Cat Grooming

Cats are very clean animals but still require your attention when it comes to grooming to ensure its health and hygiene is maintained.

Grooming your cat and kitten includes clipping the claws, cleaning the ears, cleaning the eyes, cleaning the teeth, brushing the fur and bathing.

Cats aren’t particularly fond of water but get them in the habit of bathing from a young age and they’ll be less reluctant when older. There are many occasions when you need to bath your cat: its coat may be contaminated, or you may be entering it into a cat show. After the bathing ensure your cat or kitten is dried quickly using a large warm and try using a hair dryer. Cats and kittens can easily catch a chill if they aren’t dried straight so ensure they are dried quickly.

Clipping your cat’s claws. If you keep your cat indoors permanently, get into the habit of clipping its claws regularly. If neglected they can overgrow and price the paw pad. This can cause an infection, which may require veterinary treatment.

Ideally you should brush your cat’s teeth once a week to prevent a build up of scale. The earlier you accustom your cat to having its teeth brushed, the easier it will be for both of you. If your cat does not allow you to clean its teeth, ask your vet to see if your cat’s teeth need descaling. This can be done under sedation.

Cleaning the ears. Inflammation or dark-coloured wax in a cat’s ear may indicate a disorder. You should only remove a foreign body if it is on the surface. If it is lodged in the canal ask your vet to remove it.

Examine your cat’s eyes regularly. Usually they will only need wiping with a cotton ball. If there is more than a small amount of clear discharge, your cat may have a disorder. Longhair cats tend to develop eye problems; their tear ducts block up and the area around the eye discolours and needs cleaning.

Brushing your short or long haired cat. Groom your short haired cats coat once a week to keep it smooth and glossy. Try to groom it at the same time of the day each week. For long haired cats it is recommended to groom it every day. As well as the obvious benefits of keeping your cat’s coat glossy and tangle free, grooming removes lose hairs and dead skin and is also beneficial to the circulation.

Kittens will groom themselves, though it is still important to help it take care of its coat and teeth. The earlier you begin to groom your kitten, the sooner it will become accustomed to the procedure and the easier it will be. Always bear in mind that a kitten is both more frisky and more delicate than an adult cat.