7 Grooming Tips for Furry Felines
Every fastidious feline is well-equipped to tackle their own fur care needs with their built-in grooming tools (tongue and teeth). But this doesn’t mean your cat won’t benefit from some grooming help on occasion - especially if she plays catch with a bird or rolls around in some rabbit poop.
A regular hand-in-paw grooming approach is the best method for ensuring premium feline hygiene. Couple a short weekly grooming session together with cats spending 2-5 hours a day on self-care and your furry feline reaps the benefits of healthy hygiene and a stronger bond with you. Here are some ways you can help your cat:
Brush BEFORE a bath
Have you ever met a cat that likes bath time? Us, neither. To avoid making a bad situation worse, brush out your cat‘s fur before the bath and not after. When mats and tangles get wet, they get worse and often impossible to untangle. When this happens, taking your cat to a groomer is often the only option to dematting fur carefully.
Brushing before the bath avoids needing to cut out matted fur and risk agitating or cutting the skin by accident.
Choose the right brush
When it comes to brushing tools, a bristle or slicker brush is perfect for short-haired cats, while a wide-toothed or specialized dematting comb is a better fit for long-haired kitties who may have tangles and mats. For a gentler grooming session, opt for a grooming glove (a de-shedding tool for removing loose hair and dust) and give your cat a massage in the process.
Not sure which tool is best? Simply stop in to speak with one of our certified groomers who are always happy to guide you in choosing and using the best brush for your pet’s coat.
Use cat shampoo
While it might be tempting to grab your human shampoo from the shower, cat shampoos are specially formulated to be less drying for a cat’s sensitive skin. Once you’ve rinsed your cat’s back and neck with lukewarm water, apply the shampoo in the same direction that your cat’s fur grows, from the back of the head to tail. Once your cat is all lathered up, give him/her a good rinse to ensure no soap residue remains.
Important tip here - only use a gentle wet washcloth on the areas around your cat’s face - no soap. Getting soap in the eyes or mouth is one surefire way to anger kitty and never get your cat back in the tub again.
Trim the paws and nails
Many cats need extra attention around the paw area when grooming. In fact, the ASPCA and Humane Society suggest trimming a cat‘s claws every two weeks to avoid your cats using your furniture as a nail filer. There are special cat claw trimmers, and you should never use tools that aren‘t meant for pets to avoid injury.
Doing only a few nails in a sitting helps ease them into the process. First sit with your cat and gently massage between one of the paws for a few seconds. Move slowly and clip one or two nails at a time. Moving too quickly can result in accidentally hurting your pet, which will make them wary of the clippers. Avoid the sensitive pink base of the nail at all costs. The pink part of a cat’s nail, called the quick, is where the nerves and blood vessels are. Do NOT cut this sensitive area. Snip only the white part of the claw. It’s better to be cautious and cut less of the nail rather than risk cutting this area. If you do accidentally cut the quick, any bleeding can be stopped with a styptic powder or stick. We recommend keeping this on hand in your pet pantry.
Make a cat burrito
Similar to how swaddling calms a baby, being wrapped in a soft blanket or towel can calm your cat. Also known as a cat burrito, a cat swaddle is a technique for stopping a cat from moving, allowing you to clip the nails or clean the face while making them less stressed. You can make a swaddle using any towel or blanket. Simply have your cat lay down at one end of a towel, and gently wrap them with it. Take care not to handle your kitty too forcefully, as this can make them more frightened.
Check the ears
A weekly ear check will help avoid wax buildup, debris and infections. Balance is key, though: over-cleaning your cat‘s ear could lead to infection as well as it will agitate the skin and dry out their natural skin oils. It is recommended to do a check once a week for any abnormalities in smell, redness or agitation.
Groom in small doses
Short, regular sessions are best. Set small goals to accomplish at each session and both of you will walk away happier. For example, clipping two nails today and two more tomorrow will help ease your cat into the process. Use lots of praise and treats so your cat views grooming as a loving, enjoyable experience. Some cats find grooming uncomfortable, so if you notice your cat twitching, swishing their tail, growling or hissing, end the session. Wait a day and then try again with tons of positive reinforcement.
If it becomes a battle royal and you are risking injury to your cat or yourself, then call a truce and take your feline friend to see a professional groomer. Groomers know which parts of the fur to leave longer to keep your cat comfortable, how to avoid clipping nails too short, and have all the tools needed to create a safe experience for your cat.
We enjoy helping pet parents learn about their pet’s health and are always happy to share advice. So stop by our shop anytime to talk to a certified groomer or make an appointment at our GroomBar.
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