Grooming - Brushing

Cats are very clean animals by nature and spend many hours daily, cleaning and grooming themselves. Although they are experts at this there are several reasons why your cat requires occasional grooming assistance to some extent to remain healthy and happy. Grooming and brushing your cat does more than make the cat's fur look shiny and healthy. It also helps prevent matting, prevents many hairball problems, removes loose and dead hair, and stimulates the cat's blood flow to the hair growth and skin. Paying close attention while grooming your cat helps detect parasites, sores, bumps, lumps, cuts, or changes in the coat or skin that could indicate a health problem or developing problems. Regular grooming also provides you with a chance to spend some quality bonding time with your pet as you are combing and brushing him. A healthy coat and skin begins with proper nutrition, parasite control, and good grooming habits. Feeding your pet a top quality, well balanced diet keeps a cat in the best of health. Your cats coat will hreflect this by being healthy looking and shiny.

Although all cats, both longhaired and shorthaired, need brushing to keep them looking great, some of them are not happy when you first try to start a grooming routine. It is always best to establish regular grooming habits early. Animals that have not been brushed before may put up a fuss at first but with a little effort, patience, and time, most will start purring as soon as they see their brush. When first starting out, try to keep the grooming sessions to approximately five minutes. Do this until your cat starts to relax and enjoy the experience. Once your pet is used to you brushing him, extend the length of the grooming time.

Before you start to groom your cat, it is very important to have the proper tools on hand.

1. A wire wide-toothed comb is excellent for removing dead hair off a longhaired cat. It gets through both the outer coat and soft undercoat making it easier to remove tangles, knots and mats from their fur.
2. Fine toothed combs work well on both shorthaired cats and longhaired cats and are excellent for getting rid of fleas. They also work well on the smaller and sometimes stubborn knots on the fur.
3. Brushes are effective for removing any loose or dead hair. Slicker brushes, which are triangle shaped, work well in small areas such as around a cat's ears and face. There are small brushes made specifically for kittens, which are far easier on them than trying to use a large brush made for cats.
4. For longhaired cats, pin brushes are very effective in successfully working through a dense, long coat.
5. For shorthaired cats, flat slicker brushes that have soft bristles are perfect for light brushings to remove excess hair and dirt. Be sure to use only soft bristled brushes, so you do not end up hurting or scratching your cat's skin during the grooming process. There are also small rubber brushes, which do a great job on shorthaired cat's coats.
6. A rubber mat is perfect for placing on your table or counter to make your cat feel much more secure, stable and comfortable. The mat provides your pet with a place to sink his claws into, while it protects your table or countertop from scratches.

The diversity of coat textures in cats comes from different hair type combinations or specific hair type mutations. Some of these many coat types require different grooming methods than others. To groom a cat properly requires you to understand the coats build. Information on the various types of coats can be found in the grooming article on "Coat Types".

In general, most domestic shorthairs require very little grooming. A weekly or bi-weekly brushing removes any dead cat hair, which keeps the cat's fur looking shiny and healthy. It also helps cut down on the amount of hair on your clothes, furniture and floors. Your cat will require more frequent brushings if he is shedding a lot. A shorthaired cat does not normally require a bath unless he has fleas, gets very dirty, has a skin condition or has a substance on his fur you do not want him licking off.

Domestic longhairs require brushing more often to prevent the cat's fur from matting and tangling. Depending on the fur density and length, some cats require daily brushing while others only need brushing two or three times weekly. It is normally necessary to routinely bath longhaired cats because many have difficulty keeping their long coats clean. Comb your cat for flea eggs, fleas and ticks, especially living in an area where pest infestations are difficult to control.

Shorthaired cats do need regular grooming but usually only require brushing ever week or two, unless they are shedding heavily. Use a table or countertop as the grooming table, as it puts less strain on your back if you work on a surface that is waist level.

Place the rubber mat on the surface you are using. This will prevent the cat from slipping or struggling that may happen if they are on a slippery surface. Facing your cat away from you, lay him on his side and hold him gently by the scruff of the neck but tight enough to keep the cat from escaping. Use the slicker brush and begin brushing your cat's neck area and working your way back to his tail. Turn the cat over and do the other side. Be very gentle around sensitive areas such as his stomach, ears and face. Once you have done a thorough job of brushing your cat, take a fine-tooth comb and start the process over again beginning at your cat's head. Combing will remove any dead hair or dirt loosened when you brushed your cat.

Depending on the type and length of your cat's hair, some longhaired cats require brushing every couple of days while others need daily grooming. Pet stores carry a large array of grooming gadgets, combs and brushes. Using the proper tools certainly make grooming a lot easier.

Begin grooming a longhaired cat at the front, doing small sections by lifting the hair with your brush. Brush each section forward, toward the cat's head, being sure you start at the skin to prevent any undercoat matting. Brush your way to the back end of the cat, finishing at its tail. Go slowly and do a thorough job, because missing an area could cause more work the next time you groom your pet. Once you have reached the back of the cat and brushed all its hair forward, begin at the back end, brushing small sections of hair in the right direction, until the coat lays flat. Follow the same procedure on the other side of the cat. Brush the cat's tail and chest last. Once the cat is completely brushed, complete the job using a Teflon-coated or metal comb.

Brushing your cat's coat when it is completely dry could create static electricity, so it helps to use water and lightly mist the section of cat fur you are going to work on. If this frightens your pet, mist the brush instead.

A matted coat tends to hold skin oil and moisture, which could possibly provide a good hiding place for mites, fleas and other parasites or lead to skin problems. Be very careful when working out a mat that you do not accidentally cut or damage your pet's skin. Regular grooming will help keep the cats hair from becoming matted or tangled.

Many common cat breeds have various coat types, which often require different grooming methods.

Persian Cats - These cats have very long, thick coats and require combing on a daily basis using a static free, wide, metal-toothed comb. Use a full-size comb with fine teeth at one end and coarse teeth at the other. Use a four-inch face comb for grooming shorter face and leg hair. Normally you only use a brush for fluffing the coat after removing any mats and when the combing is complete. Daily grooming prevents the formation of mats or tangles. Make sure you give special care and attention to problem areas where mats normally collect, such as around the cats legs and backside, under the armpits, behind the ears and under the chin.

If the cat has mats, never pull them out, as this will cause your Persian cat to feel a lot of pain, ruin his coat, and possible leave a bald spot. Instead, gently break or pull the mat apart with your fingers. Trying to yank the mat out using your comb will be painful for your pet and pull the fur out from his skin. If you cannot break the mat up with your fingers, either use a dematting tool or cut it out using a pair of blunt-nosed scissors.

British Shorthair - British shorthairs have very short, plush, dense coats, full chubby cheeks, round heads and a sturdy, rounded body. Many people say that the British shorthairs remind them of teddy bears. British shorthair cats require very little grooming because their fur does not mat or tangle easily. It is usually sufficient to brush the cat every few weeks to remove any dead hair but groom him more often if he sheds heavily.

Ragdolls - These laidback, large semi-longhaired cats have silky, plush coats that require minimal grooming. You should comb them regularly every week or two, using a wide-toothed steel comb, to remove any tangles or loose hair. Ragdolls coats consist mainly of soft, long guard hairs as they do not have dense, thick, insulating undercoats. Bathe your Ragdoll monthly to keep his coat healthy, clean and shiny.

Sphynx - The Sphynx often hreferred to as a 'hairless cat', looks naked but actually has a very fine covering of down-like fuzz. Although they do not require the traditional brushing or combing, Sphynx do require grooming. All cats' skin produces oils, which traps the dirt. You do not see this on other cats because the fur absorbs the oil, but it is visible on the body of a Sphynx. Therefore, they do require a weekly bath to remove this oil. Bath your cat with a hypoallergenic anti-fungal/anti-bacterial, gentle shampoo. Wrap him in a towel after his bath and dry him well, making sure he out of any drafts.

A shiny bright coat is a sign of good health and vigour and all cat owners want their pets to feel and look their best. Proper grooming and nutrition certainly helps you achieve this. You can keep your precious cats looking their very best by following a few steps.

All cats, regardless of their breed, colour, or coat type, require proper nutrition for a healthy coat appearance and good skin. Always feed your cat a well-balanced diet that contains all the protein, vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, and other essential nutrients, which are necessary for a healthy cat. Cats require protein for growth and tissue repair, vitamins and minerals for general health, and carbohydrates for energy. Generic or inexpensive store brands are not always the best choice. Cats that eat a well-balanced diet do not require many mineral and vitamin supplements. Always have fresh, clean, cool water available for your pets.

Take your cat to the vets annually to keep his immunizations up-to-date and have a faecal examination along with his regular check-up. Internal parasites and worms can cause your cats to become very sick. An unhealthy pet's coat will hreflect this by looking dull, lifeless and unkempt. When brushing your cat, check for fleas, ticks and other external parasites. Many of these parasites have very complex life cycles, which enable them to survive even in the best-kept households. Getting proper treatment for your cat is critical for the health of your animal. Fleas do not only make your cat feel uncomfortable, itchy, and miserable but could cause your cat to scratch himself excessively and damage his coat. Some cats develop an allergy to fleabites and end up with bald patches when left untreated. Information on flea and parasite treatments are found in the Healthcare sections.

Regular grooming is essential for almost all cats regardless of their coat type. Combs come in many styles, types and sizes and used to remove such things as dead hair, mats and tangles, dirt, fleas and flea dirt. Brushes remove dander and dead surface hair and distribute oil in the cat's coat to give him a groomed, finished look. Remember that it is far easier to remove tangles and mats from dry coats that it is from wet ones, so always comb and brush your pet before bath time. If your cat has a severely matted coat right down to its skin, talk to your veterinarian or a groomer, as it may be better to have his coat shaved. Start with a regular grooming schedule once your cat's new fur begins to grow in so you keep it under control.

There are conditioners and shampoos available for every type of condition and hair coat type. Some cats need bathing regularly while others only require one periodically. If your pet has a skin condition, your veterinarian will give you a prescription shampoo with directions for bathing the cat properly. Use shampoo and conditions specifically formulated for pets, as products manufactured for people are too abrasive for a cat's delicate coat and skin. This could result in a flaky, dry skin and coat. For black, white, red, and brown cats, there are shampoos formulated to enhance the coats colour and sheen. For medium and longhaired cats, use a conditioner or product that detangles the hair, to make combing after their bath easier. No matter how thoroughly you wash your pet, if any soap residue remains in the coat, it will make your cat's skin itch and the coat look dull. When you have rinsed your cat and are sure that no soap residue remains, rinse him one more time just to be sure.

Although you can remove many of the smaller hair mats with a thorough brushing, larger ones attached firmly to the skin require special care. Begin with a thorough combing and remove as many hair mats as possible. If any mats remain, try breaking them up using your fingers or making them smaller by carefully brushing the hair near the matted area. If neither works, use a pair of scissors to remove the mat carefully.

Use a fine-toothed comb and carefully slide it between the skin and mat, to keep from nicking or cutting your cats skin. If you are having a problem getting a fine-toothed comb under the mat, any type of comb will work. Once you have the comb between the mat and skin, cut the hair to remove the mat. If you cannot get a comb under the mat against the skin, then very carefully place one blade of the scissors near the base of the mat. Slowly cut up the mat being sure to cut away from the skin. Never cut the mat across, always up and away. Once you divide the mat, it is far easier to comb the rest out. Grooming your pet frequently and not allowing any mats to form is the best and easiest way to keep their coat looking great.