Looking this fabulous doesn’t happen by accident. Our feline friends know this better than anyone, which is why self-grooming comes second only to napping on their list of favourite things to do.
But even the most image-conscious cat needs a helping hand from time to time. From brushing basics through to banishing bath time woes, here’s our essential owners guide to cat grooming.
Why You Need to Groom Your Cat
Grooming makes life easier. In the Spring, many cats shed their heavy winter coat ready for the warmer weather. By brushing your cat’s coat, you can pick up much of that loose hair at source - so there’s less of it to chase with the vacuum cleaner.
More importantly, it makes life a lot more comfortable for your cat. Through self-grooming, cats have a tendency to pick off loose hairs with their tongue, swallow them and sometimes vomit them up later as fur balls (gross, but natural!). But things can go wrong with fur balls; especially if they get too big and get stuck in their stomach. Regular brushing can help remove a good bit of loose hair before it gets swallowed, reducing the amount of fur ingested in the first place.
And no matter how thorough your feline friend is, there will be some tangles that even they can’t shift. Tangled fur can quickly become matted. It’s really annoying for them, and can lead to skin irritation and infection.
On top of all this, a grooming session is a great excuse for some quality time together. It’s a great opportunity for you to bond with your cat, gets them used to being handled, and lets you check for fleas and ticks, skin, eye and ear problems.
Long or short-haired, all cats need to be groomed regularly. Start grooming your furry friend from a young age. And keeping on top of it will remove dirt, loose hairs and prevent matting, and keep kitty nice and clean. Soon, once you get into a routine, grooming sessions will become second nature - for both you and your cat.
Essential Cat Grooming Kit
Keeping kitty's mane in roaring fashion can be an uphill task if you're just getting started. Grooming brushes, combs, clippers, but what types? Well whether you've got a Ragdoll or a Bengal, here's what to look for...
Cat Grooming Brushes: A slicker brush can be a good choice for long or medium-haired cats. These have a curved shape with tightly packed, fine wire bristles for picking up loose hair and for removing matting. For short-haired cats, a standard dual-sided brush will be just the job. You use the fine tooth side to get rid of tangles and the soft bristle side to smooth and help spread the natural oils across the surface of the body.
Mitt or Glove Brushes: These are another option for long and short-haired cats. It’s basically a glove; so grooming is just an extension of stroking your cat - great if your feline friend loves being stroked but gets nervous at grooming time.
Mat-breaker: These can be useful for Persians, Maine Coons and other long-haired breeds that are prone to matting. A mat-breaker consists of a row of blades designed to cut through the tough, dried-up dirt quickly and painlessly.
Cat nail clippers: You’ll need some cat nail clippers or scissors. We don’t recommend using human nail clippers because they can split your cat’s claws. If you’re unsure how to clip your cat’s nail, your vet or vet nurse will be happy to give you a demo!
Cat shampoo: Never use human shampoo on your cat (did you know that tea tree oil is toxic to cats?). So get a shampoo designed specifically for cats and follow the advice of your vet on specialist medicated shampoos if your cat has any skin issues.
How to Brush Your Cat's Fur
- Check your cat’s coat. The fur should be glossy and spring back under your hand to the touch. There should be no wounds, bumps or bald patches. Check the armpits and groin for signs of scratching, blood and black spots (all signs of fleas).
- Short-haired cats. From head to tail, work the wire side of your dual-sided brush over the fur, following the direction of growth. Repeat the process with the soft side of the brush.
- Long-haired cats. Run your fingers through the fur, checking for tangles and matting. Small knots can be teased apart with your fingers. For thicker matting, use the mat-breaker. Next, comb through the fur with the wire brush. For a bushy tail, make a parting in the middle and gently brush out the fur on each side.
Bathing Your Cat
Cats and baths aren’t always a happy combination. The good news is that bathing your cat can be a pretty rare event. Exactly how rare depends on lots of things: breed, age, activity level, any health issues and how much time they spend outdoors. Your vet will advise you on what’s normal for your cat.
Here are our suggestions for a pain-free bath time…
- Get them used to the idea of bathing from a young age
- Use the sink or tub (it’s a less daunting prospect than a full-size bath). Put a bath mat inside it to stop your cat from slipping.
- Fill it with 3 to 4 inches of warm (not hot!) water.
- Use your hand as a cup to wet the fur. Now work the shampoo into the fur from head to tail being careful not to get it into their eyes. With a spray hose on a gentle setting, rinse thoroughly.
- Gently pat dry with a towel.
How to Cut Your Cats Claws
As well as helping to save your sofa from scratch marks, trimming helps to prevent ingrown claws and painful broken claws. Your aim is to get the trimming done swiftly and painlessly so your cat doesn’t get spooked!
Here’s how you can approach it…
- From a young age, get your cat used to having their paws handled in preparation for trimming. When your cat is in your arms, hold each of their paws for a few seconds - and press each paw pad so the nails extend.
- Choose a time when your cat is relaxed (e.g. after dinner).
- While massaging the toe, gently press the toe pad and clip the white of each toe. Only clip the WHITE part of the nail (the pink part is where the blood vessels and nerves are).
- If you’re unsure or would prefer your vet to help out with nail clipping, give them a call and they’ll be happy to help.
- If you notice something’s not quite right when you’re clipping your cat’s nails, like blood or swelling, or if a nail has grown into the soft pad of their toe, call your vet for advice.
- A scratching post is great to keep claws in good condition
Clipping the nails of ‘outdoor’ cats isn’t always recommended because nails are their defence against other predators. They also tend to wear them down much quicker than a moggie that’s kept indoors!
Follow these maintenance tips and the end result should be a clean, happy, healthier cat!
Everypaw Cat Insurance
Everypaw's Cat Insurance comes with 24/7 unlimited access to vets and vet nurses that can help with your pet's health, care, nutrition and behaviour. So you can rest assured your kitty will be well looked after.
Additional content provided from Vetstream's Vetlexicon Felis - www.vetlexicon.com/treat/felis
Vetlexicon is the world’s largest peer-reviewed online clinical reference source. All our content is written and peer-reviewed by over 1,000 of the world’s leading veterinarians, ensuring relevance, accuracy and quality.