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Making pet parenting easy
Grooming cats is so much more than just brushing!
This entry was posted on 2020-08-31.
If you think grooming a cat is all about just getting those knots out, think again! All cats benefit from being groomed, whether they have long or short hair. And we all know that cat’s love to groom themselves, as they spend a lot of time doing it. But as the cat people out there will realise, no two cats are ever the same. And the same is true when it comes to grooming them! Some cats love it, some tolerate it, some absolutely hate it and run away when they suspect you might have a brush in your hand.So why do they need your help?
Why bother grooming cats, especially those who hate it?
Grooming a cat should be a pleasant experience for you and your cat. It is a way of creating a strong bond between the two of you, especially as it will eventually teach your cat to trust you more. But remember building a strong bond of trust can never be rushed!
Regular grooming encourages muscle tone and stimulates the skin to produce oil that gives the coat that healthy sheen.
It removes excess hair which helps prevent vomiting as result of hairballs and matting of the coat
Frequent grooming allows you to evaluate your pet daily to check for parasites such as fleas or ticks, injuries, lumps and bumps
Kittens and cats that are comfortable with being handled are easier for the veterinarian to examine. This makes vet visits less stressful for you and your cat.
But before the actual grooming ritual starts, a few points to remember.
Timing is everything. Grooming your cat should be seen as a ritual that should only be attempted when your cat is in a happy and relaxed mood, and wants to interact with you. It should be a pleasant experience for you and your cat. It is always a good idea to choose the right room in the house where there are no loud noises and your cat is comfortable. Never attempt grooming when you are in a rush or don’t have time for it. As this could end up in a negative association and disaster.
Choosing the right grooming tool is important but this may change with time, for example, as a cat gets used to grooming; or with season as coat thickness varies; or due to your cat’s personal preference. Remember that a cat's tongue is especially adapted with small spines to allow them to groom excess hair and dirt effectively. And this is what you are trying to mimic.
Once you have chosen a grooming tool to start with, allow your cat to explore it on the floor and in your hand. Let your cat sniff and rub its face against it, marking it with its scent. The cat should be completely comfortable with this foreign object before it is actually even used for grooming.
Now onto actually grooming your cat!
Minimal handling is key! Cats hate being forced into anything they don’t choose to do. Don’t try hold your cat down and effectively groom it, as your cat will never let you try that trick again! Gently start off by brushing the head area, as most cats enjoy this. And only continue to the neck and shoulders once the cat is happy with its head being touched by the grooming tool. Then move along the cat’s back and eventually the rest of the body. This may take a few days or even a few weeks, depending on the individual cat. Always allow the cat to move away from you, should they find the experience at all stressful or unpleasant.
Groom in the direction of the fur. Use short strokes, mimicking how a cat grooms itself. For many cats the tummy region is often a ‘no go’ area, so take it slowly. Groom in short bouts at a time. Grooming sessions should only last as long as the cat is enjoying it, and not one second longer. Stop grooming immediately if you notice any signs that your cat is not loving it. This may mean that you will initially need to groom your cat little and often. Typically the problem areas, especially in long haired cats include under the front legs, around the bottom, inside the back legs and under the chin. And getting to those areas will take time, patience and perseverance.
Your cat needs to associate grooming with something positive and pleasant. In many cases a food treat is the easiest option, especially for kittens and food driven pets. But other pleasant experiences would include your soothing voice or tickling your pet under its chin, whatever it loves best. This means you may need to groom, stop, reward, treat and repeat until that positive association is created.
When to start grooming kittens
Kittens should be groomed from the time they arrive at your home. But this too should be a slow process, that will gradually build up with time. Start off by using your hand to cuddle your kitten and rub it’s head. Then move onto a small brush such as a toothbrush, a bit like a mother's tongue, and brush around the head area. Then as mentioned above, move onto the rest of the body. Remember to also get the kitten used to having its feet touched, as many cats really hate this. But it is important because at some stage or another your cat may need its feet to be examined or have its nails trimmed.
Should one bathe your cat?
There is no reason to bathe a cat routinely. Especially since there are very few cats that enjoy being submerged in water. If your cat rolls in something really awful and it is absolutely unavoidable, then this may warrant a bath. Or if your vet advises you to do so. But in most cases it is never necessary in a healthy cat.
What to do with a really matted cat?
Completely matted cats, for whatever reason, are difficult to deal with and the best thing to do is seek veterinary advice. In most such cases the cat will need to be mildly sedated and all the fur clipped off. This then, offers you a good opportunity and fresh start to try to get your cat used to grooming again.
Types of grooming tools
When choosing a grooming tool, remember that they must never scratch or pull the hair. All prongs must be blunted or covered with plastic tips, especially if made from metal. The breed and age of the cat will affect your choice. Long haired cats may need different tools to short haired cats. And older animals may be arthritic and will need extra special care compared to younger animals.
Everything about grooming must add to the positive experience for the cat so that it can be successful in the long term. Below are examples of the most commonly used grooming tools available. Choose the right one that suits your cat and share the results by tagging @petheaven. We would love to see your ‘before and after’ pictures and grooming stories!
Type: Curved/Slanted brush with very thin hooks.
Ideal for: Medium to long-haired cats.
Purpose: To remove dirt and dead/loose hair. Helps to prevent matting.
Type: Fine-toothed brush on one side, soft bristle brush on the other.
Ideal for: Short to medium-haired cats.
Purpose: Great as a combination brush. For short haired cats this is often all one needs.
The fine-tooth brush helps to remove dirt and tangles while the soft bristle brush aids with spreading natural oils to give a nice shine and condition to your cat’s coat.
Type: A hand mitt with a rubber toothed side.
Ideal for: All coats.
Purpose: Great as a beginner brush as the action is more like stroking your cat rather than grooming them. And some cats may not know the difference. They help to remove dirt, dead/loose hair and leave the coat feeling sleek and smooth.
Furminator or deshedding tools
Type: Fine toothed deshedding blade.
Ideal for: All coats but especially long haired cats
Purpose: It removes both the top and under-coat and gets rid of dirt, leaving the coat smooth and soft
Moulting comb
Type: Comb with different pin lengths.
Ideal for: All coats.
Purpose: The longer pins go through the top coat detangling knots and removing the undercoat while the shorter pins help to gather the loose fur.
Type: Comb with same length pins.
Ideal for: Long-haired cats (a comb with larger spaced out teeth) and short-haired cats (a comb with teeth close together).
Purpose: Helps with untangling knots and will remove loose hair, also good to spot parasites or flea dirt when teeth are close together
Pin brush
Type: Brush with pins.
Ideal for: All coats, particularly medium and long-haired cats.
Purpose: Helps with removing knots and detangles which prevents matting. The pins help to neaten the coat as it easily goes through the fur to the undercoat.
Type: Brush made of rubber and fits in the palm of your hand.
Ideal for: All coats
Purpose: A good beginner brush, particularly for cats that hate being groomed.
Helps to massage your cat’s skin and distribute healthy oils for a shiny coat. Removes loose fur, particularly in cats that are prone to shedding.
Type: Soft bristles.
Ideal for: All coats.
Purpose: For short-haired cats this is often all one needs. For long-haired cats, this is a good finishing brush for a smooth and shiny coat but you will require a different brush for detangling and getting to that undercoat.