Grooming Your Cat

Cats are generally very clean animals that require little grooming, with the exception of longhaired cats that will need more.

When grooming your cat it is nice to do so outdoors, as this will keep the dirt and hair out of the house, but if that isn't possible then the bathroom works almost as well.  You'll want to concentrate on a few areas, the eyes and face, the ears, the mouth, and the claws, as well as the coat.

The Eyes and Face:  Your cat's eyes should always be clear and bright, if they aren't there could be a health problem and you should consult your vet.  To clean the eye area you can simply use a moistened cotton ball (warm water works best) and wipe away any dirt around the eye.  Never put anything into the eye.  Some longhaired cats have problems with tear ducts blocking, which can cause tears to run down the face and cause discoloration.  If this occurs, you can take a cotton ball dipped in a mild salt solution and wipe the fur.  If the problem is persistent consult your vet.

The Ears:  Healthy cats won't need much grooming of their ears but you should still check them regularly.  You can use a cotton ball dipped in warm water or olive oil to remove any dirt that may be on the inside of the inner flap.  Never put your finger or a Q-Tip inside the ear.  Persistent scratching of the ear can be a sign of an infection; if this is the case it's best to consult your vet before attempt to clean the ear.

The Mouth:  You can clean your cat's teeth weekly, however most cats won't tolerate this.  Instead you can have your cat's teeth cleaned yearly when you go to the vet.  To clean the teeth take a soft toothbrush and a salt and water mixture and brush the cat's teeth.  Also check for any swollen/red gums or problems with the tongue; if any of these occur take your cat to the vet.

The Claws:  If your cat goes outside then it will naturally trim it's claws but if your cat stays inside or is less active you'll want to trim their claws regularly.  If your cat's claws need to be trimmed then place your cat in your lap or on the floor between your legs.  Press on the pad of its paw with your fingers to make the claws come forward.  The main part of the claw includes the pinkish-colored area, which contains nerves.  Do not cut this part.  The white tip (just past the pinkish area) is the dead tissue, which can be cut.  Simply take the nail trimmer and cut this white tip off.  To clean any dirt off the paw you can use a damp cotton ball.

The Coat:  Shorthaired cats don't need daily combing or brushing.  They actually need very little at all.  Longhaired cats will need to be combed and brushed regularly to avoid matting.  If matting becomes a problem then it can be painful for your cat when the matted balls are removed.

To groom your shorthaired cat's coat take a fine-toothed comb and work down from the head to its tail.  Then, with either a rubber brush or a soft natural bristle brush, brush along the lie of the hair.

To groom your longhaired cat's coat start with a wide-toothed comb and tease out mats and remove any dirt.  Switch to a fine-toothed comb once the wide-toothed comb runs through easily.  After combing use a wire brush and remove all dead hair.  You can use the fine-toothed comb again and comb through the hair in an upward movement, brushing the fur out around the neck so that it forms a ruff.