fill the sink with lukewarm water (comfortable to the elbow-touch test) and place the cat in it.
- Pour water over the body until the fur is saturated.
- Use your hands to carefully wet the cat's face
- Massage in the shampoo, but don’t get any on the face or near the eyes.
- Refill the sink with clean lukewarm water (or use a spray attachment) and rinse all the shampoo out of the coat. You will probably have to replace the water several times to be sure no soap remains.
- If using a separate conditioner, massage this into the coat and leave for the recommended time, then rinse.
- Gently dry the cat as much as you can with a thick, warm, soft towel.
- Place him in a warm room to dry off thoroughly so he doesn’t get cold.
- Once dry, groom the coat into place.
Recommended Cat Grooming Resources