Cat Grooming

One important consideration when owning a cat is to make sure that you leave ample time for grooming. Cats do need help with their grooming regime to ensure that they not only look their best, but they are fit and healthy. Tangled fur or sore eyes will not make for a happy pet!

Cats need help particularly with their eyes, ears and their coat. The amount of help that they need, especially with their coat, will be down to the breed and the length of coat that they have.

Breeds such as a Maine Coon will need assistance to ensure that they have clean eyes, ears and a smooth glossy coat. This will involve bathing and combing of the coat. Where as Siamese for example will need very little help in the way of grooming, with the need to comb being very minimal.

Combing and brushing:

Grooming the coat is the biggest task when it comes to looking after your cat. The coat should be well maintained to avoid your cat shedding excessively, having greasy fur or getting matted fur.  Dependant on your cats breed, you should comb their fur either daily or weekly.

When combing the fur always do so when you feel as though your cat is in a good mood and when they are not irritable. Make sure that the cat is comfortable and that you speak to them in a soothing voice. Then ensure that you comb from front to back.
As long as you regularly groom your cat, you will find that grooming should be an enjoyable experience.

What should I do if my cat gets matted fur?

•    Matted fur is when the fur forms clumps that are very difficult to brush out. Matting can be a result of a playful or adventurous cat, natural shedding of the fur or due to a lack of grooming.
•    When brushing, make sure that you use a specialist grooming brush and always seek advice from other pet owners or your vet’s if you are unsure.
•    When brushing, make sure that you hold your pet’s fur and brush so that you are not pulling on your cat’s skin. Start in one area and work your way around, you may also need to take a break and gradually solve the problem if the matting is wide spread.

Cleaning your cats eyes:

If you have a cat with big brooding eyes and a short nose such as a Persian, it is likely that they will have more tears than other cats. This is due to the large eyes being so close to the small nose and creating an area for more tearing. Rather than pooling into tear ducts, the tears spill over the lower eyelids. Once the tears come in contact with air, they are "oxidized" and turn brown, staining the area below the eyes and creating a glue-like substance that needs to be cleaned out to keep the area healthy and the cat comfortable.

How should I clean stained eyes?

Cleaning the staining will ensure that your cat is more comfortable and that the cat looks prettier. To clean you will need a soft washcloth that won’t irritate the eyes or a cotton wool ball. Dip your chosen item in tepid water and wipe gently downwards across the lower eyelid, where the tear staining has occurred. The area should not be vigorously rubbed. If you soften the area with the tepid water, you should then be able to go back and wipe again removing the softened stains. Make sure that you use a new part of the cloth or a fresh cotton wool ball.

Bathing your cat:

Occasionally you will need to bathe your cat to ensure that they are clean and kept in tip top condition. Even though cats are generally very clean and spend hours grooming themselves, they do need our help from time to time.

Unfortunately it is true that most cats do not like water, therefore if you have a new kitten it is advised to introduce them to water from a young age and to ensure that you don’t frighten them by splashing or having the water too hot.

What shampoo/conditioners should I use?

When bathing your cat you should use a medicated baby shampoo or one formulated especially for cats. Cats, like humans may have a preference for different shampoos – so if you cat doesn’t appear to like one or it smells wrong on their skin, opt for a different brand the next time.

If you are concerned about splashing or soap and water coming into contact with your cats eyes it makes sense to purchase some eye drops from your vets. A conditioner may also be wise for when you remove the cat from the bath, as long coats in particular may be tangled.

Drying your cat:

As cats don’t like being wet, it is best to have warm towels on hand straight away to dry the cat

Step by Step Guide:

•    Apply mild eye drops or ointment to the eyes to protect them from soap.
•    Fill the sink with tepid water along with your chosen shampoo. Using a plastic cup, pour this water mixture over the cat's body until the hair starts to part and the hair shaft becomes wet all the way to the skin. Do not get water in your cat's ears and never pour water over the head.
•    Drain the water from the sink. To cleanse your cats head, use a mild tearless baby shampoo only. Put a small amount on a wet washcloth and gently wash around the eyes, mouth, cheeks and forehead. Then rinse the cloth and go over the face to remove the soap.
•    If your cat has an extremely greasy coat, this is the time to apply a de-greaser. Spread it liberally throughout the coat and then rinse it out.
•    Apply the shampoo and rinse off at least two or three times.
•    Rinsing is extremely important. Fill the sink with a few inches of water until the bottom part of the cat's fur starts to float in the water. Keep rinsing until there is no residue. Use a cup to scoop the water over the cat's body and keep doing it until the coat is free of shampoo. Empty the soapy water from the sink and refill with clear water as needed.
•    If the cat's coat needs a conditioner, then now is the time to apply it. Then rinse with water again.
•    Rinse with tepid water a final time.
•    Blot the fur with a dry towel. A single-coated or dense shorthaired cat can be towel dried and placed in a warm bathroom until he is completely dried.
•    The longer the coat, the more important it is to use combs and brushes at this point.
•    Dry the upper body by blow-drying backward against the lay of the hair. Work along the sides, forward to the front legs and up the neck. Each section should be totally dry before moving on or the hair will curl. The tail, belly and back legs should be done last because cats tend to have a lower tolerance in these areas. This way, if there is going to be a disagreement it will come at the end of the grooming session.