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Cats are neat freaks. In fact, if you’re a cat owner, you know firsthand that your cat is a fastidious groomer. After all, it seems to spend most of its life either sleeping or grooming! Grooming is about more than just keeping your cat looking good. Grooming your cat on a regular basis will also help you to keep an eye on its health. And grooming your cat can even help to prevent feline health issues such as digestive problems caused by hairballs. Regular grooming can also help to improve the health of your cat’s skin and coat.If you’re already a cat owner, this probably goes without saying: Don’t just snatch up your cat one day and commence to grooming if you’ve never groomed the cat before. The outcome is likely to be unpleasant for the both of you.Cats are generally very clean pets and groom themselves.[1] But some cats may not be able to adequately groom themselves, such as when they have fleas or very long fur.[2] But by maintaining your cat’s coat and caring for her other hygiene needs such as clipping her claws, you can keep your cat groomed.
Grooming sessions should be fun for the both of you, so be sure to schedule them when your cat’s relaxed, perhaps after exercise or eating. You want your pet to remember grooming sessions in a positive way, so you never want to risk losing your temper. If you’ve had a stressful day or are in a bad mood, it’s probably not a good time to groom your cat.Keep your first grooming sessions short-just 5 to 10 minutes. Gradually lengthen the time until your pet is used to the routine. You should also get your pet used to being handled. Get in the habit of petting every single part of your cat-including ears, tail, belly and back-and especially the feet!
If your cat is longhaired, you should comb her once a day, or at least a, couple of times a week. Short- haired cats only need to be brushed once a week.There are specially designed grooming tools for longhaired cats, but at the very least you'll need a good brush and comb. If your cat is shorthaired, a veterinarian recommended brush is all you'll need.
Shorthaired cats do not need to be bathed, unless they are very dirty or have allergies. But for longhaired breeds, the occasional bath will help keep her coat in good condition and prevent a buildup of grease. Your vet will be happy to advise you how to bath your cat and will recommend a special cat shampoo.
Most cats don't really like getting wet, but if you have the shampoo and towel nearby, bath-time will be quicker and easier. To make things even easier, ask someone to help — then one can hold the cat while the other does the washing.
Cats scratch to keep their claws trim, but you'll need to help out too. Make sure you get your cat used to it while she's young and it'll be easier in the long-term. Ask your vet to demonstrate the correct technique and the correct clippers to use.
So keep your pet groomed and let her love you always…