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 Even though cats spend a lot of time licking and cleaning themselves, they still need regular brushing and combing to remove loose hair, prevent matting and keep the skin free of diseases and parasites, such as fleas.
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Regular grooming
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Establish a regular grooming program. Once a week is usually sufficient, though longhaired cats will need several sessions a week, even daily, to prevent matting. Regular grooming is an ideal way to spend special time bonding with your cat and is also a good opportunity to check on your cat’s health. Look carefully for signs of fleas, ticks, skin irritations, lumps or sore spots.
Get your kitten accustomed to grooming and being handled early in life. Place the kitten on a table and start with short sessions, reassuring your kitten constantly in gentle tones. Learn how your kitten likes to be combed and brushed, and where she is sensitive – be careful of her delicate ears and the stomach area. Grooming will soon become a special treat!
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Combing
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Regular combing will remove any loose or matted hair, helping to keep your house clean and to prevent hairballs. Hairballs are formed in the cat’s stomach from swallowing too much hair during grooming and can cause obstruction.
Comb gently in the direction of hair growth to remove any tangles or knots. Some knots may need to be pulled apart gently with your fingers or carefully trimmed with scissors. Wide-toothed combs are good for longhaired cats, and fine-toothed combs for shorter coats. Flea combs are very fine to pick up fleas and flea dirt from the coat.
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Brushing
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Brushing also removes dead and matted hair, and helps detangle. Regular brushing and combing stimulates the skin, and natural oils will be more evenly distributed to give your cat a healthy, shiny coat. Brush gently in the direction of hair growth with a wire slicker brush (good for thicker coats), or a soft bristle brush. Rubber grooming devices are also good for massaging the skin.
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Nail trimming
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You can trim the sharp point of your cat’s claws using special cat nail scissors or trimmers. Squeeze the paw gently to protrude the nail and cut the tip with a quick action, being careful to stop short of the quick where the blood vessels are. If you are unsure about the procedure, you can ask your vet to show you or do it for you!
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Bathing
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Some cats may actually like to be bathed, though not very often! Bathing may assist in controlling matting and tangling in longhaired cats, and washing with medicated shampoos may be required to treat some skin conditions. Several shampoos are available specifically for cats.
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Petalia Resident Vet: Dr Julia Adams BVSc
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