Grooming Cats at Home: 6 Simple Tips

Cats spend hours maintaining their coats to preen themselves to perfection. However, despite being natural groomers, grooming your cat is essential to maintaining their hygiene and health.

Cats require frequent brushing to keep their skin and fur free from dirt, dust, and loose hair. Grooming your cat at home will not only help their fur remain shiny but also benefit them in other ways: 

• It helps stimulate the glands at the base of their fur to waterproof their coat

  
  

• It smoothens their fur for better insulation

  
  

• It’s a great way to keep track of their health by checking for patches, injuries or any other issues

  
  

• It helps you clean the places your furry buddy cannot reach – like the ears and head

  
  

• It helps get rid of ticks, mites, and fleas

  
  

• It helps keep their nails trimmed

Grooming is a time-consuming activity and although many cat owners prefer to take their pets to a professional groomer, it is very much possible to groom your cat at home. However, it depends on how much your cat allows you to do and how you approach the grooming session. Read on for 6 tips to groom your cat at home.

While cats usually do not prefer being touched or held unless they ask for it, kittens are more accepting. As a cat parent, handling your kitten often gets them used to being held and groomed. If you haven’t been with your cat from the beginning, don’t worry! You can train older cats too. With time, you and your feline will fall into an amicable grooming routine.

All you need is patience...and probably a pair of gloves to avoid getting scratched.

While cats with short fur need brushing just once a week, those with medium or long coats need it more often. Brushing keeps their fur shiny and free from tangles and dirt. Start with brushing their legs and work your way up their coats. Take extra care near their eyes, chest, and belly.

Use a metal comb followed by a bristle rubber brush to get rid of the dead fur as well as tangles and leave behind a gorgeous, shiny coat.

Usually cats don’t need frequent baths, especially if they stay indoors for the better part of the day. However, the ones who love to explore different nooks daily may need baths more often.

Bathe your cat by filling a tub or sink with shallow water and carefully placing them in it. Once they have settled, despite their prominent sulk, slowly pour water over your cat using a mug. Lather their body with a cat-safe shampoo and once they’re squeaky clean, pour more water over them to remove any residue. Finally, dry their coat with a big towel. If your cat has fleas, don’t forget to use an anti-flea shampoo to get rid of them.

Mites

While grooming your cat, inspect their ears for mites. Wrap their fluffy bodies in a towel and hold their ears before cleaning it with a cotton ball and cleanser.

Claws

Cats usually love to scratch posts or barks of trees to keep their nails short. However, if your cat isn’t a scratcher, clip their claws every few weeks, lest someone gets injured. Most cats don’t like it if you touch their fuzzy little paws. It may take them days or even weeks to fully allow you to do that. Once they are comfortable, clip their claws gently with a cat nail trimmer.

Animals, like humans, need proper oral hygiene. To ensure your cat’s teeth remain pearly white, use a feline-friendly toothpaste and brush those canines daily with a cat-safe toothbrush or a cotton swab. If your pet has swollen gums or loose teeth, or their breath has a strong odour, get it checked by the vet.

Cats may initially create a fuss during grooming sessions, so we advise you to give them lots of cuddles and treats throughout the process. It will help them understand that grooming isn’t necessarily unpleasant, and before you know it, they will start cooperating with you!

Always groom your cat when they are happy and willing. Test the waters before you start a grooming session. If they haven’t given you their consent, don’t try to groom them forcefully. Take breaks if they are fidgety. Most importantly, take it slow and be tender with them.