When it comes to hygiene and self-grooming, cats are the personification of cleanliness. Although cats are self-reliant when it comes to hygiene, it is essential for their owners to help them maintain a clean and healthy life. At Country Boarding for Cats and Dogs, we have highlighted five grooming tips to help your cat maintain a healthy and clean lifestyle. We hope you find this article helpful.
1. Start Early.
Start grooming your cat from an early age. Many owners groom their kittens from an early age to help familiarise them to human touch. The more you gently stroke and handle your kitten with love and affection, the more receptive they will be towards grooming in general as they grow and develop.
2. Brush regularly.
Naturally, longer haired cats will need to be brushed more often than those with shorter coats. Typically, short-haired cats should be groomed weekly, whilst long-haired cats, need to be brushed twice or even three times each week to help remove any hairballs or matting. However, if your cat is not enjoying the grooming session, then stop and try again later when they are calm and ready. It is important for your cat to be calm and for you to create a peaceful and positive environment when you brush them.
3. Ears.
Ear infections can cause your cat pain and irritation. An effective way to prevent ear infections is to regularly examine your cat’s ears to ensure there is no discharge, odour, or soreness. As a rule of thumb, your cat’s ears should be odourless, clear of any wax or dirt, and pink in colour. After inspecting your cat’s ears, gently wipe them with a clean damp cloth, washing the outer edges.
4. Regularly Clip Claws
Ensure your cat’s nails stay healthy by regularly inspecting them and watching out for overgrown or ingrown claws. Some indoor cats can develop overgrown nails and if untreated, this can cause them considerable discomfort. In some cases, if left untreated, an overgrown claw can become infected and lead to an injury. However, before you begin clipping your cat’s claws it is important for them to get used to you touching their paws. As soon as your cat is used to you touching their paws, use a recommended cat nail trimmer and begin by clipping a little at a time, ensuring you avoid the pink or red area of their claw known as ‘the quick’. If you are ever unsure or feel uncomfortable cutting your cat’s claws, then take them to a qualified vet or cat groomer who will be more experienced in this grooming practice.
5. Reward.
Grooming your cat should be a positive experience. If your cat associates grooming in a negative way then they will be less receptive to you brushing or clipping them. To ensure your cat’s grooming experience is more enjoyable make sure you have their favourite cat treats or soft toys available. Many cats will soon associate positive rewards with their grooming session and then as soon as they are feeling calm and distracted by their reward, begin to gently groom them.
Final thoughts…
Grooming your cat is not only beneficial for their physical and mental health, it can also help strengthen the bond between the two of you. By following these five grooming tips, we hope you will be able to maintain a healthy, clean, and happy life for your feline friend. At Country Boarding for Cats and Dogs we are proud at providing a luxury cattery service for the Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire, and Bedfordshire region. We operate in and around Stevenage, Hitchin, Letchworth and Baldock. Call us on 01462 742658 if you would like to enquire about boarding your cat with us.