How to groom your cat at home?
Cat grooming means the act of bathing, brushing, clipping, or styling a pet, trimming a pet’s nails, or providing anal. Groom your cat regularly to prevent the formation of hairballs which can cause intestinal blockages, promotes a healthy, shiny coat, and provides the opportunity to check for fleas, flea dirt, skin problems, or lumps and bumps. It shows when you groom your cat, you help maintain their overall wellness. Let’s learn in detail.
Provide the proper facilities and equipment necessary for grooming.
- A room with few distractions is best. A solid table or bench is needed.
- Proper tools make the task much easier and the results far better.
- Familiarise yourself with the equipment for your cat’s breed, and buy good-quality products.
Cat Grooming
Brush your cat’s fur
Brushing your cat not only removes dirt, grease, and dead hair from her coat, but it helps to remove skin flakes and stimulates blood circulation.
- Use a cat-specific metal comb or rubber brush to brush your cat.
- One or two brushings per week will help the kitty keep the healthy glow of their fur.
- However, keep in mind that cats generally don’t like to be restrained. Approach it slowly so you don’t startle your cat. Give her praise or treats as you start brushing it.
Clip your cat’s fur if necessary
Most cats will never need their fur clipped or trimmed. However, your kitty may need clipping or trimming in some cases, if it can cause health problems.
Consider cutting thick mats on the cat’s fur
Don’t neglect mats in your cat’s coat. Tease the mat apart gently and comb it out with as little pulling as possible. Always remove mats before bathing, as soaking a mat will only tighten it. If a mat must be cut out with scissors, be very careful not to cut the cat’s skin. Sometimes long-haired cats become so matted that the entire coat must be clipped.
Use only clippers for animals.
Use gentle pressure when clipping your cat. Be very careful around the cat’s ears, anus, genitals, underbelly, and legs so that you don’t hurt your cat. Consider hiring a professional cat groomer to trim your pet’s fur.
Bathe your cat
Cats occasionally need to bathe, as their tongue and teeth are built-in grooming tools that can tackle their fur care needs. However, sometimes cats produce stinky smells that need a bath.
Follow these tips while bathing your cat.
- Give her the bath when she is showing tolerant behavior.
- Place cotton in your cat’s ears while bathing.
- Put a rubber bath mat in the sink or tub so your cat doesn’t slip.
- Massage her with one part cat shampoo to five parts water.
- Rinse off your cat thoroughly with lukewarm water and wipe her face with a moist cloth.
- Wrap her in a large and let her dry in a warm place.
- Make sure to offer her lots of praise and treats after completing a successful bathing session.
Note: Do consult your veterinarian about a bland eye ointment to keep the soap from irritating your pet’s eyes during bathing.
Visit a professional cat groomer.
Cats are fastidious about their appearance, but sometimes they may not get the grooming job done well enough on their own. If you don’t have the time or patience to care for your cat’s fur or hygiene, consider hiring a professional groomer. Be aware that this can be expensive, but can save you time and be less traumatic for your cat.
Recognize and treat common health issues when grooming your cat
Whenever you brush, clip, or bathe your cat, check her skin for bumps, bald spots, or cuts. This can indicate health problems such as allergies or stress.
Kill fleas.
Recognize that fleas are the most common external parasite in pets which feed on the blood of your cat, cause persistent itching or scratching, and eventually leads to hair loss.
Check for droppings of “flea dirt” or white flea eggs while you groom your cat. If you find fleas on your kitty during grooming or the course of caring for her daily, you’ll need to get rid of them as soon as possible.
Take your cat to the vet that may suggest topical or oral treatments, shampoos, sprays, or powders.
Remove visible ticks
Another common parasite that cats can get are ticks. They are visible to the naked eye (about the size of a pinhead) and feed on your cat’s blood. Put on a pair of rubber or latex gloves and use a pair of tweezers to grasp the ticks.
Get rid of ear mites.
Tiny parasites called ear mites are also common in cats, though mostly in kittens and younger cats. Recognize ear mites by a black, coffee-ground-like discharge in your cat’s ears.
Take your cat to the vet to confirm a diagnosis of ear mites. The vet will give you treatment to get rid of the mites and soothe your cat’s itchy ears.
Take care of other problems
- Sometimes your cat might get herself into something, such as paint or a skunk. Bathe your cat as soon as possible if she gets oil or paint on herself. Cats are naturally inclined to lick themselves clean and you want to avoid this if you can.
- Check your kitty’s ears once a week for wax, debris, or infection.
- Check her outer and inner ear flap to make sure it has no debris, odor, and minimal ear wax. The color should be light pink.
- To clean the ear flap, use a cotton ball dampened in liquid cat ear cleansing solution.
- If you notice any discharge, redness, swelling, bleeding, or unpleasant odor, take your cat to the be for treatment.
Takeaway
- Do groom your cat frequently and regularly. Train your pet to accept the grooming procedure. Be firm, but make the experience as pleasant as possible. Many cats enjoy the attention they get during grooming.
- Don’t lose your patience while grooming. If the task becomes trying, stop and begin later. Your cat will resist being groomed if you become angry and impatient.
- Do trim your cat’s nails, check the teeth for tartar, and examine the ears, eyes, anal region, and skin while grooming your pet. If you find problems, consult the doctor without delay.