For those who think the world of their cat... cat lover gifts
are more than mere presents
Cat Grooming
Gifts for your cat:
Cat gifts for you:
Cat Art
Cat Books
Cat Jewelry
Good things to
know about your cat:
Cat Allergy
Good things to
know about us:
About Us
More information:
Find grooming tools and aids at
Cat Lover Gifts World
at
Amazon.com then click on Cat Accessories
If bath time is a bit stressful for kitty, use a Waterless Shampoo that leaves her clean and smelling great. More Details...
Anti-Shedding Wipes are great for controlling non-seasonal hair coat shedding, which helps to keep allergies at bay, too. A great 'between baths' grooming treatment
Wipe away loose hair and Dander, too, for allergy relief.
Good Cat Care Includes Cat Grooming
Good Cat Grooming Directly Benefits Cat Health. The thought of giving a cat a bath is about as appealing as wrestling with a tiger to most people. Cats can be downright ornery about getting dunked in soapy bath water. But, if a cat has been given baths since she was a kitten, she'll most likely accept a ritual bathing. Done properly, you can think of it as a regular bonding session. After all, cats do like special attention. But try to give an adult cat a bath who has not had one in a long time, or never for that matter, and the challenge can be quite formidable. Talk about herding cats!!
Cat's have good natural cat grooming habits. They spend quite a lot of time taking care of themselves; licking their fur, scratching and combing.
So, the question is, "why wash kitty?". She seems to do a pretty good job on her own.
Well, here are some things to consider:
- Cats have shedding cycles in nature. In the Spring they will lose their Winter undercoat. In the Fall, they will fill out their coat in anticipation of the upcoming cold months. Domesticated indoor cats have had this natural cycle disrupted due to the climate control of our homes through the heating and air conditioning systems we humans have come to enjoy. The result is a constant shedding for your cat.
- Excessive shedding can be a symptom of stress within her home environment. Changes in normal routines, illness, the bringing home of that new, cute puppy or a trip to the veterinarian can all produce stress in your cat.
- A cat's tongue has small backward facing hook-like appendages that allows her to 'comb' herself. This is an anatomical advantage that allows her to keep herself clean by removing loose hair, debris (burrs), and parasites such as fleas and ticks. When she licks herself during self-grooming, much of the hair cannot be spit out and is swallowed... due to the shape of these appendages. The hair then passes through to the litter box, or gathers in her stomach into balls. We all know what happens then. Yup... out it comes from her mouth. It's an academic argument as to who that is harder on. You or your kitty.
- If she goes outdoors there is always the danger of her meeting with a skunk, or picking up fleas and ticks.
- Then there is the question of allergies attributed to what is known as "dander". When your cat cleans herself, she leaves a coat of saliva on her fur. When the saliva dries, there is a dry, flaky substance left behind which we recognize with our weeping eyes, itching skin and sneezing. Not to mention the thought of her being constantly covered with... saliva. Those dry, flaky substances are really skin cells that have been shed during the natural renewing of the skin that most mammals experience. They just got caught up in her good cat grooming habits and dried on her coat with her saliva. Of course those skin cells are always flaking off of her and she sheds them constantly. So, "dander" is always accumulating in her environment. Even the most resistant individuals could over time develop an allergy to a cat's presence, due to dander accumulation in her home. For a full discussion of allergens and dander go to my Cat Allergy page.
Good cat grooming includes, for short hair cats, a weekly brushing. And for long hair kitties a daily, or every-other day brushing and combing to help eliminate many of problems noted above is required. A weekly bath may be necessary to reduce the allergic effect of cat dander and helps ridding her of loose and shed hair. She should at least get a wipe down with some distilled water. Certainly if she picks up fleas or ticks she will need a cleaning to rid her of those parasites. Any messy encounter (such as with that skunk friend of hers) will require an immediate bath. When you brush and comb her, it's a good time for you to check her skin, ears, eyes and mouth for any signs of health problems that may require further attention.
Then there is bathing. The best possible scenario is for you to get kitty used to a bath when she is still young. In that case baths will become less stressful over time. If your cat has managed to get her coat dirty, greasy or the allergies are starting to kick up, a bath will be called for. Use a shampoo designed for cats because the pH factor will be balanced for her. Fill a sink with tepid water to a depth just below her belly. Place a rubber mat on the bottom so she will be able to stand without losing her footing. Use a gentle spray hose or pitcher to wet her coat till it starts to part and the hair shafts are wet down to her skin. Don't get water in her eyes, nose or ears and NEVER pour water over her head. Massage the shampoo into her coat then rinse with with the spray hose or pitcher. Rinse 2 or 3 times to get rid of the shampoo and remember to avoid her eyes, ears and nose. Dry her with a large towel.
The cat grooming bath shouldn't take more than 8 or 10 minutes. Quick and painless. Don't worry if you can't get it right the first time. Expertise comes with practice... don't try to learn it all in one session. You'll both get better at it over time. Do make it a regular habit, though, for best long term results.
Trimming your cat's nails is also a part of good cat grooming care. Getting your kitty used to handling her paws is a good first step to having her comfortable with nail trimming. For some time before any trimming session massage her paws, talk to her gently and maybe even provide a treat to reward her for allowing you to handle her feet. You may want to do this for a week before the first time you trim her nails. Be certain that you use a good, sharp nail trimmer. You want the action of trimming to be fast, clean and effective. Trying to trim a second time in one cat grooming session will lead to impatience on your cat's part. And, she may not let you do it again. Trim only the white tip just before the point where it begins to curl. Avoid the 'quick' which contains a vein. It can be seen as a pink area through the nail. Keep some styptic powder near in case you trim too much. Again, don't worry if you don't get it right the first time. You'll have ample opportunity to practice. Just don't try to make her sit through a cat grooming learning session with you.
There are professionally trained persons who can do this for you. But, the resources for professional cat groomers is limited. The best bet is to ask your veterinarian for references. You can also just ask around. Other pet owners will share their experiences with groomers quite readily and in this instance word of mouth is the best recommendation. And of course, you can do a local internet search.
Bottom line. Good cat grooming routines are just good habits for both you and your cat. Your house will be easier to keep clean. Allergies will be kept under better control. You get to give her a close, caring inspection to be certain of her general health, and she will appreciate the attention and love you show by doing so.
"Oh, Alexander... Time for Your Bath"
"A bath??" smiled Alexander, our well trimmed Abyssinian. "Well, I suppose it's o.k. Besides, Ling-Ling, my lady friend down the street, insists on well groomed and clean guests in her home. After my last encounter with that Compton le Phew fellow, that strange animal with the white stripe down his back, Ling-Ling wouldn't come near me for a week".
Alexander's thoughts returned to his brother lounging in the African bush. His bad breath, uncut nails and matted fur all languishing under the sub-tropical sun.
"In those pictures he sends... the females of the pride always keep a significant distance between themselves and him... hmmm. I wonder if it has anything to do with his cat grooming habits?"
"I do hope we have some of that floral scented cat grooming shampoo left."
"Someone turn on the warm water!", he roared...
Get your new kitty off to a good start in life by introducing her to a
comfortable grooming brush
So, you think you want to be a cat groomer? Then read The Cat Grooming Guide by Sam Kohl, a highly acclaimed leader in the grooming industry.
Control fleas, ticks, and other little pests with a weekly bathing using this easy to use Shampoo formula. Especially good for around the face, eyes and ears.
This malt flavored remedy for Hair Balls is favored by many cats.