Brushing
Grooming your cat can be
a rewarding and fulfilling experience for you and your cat. Additionally,
regular grooming and handling will better adapt the cat if the need arises for
it to see a veterinarian. Although cats do an excellent job of keeping
themselves clean, additional grooming can improve the health of the cat’s skin,
prevent stomach hairballs and remove dangerous parasites and sticker weeds.
To groom your cat,
choose a time when the cat is ready to rest and not in a playful mood. Begin by
cuddling the cat in your lap and petting it gently. Once your cat is subdued,
use a soft cat hair brush to stroke the cat from head to tail following the direction
of the cat’s fur. As you brush, use firm pressure to remove excess hair and
other items hiding next to the cat’s fur. Pay particular attention to the ears
and between the toes, as these are common places where ticks, mites, thorns and
sticker weeds may hide. These areas are generally tender and should be handled
carefully. Keep a pair of tweezers close to remove any fur and skin
irritations.
Brush the legs and tail,
gently stroking out mats and other foreign entities. If you should encounter
wounds, use ointments and antibiotics as directed by the cat’s veterinarian.
Bathing
Before you attempt to
bathe your cat, be sure to take time to cut its nails. Cat nails grow quickly
and can become very sharp. To clip the cat’s nails, use a set of cat specific clippers
or pet nail clippers – using normal human nail clippers is not recommended.
Hold the cat’s paw with your off hand and the clippers in your strong hand.
Before you begin clipping, locate the vein that runs through your cat’s paws
and cut just above the vein. Cutting too closely too the vein may cause the
nails to bleed and cause the cat unnecessary discomfort. Clip off the end of
each nail on both the front and back paws.
Once the cat’s nails are
cut, you are ready to get your cat near the bathing water. Cats generally do
not like water and become especially agitated with the sloshing and splashing
sound of water. Begin bathing your cat away from the tub or wash basin by using
a warm wash rag and some baby shampoo to wash the cat’s head, eyes and ears. If
you choose to wash your cat with an anti-flea shampoo, be sure to treat your
cat’s eyes with mineral oil prior to applying the harsh shampoo – this will
protect the cat’s eyes from the stinging irritation that will occur if the
medicated shampoo gets in the cat’s eyes. Use a cotton swab to wash your cat’s
ears and be sure look for any black discharge that signals the presence of
mites. If you do find that your cats ears do have a black discharge, be sure to
take your cat into the veterinarian.
Once the head is clean,
you can now place the cat into the tub or wash basin – be sure to use water
that is right around room temperature or slightly warmer. If your cat struggles
with being placed in the tub, and to further prevent soap from getting into
your cat’s eyes, you can place the hind end of the cat in the tub and let the
forepaws hang out over the edge of the tub. Soak your cat using a cup or hose
and then apply a cat specific or pet shampoo. Massage the shampoo into your cat
and then rinse the cat thoroughly using the cup or hose.
To dry the
cat by removing the cat from the tub or wash basin and placing it on the floor
on a towel. Gently cover the cat with a towel and blot the cat dry – do not rub
the cat as this will cause the fur to tangle and mat. Use a blow dryer, on
medium heat, to gently blow dry the cat’s fur. Be sure to keep the blow dryer
in constant motion, about 12 inches away from the fur - never blow the cat
directly in the eyes and ears. As you blow dry your cat, use a broad toothed
comb to gently move the fur away from the cat’s skin. Be sure to keep your cat
away from cold weather for the next 24 hours as the cat’s fur continues to dry.
