Grooming Your Cat

Benefits of Regular Grooming

Grooming your cat offers an ideal opportunity to also check its nails, teeth, ears and eyes, and to check for any lumps or scabs which may have developed since last time. Many cats do not visibly need grooming on a regular basis except when they are shedding their coat. However, some breeds of cats, such as Persians, require extensive grooming on a regular basis to avoid widespread knotting of the hair and possible sores on the skin. If a long-haired cat has been left unchecked for a while, it may require some areas to be shaved. This is a very stressful experience for a cat and should only be carried out by a professional. You must think about how much time you are prepared to spend doing this before you choose what breed of cat to buy.

First Steps

The first stage in grooming is to vigorously run your hands through the cat's hair. Not only does this acclimatize your cat to the feeling of being groomed, but it will also show you which areas need the most attention. Run your hands all over the cat - including behind the ears and under the belly. Your cat is likely to really enjoy this invigorating feeling, and it also helps to stimulate the natural oils of the skin. Special areas to attend to include the hair behind the ears, the hair around the genitals, the hair along the muzzle and the hair between the toes.

Bathing Your Cat

We advise against bathing your cat since it can create unnecessary friction between a cat and its owner. Try finding a professional or, if it is for medical reasons, maybe your vet will be happy to do this for you. If you must bathe your cat, you should groom it first. This is because the shampoo will not get through the whole coat unless you have removed matting first. You should not bath your cat more often than necessary, since shampoos will remove the natural oils that protect your cats skin and hair.

When shampooing, you should not use everyday soaps or cleaners. You can get advice about cat shampoos from your vet or from good stockists. Cat shampoos produce less lather, which is very useful if your cat does not like being rinsed! If your cat experiences any skin reaction after bathing, consult your vet about the shampoo you are using - you may need to purchase a medicated shampoo.