A Guide to Grooming

Why Groom Your Cat?

Similar to our own hair, animal fur has a constant growth cycle, whereby new hairs grow, rest and then die and fall out. The dead hair we shed either comes out itself or is removed by brushing and washing and it is our job as pet owners to offer this same care to our pets coats.

Long haired cats in particular are not equipped to maintain their coats without intervention from us. Grooming not only deals with the issue of excess dead hair but provides a perfect time to bond with your pet and the action of grooming the coat provides your pet with a mini massage, which improves the condition of their skin and promotes feelings of well being - in both of you!

How Coat Changes Effect Grooming?

Cats' natural internal instincts tell them when to moult. Seasonal changes increase moulting, so every spring and autumn the cat's internal clock is triggered by changes in light levels and temperature to thicken the coat or shed extra hair.

Central heating can also affect the shedding cycle meaning that for most cats, mild shedding is experienced all year round. During seasonal moults you may notice more hair around the house, an increase in hairballs being vomited and pets' coats may become matted more easily and quickly. These two seasons are the time you should be spending extra time every day grooming your pets; however, daily grooming is important to prevent issues such as matted fur whatever the season.

When and How Do I Do It?

Choose a time when your cat is relaxed and calm. Start with a few gentle strokes of your hand and offer a tempting treat, such as chicken, ham or cheese. Introduce a soft bush, such as the zoom groom or bristle brush and groom around the cats head and shoulders and offer a treat.

Choose which area of the cat you wish to groom and progress from the head and shoulders to this area, for example one hip and hind leg. Offer treats at random intervals.

Then progress to the slicker brush. This will start to really lift all the dead coat out. Use the moulting comb to remove the dead coat lifted by the slicker. Continue to offer treats at random intervals.

Repeat this cycle until the amount of dead hair has reduced or until the cat walks away. Most cats will tolerate 15 - 20 minutes of grooming per session but with long haired cats you need to do two or three sessions per day. Short haired cats can get by with one grooming session every couple of days as they are far more able to maintain their own coats.

Is It Really That Simple?

Yes and No! If your cat enjoys being groomed then the above method should be a fun and rewarding experience! You can slowly work around your cat's body over the course of a few days until they are fully groomed.

There are not that many cats that will just lie and let you groom them however, so here are some considerations to help you make the experience more effective and less stressful.

Cats generally tolerate about 20 minutes of grooming before they need a break. Grooming is a highly stimulating experience for cats and to prevent sensory overload they prefer short sessions to hour long grooming marathons.

You can keep them interested in you by offering tasty treats and playing with toys between grooming. Try not to pursue your cat to groom them. If they walk away and won't come back when called, try again another time.

Cats do not like being held and forced to go through an experience, so try to avoid holding onto your cat. Allow them to occupy their own space and move away from you when they have had enough.

If your cat shows aggression, it is likely the area you are grooming is a sensitive one.

This could be due to many factors;

Arthritis in older cats can make backs, hips and joints sore. Kidney, bladder and digestive issues can make the abdomen sore or tender. Old injuries or surgical sites can be more sensitive. Areas of knotted fur can hurt if they are pulled. Previous negative experiences of grooming can also make a cat wary of the process.

Using the appropriate grooming tool, gentle handling and positive reinforcement can reduce the chances of accidental discomfort occurring, causing negative associations with the process.

Grooming a Cats Belly

Grooming the underside of your cat is always a challenge.

Some suggestions to make it easier are:

Face the cat away from you and place your hand under the cat’s armpits and lift their front legs leaving their back legs on the floor then groom the tummy area.

If the cat lifts its back legs then try lying the cat on its back on your lap.

It is sometimes easier to do the belly first, especially if your cat rolls onto its back for a belly rub. If your cat is really against you touching its tummy then having its belly clipped short by a groomer regularly negates the need for grooming in that area.

With some cats it is just not possible to groom them by yourself so a second pair of hands is needed to help hold the cat. Again, remember that cats do not like being held on to, so stop and allow the cat to calm down before continuing and stop if the cat objects strongly.

Occasionally the only option is for the cat to be sedated at the vets. Although this is costly, and its viability is dependent on age and general health, it can be the safest and least stressful option for the owner and the cat. 

A Word on Baths

Bathing is a very stressful experience for a cat as not only do they have to be held firmly, they are then wet, shampooed, rinsed and then blow dried!!!

This takes at least 2 hours and if we bear in mind that cats do not like to be held or forced through a procedure, it is easy to see why baths are a cats worst nightmare!!!

For many cats it is simply cruel to put them through it and it can result in them becoming traumatised.

As a rule, I will not bath cats but there are a few exceptions:

A heavy flea infestation - a bath can actually offer some relief to the itching fleas can cause as well as removing a lot of the fleas.

Soiled fur - elderly cats or poorly cats sometimes get very messy when they use the litter tray and a gentle bottom bath can make them feel better and is more effective than wet wipes. 

If you feel your cat needs a bath then please do enquire and I will advise as to whether I feel it is appropriate.