Grooming

Grooming is an essential part of a cat’s daily routine, which helps in maintaining a clean and healthy coat. However, you may be surprised to hear that, grooming also serves many other functions, including:

•Removing loose hair and smoothing the coat to help insulate the body more efficiently.
•Keeps the coat waterproof by stimulating glands at the base of the hairs.
•Cools the coat in hot weather.
•Spreads sebum along the coat, which produces Vitamin D when exposed to sunlight. Vitamin D is then ingested by the cat.

Regular Grooming of Your Cat
Although cats groom themselves on a daily basis, it is important and often necessary that owners also establish a regular grooming routine for their feline.

Start grooming your cat from an early age. Your kitten will come accustomed to the grooming procedure making it tolerant to your grooming efforts when it becomes an adult.

The frequency of the grooming depends upon the length and texture of coat. External factors, such as time of year, are also a contributing factor. Generally, shorthair cats will need to be groomed once or twice a week, while longhaired cats require daily grooming. It is best to stick to a routine which suites your cat.

Benefits of Grooming Your Cat

A regular grooming program for your cats has a number of benefits.

•Stimulates the skin, allowing oils to circulate the coat. This gives out a healthy shiny coat.
•Improves muscle tone.
•Removes excess hairs from the coat, which helps to minimize hairballs in the stomach.
•Allows you to check for fleas, ticks, ear mites, skin irritations, lumps or sore spots.
•Less cat hair throughout the house. This should help people with cat allergies.
•Helps form a bonding between cat and groomer.
•Gets kitten/cat used to being handled.

Combing and Brushing

Shorthair: Fine hooked metal comb and soft brush
Longhair: Stiff bristle brush and wide-toothed comb

Comb gently in direction of hair growth to smooth coat and remove minor knots or tangles. Then use a natural bristle brush, work along the lie of the coat. A rubber brush is good for removing dead hair, particularly for cats with fine, short fur. Knots should be teased out with fingers. If necessary cut out with blunt scissors.