Cat Grooming The Stress Free Way
We have always viewed cat grooming as part of the general everyday cat
care routine we provide for our pet. Mo is a short hair tabby cat, but
with quite a thick coat which tends to shed all year round. If we did
not provide any cat grooming help for her she would suffer quite badly
from fur balls
and our house would be even hairier than it is.
I thought cats groomed themselves!
Well yes they do, in fact they are very fastidious about it. Most cats
when they are happy and content will groom several times a day. It keeps
their fur clean and free from any loose fur or debris that may have
got caught in it. The cats tongue is covered with long barb like hairs
which is an excellent tool for washing with.
Grooming has several important benefits for your cat.
- It is good to have a little pampering
from their owners and is an important bonding and trust building exercise.
This is one of the reasons cat grooming should be started when your
cat is a kitten if possible.
-
It gets your cat used to being handled, which is helpful in later years
when visits to the vets become necessary.
- It prevents matting
of the fur, especially in long hair breeds.
- It reduces the likely hood of hairballs forming.
- It enables you to check your cat’s ears, body and eyes for any
lumps and bumps which may be forming.
Your cat grooming routine
The main areas for cat grooming are:
There are two other procedures that may be carried out, the first is
checking your cat for lumps and cuts beneath the fur and also checking
for any signs of flea infestation. Do this on a regular basis.
The second depends very much on the breed of your cat. Unlike dogs
most cats do not get impacted anal glands, which would need expressing
to prevent abscesses. However Siamese cats are the most likely candidates
for this kind of problem. So a quick check to see if there is any redness
in the area or your cat is licking the area excessively. If you suspect
a problem, visit the vets as soon as possible.
 Lets
begin
The earlier you can get your cat used to the cat grooming routine the
easier it will become. Most cats won’t find the whole grooming
procedure very appealing and will struggle and even bite if they are
subjected to this procedure without a gradual approach. So a good idea
is not to do the whole grooming routine all at once, this will be less
stressful to your cat and may save you from a painful injury.
The basic cat grooming steps are:
Step 1 - Start by gently stroking your cat to get them use
to you touching them.
Step 2 – Part the fur and check for any injuries, lumps
or parasites.
Step 3 – Check the feet to ensure there is no matted
fur or debris like chewing gum or tar between the toes.
Step 4 – Make sure the claws are not too long. If they
are you should clip
them.
Step 5 – Long
coats will need daily brushing to remove any debris and to
reduce the likelihood of matting. Special cat grooming tools are available
which will make the job both easy for you and comfortable for your
cat. Matted coats will need further attention.
Step 6 - Remove any dark brown wax form your cat’s ears
using either a damp soft tissue or a special Ear Cleanse pads that
can be bought from pet supply outlets. If this is done regularly your
cat should become used to you rolling his ear back and gently rubbing
it. Any hard to remove wax can either be treated by the vet or special
cat eardrops can be used to soften the wax for removal.
 Step
7 - If bathing
is required, (generally it is not necessary, but occasional circumstances
might warrant it), make sure the coat is well groomed first, to enable
the shampoo to easily spread through the fur. Cats should not be bathed
too often as it removes the natural oils from the skin that help with
waterproofing and insulation. Always use a specially formulated cat
shampoo to reduce this risk.
What’s all the fuss about?
Just a short note to say that as much as you may love and want to pamper
your pet, as a general rule cats don’t like too much fuss and definitely
some will find the whole cat grooming procedure quite traumatic. So,
always approach grooming your cat in a fun and gentle way. Praising
your cat and providing a little treat will make the whole situation
less stressful and may even becomes a fun thing for you both to do.
After all the last thing we want is an ANGRY CAT.
Mo has never been bathed, she has never had to be, but we do groom her
and clean her ears and eyes regularly. At first she struggled and moaned
through the whole thing but now she sits quietly until it’s over,
knowing that a special cat treat is on its way.
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