Cat Grooming

Cats are very particular about cleanliness. And they are high in vanity. They spend hours in grooming themselves. They file their nails, clean their face, and lick their fur with their tongue until it's squeaky clean. This is natural cat grooming. It requires just a cat's claws and tongue.

However, there are certain areas of the body which the cat can't groom by herself. These are the eyes, ears, teeth, and the inner layer of the fur, especially in longhaired cats. In such a situation, you need to help groom your cat. Although the cat spends half her day in grooming, you'd need to spare just 5-10 minutes daily for grooming your kitty.

If you already own or intend to bring home a longhaired cat, you must know about its grooming details. Such cats have layers of fur over their body and need extra care. You'll have to comb her fur everyday to keep it from tangling. Don't worry; it'd take just 5 minutes of combing and brushing to give your kitty a soft and lustrous coat of fur. If you avoid grooming a longhaired cat daily, you may have to spend much time de-tangling the knots formed in your cat's fur after a week or so of non-grooming. It can be quite frustrating, both for you and your cat!

Remember, when you groom your cat, she should enjoy it. If she gets stressed, leave the grooming for later. Besides, you need to be gentle while brushing the hair. Don't pull or jerk while combing and brushing your cat. It'd be painful for your pussy and she'd start avoiding grooming sessions. Longhaired cats need special attention to their eyes. They are vulnerable to shedding tears, as fluid cannot flush out the tear ducts properly.

Cleaning your cat eye is no difficult job. You can clean them by wrapping a tissue around your fingers and wiping the tears and other discharge around the eyes. You should not let the fluid remain around the eyes, as it may lead to infection. If, despite your regular cleaning, there is discharge around the eyes or your kitty can't stop weeping, you must consult a vet.

Grooming a shorthaired cat is comparatively easier. In fact, she's a "low-maintenance" cat. You can even groom her with your hand, gently stroking her and removing any debris that might be sticking to her coat. If you don't wish to use your hand, you can get a stiff brush or fine-toothed comb for the task. However, bathing your cat may be a problem, as cats hate water on their bodies.

There is really no need to bathe your cat, unless she's dirty or has allergies. But, an occasional bath with a cat shampoo can give her a shiny coat and a fresh look. Make sure to have 3-4 fluffy towels handy during this time. After bathing, you should gently pat your cat with the towel to soak excess water. Some owners let their cat air dry. That's fine too; but if she rubs herself on the floor or steps in the litter box, she may soil her fur again.

Shampoo & style your cat for a gorgeous look. Your cat will love her clean look and she'll feel nice. You can reward her with a treat or a pat after the grooming session. Although cats are fussy in the beginning, they get accustomed to grooming with time. It's good to start grooming in the kitten stage so that as the kitten grows older it has no problem with the hairbrush gliding through her fur.