How to Groom Your Cat Like a Pro

It is easy to see how cats acquired their reputation for cleanliness, they spend a third of their waking hours grooming themselves. The cat's barbed tongue can reach almost every part of its body. The forepaws and teeth are also used as cleaning instruments. However, good Cat grooming on your part can help reduce problems such as hair-shedding and dreaded hairballs, provide some one on one time with your feline buddy and have your Cat looking "show" ready.

Here is some Cat Grooming Tips Used By The Pros

Ears, Eyes, Claws and Teeth

Most professional Cat Groomers start with the examination of the pet and inspection of the ears, eyes, paws and claws. Clean your Cats' ears with cotton and olive oil. (some slightly warm the oil if stored in a fridge). Gently wipe and clean. Pay particular attention to debris that is black, looks dirty..this is probably ear mites! Treat immediately. Eyes, gently remove any tear stains with a clean wet cloth. Be careful not to exert to much pressure around the eye area. Paws, examine between pads, remove any debris, kitty litter etc. Consider trimming nails if needed. Examine teeth. Some recommend brushing, although easier said than done. If a lot of tartar buildup, than you may want to visit your Vet for a teeth cleaning or try it at home with some of the products available from Vets, pet stores or online.

Combing and Brushing Cat Fur

Longhaired Cats in the wild molt in spring, but as domestic cats are kept in artificially lit and heated conditions, they molt or shed year round. As a result, longhaired cats need daily grooming. Two 15 to 30 minute sessions daily is required to keep their coats from matting. This not only reduces the amount of hair that is shed on furniture, clothing etc., but also reduces "hairballs". There is Hairball Treatments that will aid with this problem and help prevent it from becoming a more serious issue.

To groom a longhaired Cat, use a wide tooth comb to remove debris and tease out mats. Brush some talcum powder or "fuller's earth into the coat to add body. Brush out the powder immediately. Use a wire brush to remove dead hair, paying particular attention to the rump which mats more easily as well as underbelly and "pits". Gently brush the face area with a toothbrush. Run a wide toothed comb through the hair, upwards towards the back and fluff out the ruff around the neck. For show cats, use a slicker brush on the tail.

Short haired Cats do not need daily grooming because their coats are easier to manage. They also have longer tongues, so they are proficient at self grooming. Two half hour sessions a week should be sufficient. Groom short haired cats with a fine tooth metal comb, working from the head to the tail. A rubber brush will not scratch the skin or one can use a soft bristle brush after combing. Cat skin is delicate so try not to scratch or irritate by using too much pressure or "over" combing and brushing in certain areas.

Frequent grooming should prevent matted hair. However, if there are knots, take care of these first by using a wide tooth comb. If the matted hair is real bad and your Cat objects to the intense combing, you may need to opt for scissors and cut it out. Not pretty but if the mats have been left too long, this is sometimes the best solution. Otherwise, every cat and kitten grooming session will become a "cat fight".

If the Coat seem greasy, sprinkle in some talcum powder such as Johnson's Baby Powder or a dry cleaner from the pet store, combing it in and out quickly. Some owners also use a piece of silk, velvet or chamois leather cloth to "polish" the Cat coat at the end of the grooming session.

Cat Grooming Tools should include a wide and fine toothed comb, rubber, wire and bristle brushes (removes dead hair), and a toothbrush (softer/firmer for face). Additional supplies includes Talcum Powders or "fullers" earth (for long haired cats). Cat grooming utensils can be found in most pet stores and online stores for cats and/or dogs.

Bathing A Cat

Cats usually do not need bathing, but if your cats' coat is dirty or greasy, you will need to clean it. Your cat will probably not like the water, so give lots of love and perhaps treats so that the bath session does not turn into a "battle". You may want to wear gloves as your Cat may want to put up a fight. It sometimes helps to wrap your cat in an old hand towel with their body/legs securely wrapped and gradually place into the water, removing the towel as your Cat becomes accustomed. Frequent bathing will overcome these fears if you ensure that the bath experience is not too bad. Take it slow, be gentle, gradually introduce your Cat to the water. Place a rubber mat or towel in the sink or tub to prevent the Cat from slipping. It also may help to place the Cats' paws on the rim of the sink. If your Cat does escape, expect some shaking and a lot more outside the sink than in. Do not stop here as you will encourage "flight", rather gently start again.

Fill the sink with 2-4 inches of warm water and use a sprayer to wet the cat. The water temperature should be about 101.4F which is close to a cats' body temperature. Lather with a nontoxic baby or cat shampoo. Be sure to rinse thoroughly with warm water.

Wrap your Cat in a towel before you lift it out and dry it very carefully with the towel. You may try a hair blower or hair dryer on a very low setting. When coat is dry, gently comb through the clean fur.

Cats are generally very clean and with a little grooming assistance from you, your Cats' coat should shine

while ensuring that your pet is healthy from the outside in. Grooming your Cat should be a pleasant and relaxing experience that you both look forward to.

I especially love cats. Owning an Equestrian Center allows me to have more cats than what would be the norm for homes, as I claim some are "working barn cats". However, as responsible pet owners we should strive to learn as much about the animals whose well being and lives are dependent on us. Please click on the links to my sites if you are looking for "cat and kitten" information such as cat breeds, care, training, health topics etc. or if you would like to learn more about various "supplies and products for cats" and cat lovers.

Cats "pawsitively" enriched our lives!