Cat Grooming
There are two main forms of cat grooming that are vital to the cats health, these are brushing and nail trimming. Although cats are very good at grooming themselves, as they spend nearly ten percent of their waking hours grooming, human intervention is a good idea. Not only will grooming your cat increase their health and happiness, it will also allow a bonding time for the cat and his owner.
Brushing your cat should be a daily occurrence. Brushing helps to distribute the natural oils in a cats’ fur and this helps to keep the fur shiny and free of tangles, as well as removing loose fur that would otherwise be left on the carpet or furniture. It is important to start brushing while they are kittens so they are used to it by the time they are adult cats. Here are a few tips to help make the brushing process easier:
- Make the situation comfortable for your cat. Use a calm and cheery voice when calling your cat and then use a soft bristled brush that will feel good for your cat.
- Always brush in the same direction as your cats’ fur to avoid irritating the skin.
- Place self grooming tools around the house so your cat can brush itself whenever they want.
Trimming your cat’s nails is just as important and should also be started as early as possible to avoid resisting situations later in life. When a cat’s nails aren’t trimmed on a regular basis, their nail will curl over and grow into their paw pad, which is very painful. Therefore, nail grooming is very important.
To cut a cat’s nails, press under the paw pad which exposes the nails. While the nails are exposed, cut the tip of the nail while avoiding the pink vein which is visible through the cat’s nails. This area is also known as the “quick” and is very sensitive. If the quick is cut, it will be very painful for the cat and make nail trimming even harder in the future.
Although brushing and nail trimming are very important, paying close attention to your cats entire body is vital. Check your cat’s eyes, ears, nose, mouth, skin, and all other areas of their body. If this is part of your regular grooming routine, you will notice any changes in your cat’s health and can immediately contact your veterinarian.