ArticlesV2n2 Cat Grooming

ALL ABOUT CATS

ALL ABOUT KITTENS

YOUR CAT'S HEALTH

GIFTS FOR YOU AND YOUR CAT

MORE THAN YOU COULD EVER WANT TO KNOW

Cats Care About Their Personal Grooming

Everyone knows that cats have fastidious grooming habits. What most people don't know is that cats could use a little help with what comes naturally to them.

Cats have special grooming needs. And, they can get dirty, too.

Living in a world so close to humans results in some grooming problems a cat may not encounter in the "natural" world. Even some things a cat may run into while nonchalantly wandering through the woods, like a skunk, would almost deem it necessary for our intervention to help rid herself of the unpleasant odor from such an encounter. As well as cats do clean and care for themselves, they are bound to get into a mess, because of their curiosity if for no other reason. There's plenty of stuff for them to stick their nose into. Shrubs and bushes, blackberry patches, garages with all sorts of interesting corners. Oil spills, paints, fertilizers (all of which should be covered and/or cleaned up anyway). Then there's always the allergy thing. Admittedly, these things may fall more into the realm of the exception than the ordinary.

So, here are some ordinary irritations to consider:

A cat's natural shedding cycle is to lose hair in the Spring and bulk up in the Fall. Indoor domestic cats have that cycle disrupted due to climate controls within the home. The result is almost constant shedding. To keep her hair from building up so much everywhere, a regular bath is required. Otherwise you'll be vacuuming every other day.

Another cause of excessive shedding (and another reason for that regular bath) is any stress she may feel. Disruption of her habits of any kind can produce stress. A new member of the household, a move to a new home, illness or a trip to the vet's can all produce stress.

Cats constantly lick to themselves to stay clean . The ingestion of loose hair forms into balls in her stomach and are not easy to pass. Many times it comes out the same way it went in. Keeping her loose hair to a minimum helps to keep hair balls from forming and allows her to pass what she does swallow.

As for that allergy thing... accumulation of Fel d1 (the allergen that causes allergic reactions in people to cats) in your home will send many people to sneezing, coughing and crying. Good grooming of your cat by you will help keep the accumulation of the allergen to a minimum.

Cats with big eyes and short noses, like Persians, have eye tearing problems because their tears won't pool in the eye ducts. Instead, they spill over the lower eyelid. There the tears dry, oxidize and accumulate in a gooey mass. Cleaning out this accumulation is necessary for the cat's health and comfort.

Matting of your cat's hair, those clumps of dried, tangled hair, often occurs during the shedding season and needs to be worked out. Don't go running for the scissors, though.

These are routine problems that go with just being a cat. She may from time to time get into trouble and need some special grooming care. But, regular grooming is necessary to keep her purring in top shape.

Grooming Your Cat Really Doesn't Take All That Long.

It is best to start a grooming program when a cat is still a kitten. Over time she will get used to you helping her look her best. Even so, you should endeavor to keep a grooming session short, say 8 to 10 minutes. Don't try to do everything in one session, either. Schedule a day for bathing, then another time for nail trimming and another for the eyes, etc. You should get your cat to be used to you handling her, too. Hold her, pet her, massage her paws and rub her belly if she'll let you. Once she is used to you handling her, grooming sessions will go a lot easier. Don't try to groom when your cat is under stress. Invite her to a session when she is calm, say after exercise or eating. Keep the sessions fun. Talk to her, reward her with a treat, and never lose your temper. Patience is a virtue to cultivate.

Here are some grooming technique tips:

Combing and brushing your cat's coat should be done often, depending on the length of a cat's hair. Long hair cats should get a brushing at least every other day, while short hair cats can go several days. Use combs and brushes designed for grooming a cat. Cats with long hair will need a comb that is 7.5 in by 1 in, and short haired cats will only need a 4.5 in by 1 in comb. Comb and brush from front to back gently, all the while speaking to her in a reassuring voice. Combing removes tangles and mats while brushing will remove loose hair and spread natural oils along her coat.

Mats require a special technique. Hold the clump of hair as close to its base as possible without pulling on the skin. With your free hand and using a comb, pick at the mat until it loosens up. Then comb it out. Work back and forth between picking and combing until the mat combs out cleanly. Avoid using scissors because if you slip... you might cut her skin and she won't let you do it a second time. Besides, the resulting divot laden coat of hair would be entirely unappealing and unacceptable to her.

If you need to clean her eyes, do this. Use a soft washcloth dipped in warm water. Hold her head and wipe the cloth gently across the lower eyelid. Keep away from her eyeball directly. Let the water soften the deposits then go back and re-wipe to clean away the deposits. Use fresh sections of the cloth with each wipe and remember to be gentle. Her eyes are a very sensitive area.

Giving your cat a bath can be a bit of a challenge. Cats don't usually like water so spraying her down like you would Fido isn't going to work. First, fill a sink with tepid water just to the bottom of her belly fur. Place a rubber mat in the sink so she will be able to keep her footing. With a spray hose, wet her coat until it begins to separate and the hair shafts are wet down to the skin. Use a shampoo that is made for cat's hair. The pH will be balanced for her skin and hair, unlike human or dog shampoos which are, of course, pH balanced for humans or dogs. Massage in the shampoo and then rinse 2 or 3 times to remove all the shampoo. After she is rinsed, dry her with a big towel. Starting this procedure with a kitten will get her used to the washing, and as she grows she will learn to accept it. Don't forget to talk to her in a reassuring voice and reward her afterwards. Try to work quickly and efficiently to end the session in 8 to 10 minutes.

Massaging your cat's feet will get her used to you touching her paws. Trimming her nails will now become easier. Use a good, sharp pair of nail trimmers designed for cats. This should be quick and easy. Hold her paw and gently squeeze the top of her foot and the pad underneath. This will extend the nail. Cut the white tip of the nail at a point just before it begins to curl. Do not cut the quick, which has a vein in it and can be seen as a pink area in the nail. If you cut the quick, it will bleed. Keep styptic powder near in case you cut too closely. Providing a scratch post will help keep her claws trimmed. Otherwise, she may resort to using the furniture.

Finally, don't expect to become an expert groomer from the beginning. You will have to learn how to groom as well as your cat will have to learn to be groomed. If you make a mistake, don't expect her to sit patiently while you undo any errors in your technique. Just wait until the next session when you've had time to think about what you need to do, then make any corrections.

In the long run... you'll both look good.

Until next time,
Robert J Gallegos