Grooming Your Cat

Cat grooming is necessary for your furry friends. Even though they’re capable of cleaning themselves (and other cats!), they may still need help at times if they get particularly dirty, or if they’re permitted to go outside. It’s best to start grooming your cat when they’re young so they can get used to the sensation and will not panic or be aggressive during bath time. However, there are some methods to make sure you stay safe from those damaging claws and teeth during grooming sessions. To learn more about grooming your cat, read on below. Your cat will thank you in the end!

Why do you need to groom your cat?

You’ll need to groom your cat for a number of reasons. A few include:

• Matted fur
• Dirt, feces, oils, clumps, and more attached to the fur
• Foul or unpleasant odor
• Improves cat’s vitality
• Prevents fleas, ticks, and other pests
• Eliminates feelings of unpleasantness and discomfort
• Affords the opportunity to closely examine the cat for abnormalities or issues

You shouldn’t look to fully groom your cat daily; they take care of that themselves. However, at a minimum, you should be looking to brush your cat’s fur a few times a week for a few minutes to remove excess shedding. This is especially true if you have a long hair breed.

What should I do when I groom my cat?

When you groom and bathe your cat, you should make sure that you have everything necessary on hand.

• Have cat shampoo ready
• Prepare a damp, lukewarm washcloth
• Run lukewarm water in a sink or bassinet
• Keep clippers nearby to trim your cat’s nails
• Place a towel in the dryer for a few minutes, then keep it nearby so you can wrap your cat in it when the bath is over
• Shallowly insert cotton balls into your cat’s ears to keep the water out
• Keep a pitcher so you can pour water over your cat

When you prepare to give your cat a bath or groom it, you should always make sure it’s in a calm mood. You do not want to startle your cat by waking it up from a nap and placing it in the bathtub; this can cause distress and mistrust, and eventually, the cat will associate being woken up with being taken to the bath. To avoid this issue, make sure that you feed your cat some treats to butter him up, or administer a small sedative.

Start by getting your cat wet by using the lukewarm water in the pitcher. Gently massage your cat with the shampoo, making sure to get all of the areas clean. Clean in between joints and toe pads, as well as the tail, after you’ve cleaned from the head downward. Do not use shampoo on your cat’s face so that you do not get any in his eyes or ears. Instead, use the washcloth to gently clean the sensitive area.

After you’ve fully bathed your cat, wrap him in a towel. Many cats do not like the sudden noise of a blow dryer, but if your cat is comfortable with it, you can use one on the lowest setting. Otherwise, swaddle your cat and be sure rub him dry. As soon as you’re done, your cat will likely run off to clean and groom himself.

Brushing Your Cat

Once your cat has dried out a bit and has cleaned himself, you can start to groom him.  There are a few different items you can use to brush your cat, depending on your cat’s needs. Simple metal combs can be used on short hair cats, although there are certain tools like slicker combs that you can purchase.

When you brush your cat, be sure to brush with the direction of the fur. Don’t try to push the issue if your cat gets aggressive or angry. If your cat has matted fur, especially after a bath, you may need to use a wide tooth comb to work the clump or knot until it’s free. In some cases, the matted clump may be unable to be removed, in which case you’ll need to snip the fur with a pair of scissors.

Long hair cats should be brushed slightly differently. Brush upwards at the legs and belly to lift and loosen the fur, then gather any clumps and bits to discard. You can part the fur on your cat’s tail and then brush it on each side. It’s important that you maintain a grooming schedule for your long hair cat because of how much more common it is for the cat to get matted fur.

Advantages of Grooming Your Cat

There are a lot of advantages to grooming your cat. For one, you don’t necessarily have to bring the cat in to a groomer to be cleaned, as you can take care of everything at home. Additionally, it will give you a chance to check the cat for any bumps, lumps, skin conditions, warts, bald spots, painful areas, and more. The more comfortable your cat is with being groomed and handled, the easier it will be for you to examine him and ensure he’s healthy.

Of course, one of the biggest advantages is the reduction in hairballs. The fewer clumps of fur that are in your cat’s coat, the less likely it is that he will lick them up and swallow them when he cleans himself. He then won’t cough up hairballs later on, so it’s a win-win for you!

Grooming Services at My Pet Naturally

If you want to groom your cat, come to My Pet Naturally in West Los Angeles. We offer cat baths and cat grooming options, as well as a number of other services, including ear cleaning, nail trimming, teeth brushing, de-skunking, and more. We’ll be happy to answer any questions you have about grooming your cat, so don’t hesitate to give us a call. Nothing makes us happier than making sure an owner and their cat are happy!

Contact My Pet Naturally today to learn more about our in-store cat grooming.