Cat grooming is not a subject that most cat owners give much thought to but as we all know, cats spend a great deal of their time licking their paws and rubbing them across their face or getting into unlikely positions in order to lick their backs, chests and other parts that we won’t mention here. Collectively, this activity is known as grooming. Short haired breeds of cat can usually groom themselves successfully without human intervention, but long haired cats such as Persians will definitely need help.

The grooming process is very important as it not only keeps the cat clean but removes loose hair. Without combing, a lot of this hair would end up in your cat’s stomach. Since hair is not easily digestible, it often forms hairballs and although cats often cough up hairballs, they can clog up their insides, leading to all sorts of health problems. Of course a good combing will get rid of a lot of the dirt etc. which a cat picks up daily and is also a great chance to look out for fleas and ticks.

If you think that your cat will hate being brushed, you may be amazed at how much he actually relishes the experience. Naturally, it is much simpler to get your cat used to grooming equipment when he is still a young kitten. Very lightly brush or comb over your cat’s coat, following the lie of the fur from the neck to the tail. Never brush against the lie of the fur as most cat’s dislike this intensely. If he begins to get irritable, stop brushing him and play with him for a few minutes until he is relaxed. Do not groom his face or paws with the brush or comb, as most cats do not like this.

While you are grooming your cat, have a look at his eyes and ears too. His eyes bright, without any discharge and his ears should be clean. Very dirty ears can indicate that your cat has ear mites. This condition can cause irreparable damage to your cats ears so be sure to take him to the vet to be checked over if you think that he may have mites. Grooming very long haired cats can be quite difficult as their coats can become matted, if left unattended for too long. If your cat will submit to you cutting away the matted parts, then that would be preferable. If he won’t stay still long enough for that, you may need to take the cat to a professional animal beautician or even to the vet, if he requires sedation.

Tags: Cat Grooming, Health, Loose Hair

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