Grooming your cat: Essential techniques for a healthy feline

When it comes to helping our feline family-members look and feel their best, don’t 'fur-get’ the importance of good grooming!

Cats are naturally clean animals and will groom themselves regularly. However, many cats (particularly longer-haired breeds, indoor cats and older cats), will require some regular human assistance to stay in their healthiest and most comfortable condition. Additionally, helping your fur-bestie with their grooming endeavours provides quality bonding opportunities, giving both of you the warm and fuzzies!

So, get ready to brush up on your day-to-day cat care. Welcome to feline health and beauty 101!

Why regular grooming matters

During normal self-grooming, a cat’s rough tongue acts like a brush, helping to remove dirt and loose fur as well as some pesky external parasites such as fleas. However, longer or thicker-furred cat breeds can struggle to maintain a clean, tidy coat, and many older cats also become unable to groom themselves effectively due to mobility issues.

Regularly grooming your cat will help to keep them neat and gorgeous, and can also provide other benefits such as:

• Reducing the amount of loose fur that your cat swallows, thereby lessening the formation of hairballs (which are yucky for you and can cause unwellness in your cat)
• Decreasing the quantity of loose fur that is shed around your house and on your clothes
• Giving you more opportunities to spot unusual skin lesions on your cat (such as lumps, irritations, or parasites such as fleas and ticks)
• Serving as a pleasant bonding activity for you and your cat

Brushing basics

Picking the right type of brush for your feline friend will not only facilitate the most effective fur removal but will also go a long way to making grooming an enjoyable activity, rather than one they resent.

For short-haired cats, a grooming mitt or rubber-pronged grooming pad usually works best to remove loose fur while also providing a pleasant massage for your pet’s skin.

For long-haired cats, it’s good to have both a comb and brush on hand, as a comb will detangle knots while a brush will remove loose hairs and help to spread natural coat oils.

If your cat sheds heavily, ‘deshedding’ brushes can be used weekly when required to remove loose fur more effectively. Just ensure that you use these carefully to avoid creating bald patches or irritating your cat’s skin. For arthritic cats, it’s especially important to brush gently (particularly over bony areas), or consider using a softer bristle brush.

Don’t forget to (gently) brush the hidden areas when tangles often occur, behind your cat’s ears, on their tail, around their bottom and down the back of their ‘pants’, and under their arms and on their belly.

If your pet is new to brushing, it’s important to start slowly, keeping sessions short and positive with frequent treat rewards. Start when your cat is relaxed, giving them a few pets and strokes to ensure they’re in a mood to be handled, then let them sniff the brush and gently start grooming. Stop the grooming session if your cat becomes tense, if their tail starts swishing, or if they’re growling or hissing (unless you want to be swiped at!).

Nail trimming and paw care

Whilst some outdoor cats will be able to maintain their own claws, urban cats, indoor cats and older cats will usually require regular claw trimming every four weeks or so to prevent painful overgrowth.

It’s best to use a sharp set of cat nail clippers for this, rather than human nail clippers. To properly visualise your cat’s nails, gently push on the top of each toe to straighten it and expose the entire nail. Ensure that you stay 2mm away from the ‘quick’ of their nail (the sensitive, inner pink portion of the nail that will bleed if cut).

Depending on your cat’s temperament, they may require treat distraction (e.g. a lickable treat pouch or regular small pieces of cooked chicken or springwater tuna), or a low-stress restraint (such as a towel gently wrapped around their body) to tolerate nail-clipping. If you are unsure how to cut your cat’s nails or your cat is seeming stressed by the procedure, it’s best to consult your vet for assistance (they’re here to help!).

Bathing your cat

Most cats will only require bathing if they get coated in something particularly messy that would be difficult for them to groom out. The exception is hairless cat breeds such as the Sphynx, who usually require regular bathing from kittenhood to reduce the build-up of natural skin oils and dirt on their skin.

If you do need to bathe your four-legged friend, it can be a good idea to trim their claws beforehand, if possible, in case they panic and try to grab onto you. Use warm water and a gentle pet-safe shampoo in case your cat licks at it. After the bath, gently wrap your cat in a towel to remove excess water and then leave them somewhere warm to dry off comfortably. Long-haired cats will benefit from brushing at this time to reduce tangles and speed the drying process.

Should your cat ever get a potentially harmful substance on their fur (such as paint or motor oil), it’s best to consult your vet promptly regarding how to safely clean them.

Additional care: Ears, eyes and teeth

Grooming time also serves as a great opportunity to check your cat’s eyes, ears and dental health for the ultimate pamper session.

It’s recommended to book an appointment with your vet if you notice:

• Any abnormal eye redness or discharge
• Any ear redness or discharge (other than the usual yellow-brown, scant ear wax that may be present)
• Any brown discolouration on the teeth or redness along the gums (which are usually a pale pink colour)

When to seek professional help

If you find that your cat is becoming stressed before grooming procedures, it’s always a good idea to consult your vet. Some cats will respond well to a dose of light prescription anti-anxiety medication that can be administered at home, whereas particularly ‘spicy’ kitties (or those with significant matted fur close to their skin) will generally require a professional sedation and grooming in the veterinary clinic.

It's not recommended to cut out mattered fur at home with scissors, as it’s very easy to accidentally cut your cat’s skin in the process!

A healthier, happier cat

We all know that a well-groomed cat is a happy, healthy cat and consistent grooming will help to keep your feline family member feeling comfortable and healthy all year round. Regular grooming isn’t just about appearances, it’s an important part of their overall well-being and a wonderful way to strengthen your bond. And when your pet feels their best, it shows. After all, who doesn’t love a bit of pampering?