Cat Grooming

Typically the most overlooked aspect of cat ownership is grooming. It is often taken for granted that if the cat grooms itself everyday then it must be well cleaned. It might appear that you do not need to groom your cat but if you take a closer look you might be surprised. Below is a list of grooming tasks which a devoted cat owner will follow on a regular basis to maintain the health of your cat.

Combing or Brushing

Cats shed their hair. They shed more when they are kept in an indoor environment in dry, artificial heat. They also will shed in response to stress, such as when the owner is away or if they are not feeling well. Cats tend to shed their hair seasonally, especially throughout the spring.

Long haired cats are more prone for their hair to become matted. Daily grooming that is performed from long haired cats is not enough to remove the matting themselves. By grooming your cat with a comb or brush you will free the hair from being matted or knotted. In addition, when you groom your cat, you stimulate the blood circulation, and you're better able to notice any physical changes with the cat.

While all cats can benefit from daily grooming, long-haired cats require more thorough grooming often to keep their coats in good condition. Ideally, cat grooming will need to start when your cat is a kitten. Grooming becomes part of her routine more easily at a younger age. If your cat does not take well to being groomed, don't force the grooming sessions. Make grooming times very short, gradually lengthening them as your cat begins to accept and enjoy being groomed. One effective way of easing the cat into grooming sessions is to only groom one part of the body during the session and the other side of the body the next time you groom. Another handy trick is to comb the coat for just a few seconds at a time followed with a gentle scratch or rub, and then proceed to comb again. Repeat process several times until brushing is complete.

Depending upon your cat’s coat you may need a wide toothed comb (used for long haired cats), a fine toothed comb, or a slicker brush for shorter haired cats.

Cleaning the Eyes

Healthy cat’s eyes will appear clear and bright. At times, cats and kittens may have runny or weepy eyes that may become encrusted which will require careful cleaning before an infection sets in such as feline conjunctivitis or pink eye. This encrusting of the eyes is common in breeds like the Persian where the large eye openings and the small distance from the tear ducts to the nose create an area for more tearing to occur than usual. The tears over time oxidize and create a glue-like substance staining the area below the eyes which requires regular cleaning.

When cleaning around the eyes always use either a soft washcloth or a cotton swab. Dip the end into a warm salt water solution, gently hold your cats head and dab the damp cloth lightly across the lower eyelid. Make sure you do not rub the eye directly. Allow for the moisture to soften the eye matter and then wipe again. Make sure you use a fresh section of cloth each time.

If the eye is infected repeat the process every four hours until all signs of infection are cleared.

Bathing

Everyone knows that cats hate getting wet. Cats generally keep themselves clean, and therefore should not be bathed any more often than is absolutely necessary. But they sometimes get dirty, allergies or fleas and ticks, or they may get into substances that are toxic or otherwise harmful. On such occasions, it is a good idea to bathe your cat. Here's how to keep your feline fresh and lovely as painlessly as possible.

• Apply a mild eye drop or ointment to the eyes to protect them from soap.
• Fill the sink with luke warm water and, if possible, add around three capfuls of anon-toxic wetting agent. Place your cat gently in the water. Using a plastic cup, pour this water mixture over the cat's body until the hair starts to part and the hair becomes wet all the way to the skin. Do not get water in your cat's ears and never pour water over the head.
• Cleanse your cat's head, use a mild tearless baby shampoo only. Put a small amount on a wet washcloth and gently wash around the eyes, mouth, cheeks and forehead. Then rinse the cloth and go over the face to remove the soap.
• Rinse thoroughly with the water in the tub, then drain the tub and rinse two more times with water from the bucket or warm water from the tap. It is essential to remove all the soap from the coat.
• Let the water drip from the cat while gently pressing as much water as you can from the fur before you wrap your cat in the towel. Rub gently with one towel. When the first towel gets too wet to be effective, switch to the dry towel. Don't stop until the cat is just damp. Try warming the towels in the dryer first as many cats find this comforting.

Note: It is best to introduce a cat to bathing as a kitten so that baths become less stressful with time.

Cleaning the Ears

This should be incorporated into your cat's regular grooming regime. It is advised that you begin this from an early age so your cat becomes used to it. You should be looking for the following;

• Build up of dirt & wax
• Blood
• Bad odour
• Lumps
• Redness & inflammation
• Scratching & shaking may be an indicator of ear mites
• Check the ear for dirt, odour, lumps, redness & pain.

If any of these are observed seek veterinary attention immediately as these symptoms may lead to ear diseases.

To clean your cats ears, you should use an ear cleaning solution provided by your vet. Ear cleaners help remove any excess moisture, wax and debris from the outer ear canal. You should be only using products that are specifically for cats. 

There are a few basic steps of how to properly clean your cats ear: 

• Squeeze the solution bottle and allow a few drops to dribble into the ear canal
• Gently massage the base of the ear to work in the solution. If this appears to cause your cat any pain, stop immediately and consult your vet
• Repeat the process with the other ear and allow for your cat to shake its head which will help loosen any wax or debris
• Use cotton wool to wipe away any excess solution, and to clean out any wax or debris.
• Never poke anything straight into the ear as you can damage the sensitive lining of the ear canal or, even permanently injure the eardrum.

Nail trimming 

You can trim the sharp point of your cat’s claws using special cat nail scissors or trimmers. This is typically done by gently squeezing the paw 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, it is best that you ask your vet to show you or to even do it for you.