By: Matthew Hick
Cats are clean creatures. If you have ever seen a cat licking its fur, you have witnessed it self-grooming. Cats are able to keep themselves groomed, as they expel as much saliva as they do urine. This saliva cleans fur of dirt and particles. If you wish to assist your cat in grooming, there are several things you can do.
Cat grooming by humans is best accomplished when a cat has been introduced to this at an early age. They will be use to the attention, and will allow you to attend to the grooming tasks without much fuss. The grooming tasks will basically consist of brushing their coat and trimming their nails along with an occasional bath.
Brushing a cat’s fur accomplishes several objectives. It will help keep their hair clean, tangle free and shiny. It will help you to bond with your cat, and also give you the opportunity to check for fleas, ticks, and other parasites. In addition, it will help to reduce shedding, along with possible hairballs, which can cause digestive problems. Brushing should be done on a daily basis.
Nail clipping is a little trickier than brushing. A cat’s nails need to be kept trimmed. A scratching post is an excellent investment that can help with the task, and save your furniture from being used for the same purpose. When clipping the nail, make sure not to cut the vein or quick in the paw, as this is very painful for the cat. You should try to keep the cat as still as possible. Rewarding this behavior with treats should help. If you have a problem with the nail clipping, you can always get some help from a professional groomer or your veterinarian.
Cats with shorthaired coats need little or no bathing. If you have a cat with a longer haired coat, then this grooming task should be done every one to three months. A sink is a good place to accomplish this routine. First wet the cat, shampoo with a pet shampoo for the cat’s coat and a tearless baby shampoo for his face. Two shampoos will be required for a normal coated cat, while a longer coated cat will require three. Rinse with a mixture of vinegar and water. Keep in mind, although they are groomers themselves, cats do not like baths. It is best to make it as pleasant and quick as possible. When done, dry thoroughly with towels and put the cat in a warm room. If he tolerates it, you can even blow-dry his coat on a low setting. And if your cat objects to being wet, you can purchase cat shampoo in powder form, which doesn’t require rinsing.
Three tasks are basically all you need to do to keep your cat well groomed. Performing these tasks also presents you with an ideal opportunity to give your cat the once-over. Check his ears, mouth, nose, and eyes. This will help you detect any abnormalities or physical problems. And remember, a clean cat is a happy cat.
