Cats are fastidious animals. They keep themselves clean. The interesting thing is that they spend one-third of their awakening period grooming themselves. However, they need some extra care and love. So, as a pet owner, you have some responsibilities to groom your pet properly. therefore, here are grooming tips for properly grooming your cat at home.
How To Groom Your Cat at Home?
There are several parts to grooming your cat:
Brush the Fur
Brush the cat’s fur. You may have a cat that has bushy hair. Then you need to brush its hair more often than when you have a short-haired cat. Brush the kitty twice a week if the hair seems very tangly.
Otherwise, brushing for just one time is okay. Now, what brushing will do is- it will remove dead hair, dirt, and grease from the cat’s hair. Also, it will enhance the bond between you and your kitty.
Now, not any comb won’t do the job. There are specialized combs for cats you’ll find in the market. You need to buy one of those to comb the kitty’s hair. You can buy either a metal comb or a rubber one.
However, comb more frequently if the cat is shedding hair too much. Also, cat breeds, like- the Persian longhair, Maine coon, or grand Siberian, need additional hair grooming sessions as they have longer hair than other breeds.
Brush the fur slowly. Do not pull the brush if it is stuck with the comb teeth. Instead, pat its back and give treats and words of praise as you go along so that the kitty doesn’t get scared.
Your kitty may not like to sit quietly at first. Approach it to do so. Start to comb slowly. However, if the cat seems too annoying to sit down, combing the fur when it’s sleeping can be the best solution. Be gentle and try not to wake it up.
Clip the fur if too long
Pay close attention to whether the cat needs a trim or clipping. Shorthair cats don’t need to be clipped.
Clip the long hair if it’s matting. Take help from a professional groomer to clip the hair.
Get a specialized trimmer for your cat. You’ll find a variety of clippers and trimmers in the market for your kitty. Or use a pair of scissors if you prefer. Do not use your grooming kits.
When clipping, go for short strokes and take frequent breaks. Cutting too close to the skin might burn it.
Brush the hair before you clip or trim.
The clip leaves an inch of hair so that it doesn’t look unnatural. It also will help to prevent any skin issues and hair-related problems.
Be careful around the critical areas. Try not to hurt your cat.
Hire a pet grooming professional if you can’t do it yourself or the cat is too agitated to be restrained.
Give the cat an occasional shower
If the cat gets smelly or dirty, give it some occasional bath even though it has natural grooming tools; the tongue and teeth.
Take your kitty for bathing when it’s relaxed.
Trim the claws and brush the hair before bathing. Play with the cat before taking it to the bath.
Put some cotton balls in the ears to prevent water from entering the ears before taking the cat for bathing.
Placing a rubber mat in the tub would prevent the cat from slipping during the bath.
Use lukewarm water for bathing the kitty. Take the water in such an amount that it barely reaches half of the body of your cat when it’s standing. Putting too much water increases the risk of the cat drowning.
Pour water a little at a time to get your kitty using a handheld showerhead or spray hose. Massage the cat with diluted shampoo with water in the direction its fur has grown. Do not put shampoo on the face, ears, or eyes. Just wipe those parts with a wet washcloth.
Put the cat in a large towel and dry her with a hairdryer soon after the bath is finished. Put the hairdryer in the lowest settings. But if the cat is scared by the noise, then just air dry it.
Ear cleaning
Get a vet-recommended liquid ear cleaner and put some on a small cotton ball. Make the kitty sit calmly on your lap. Fold its ear back lightly and patiently remove the debris on the backside of the ear.
However, do not try to poke into the ear canal as it can cause bleeding and infection. Moreover, the cat might get startled.
Paw and Nail Clipping
There are clippers used to clip the cat’s nails. You should buy one for your kitty. Clip the nails every ten to fifteen days.
Clipping the nails not only keeps you safe from scratches but also helps the kitty to walk comfortably without any pain. Also, it prevents breaking the claws.
Take another person’s help to hold the cat firmly. Trim the nails, leaving some space from the finger. Cutting at the edge might hurt her.
Don’t clip the nails forcefully. And give some treats to the cat at the end of the clipping session.
Oral Care
Your cat deserves to get fresh and healthy oral health. Bring a feline toothpaste specialized for cats. Use a cotton swab to clean the mouth at least thrice a week to keep the breath fresh. Ask the vet whether you should use a toothbrush for your kitty. Massage the gum with your finger to remove any build-up and prevent gingivitis.
The cat’s gums should be clean, firm, and pink. Any redness or swelling in the gum or brownish marks in the teeth indicates an unhealthy oral condition. Also, a strong smell from breath can indicate ulcers or other health issues. In that case, make an appointment and take it to the vet.
Notice the cat’s skin problems
When grooming the pet, look for unusual signs on the kitty’s body. It could be an early and clear symptom of a disease. Look for any rash, bald spot, bump, or cut. Visit the vet if you notice something unusual.
Ringworm: If the cat gets infected with ringworm, it’ll develop scaly patches, skin irritation, and bald skin in the affected area. It’s a highly contagious disease.
Prevent your cat from playing with unknown or stray cats. Visit the vet soon as you notice the signs to prevent spreading the fungal infection to other pets and family members. Wash your hands immediately with clean water and soap after handling a ringworm-infected animal.
Flea: Fleas are irritating for your pet and are related to tapeworms. When infected with this parasite, your cat will have excess itching, skin lesions, thinned hair around the base of its tail, etc. Fleas are infectious parasites that feed on the blood of your pet.
Treat your cat as soon as you notice a flea infection. Do a thorough cleaning of the house, lawn, and other pets if your pet is infested with fleas.
Ticks: Ticks are another common parasite that the cat can get. They also feed on your cat’s blood. Put on rubber gloves when handling an infected cat. Wash the cut with soap and water. Get your cat to the vet to prevent further tick-related problems.
Ear Mites: Ear mites are common parasites found in pets. It’s a contagious disease. When infected with ear mites, the cat will have an itchy ear, and you’ll find brown to black discharge from the cat’s ear. They are tiny parasites that can lead your kitty to skin and hearing problems. Take your pet to the vet for treatment.
Ear Infection: Ear infection can cause discomfort and bleed in the cat’s ear and even lead to hearing loss. An ear infection occurs in the ear canal. The cat’s ear can get infected by bacteria or yeast when playing with mud and dirt. You should treat your cat immediately.
Consider visiting a professional cat groomer
Often your cat’s vet does grooming for pets. Ask whether the vet does grooming or can give you advice regarding that. Or if she/ he knows a professional cat groomer.
Take assistance from your family members and friends and ask if they can do the grooming for you.
Before visiting the groomer, make sure to do a background check on what services the groomer offers and how well he/ she goes with the pets. And don’t leave your pet alone if it’s the first time it goes for grooming.
Final Words
Keep an eye on your cat when it’s going outside to prevent getting infected. Also, if you notice any unusual symptoms, take her to the vet for a quick check-up. Your pet’s health is in your hands. Take good care of it. It’ll be your best friend!
