Cat grooming

By nature, cats groom themselves. This is normal behaviour and, unless you have a show cat, it is unlikely they will require additional grooming. If they do stop grooming themselves regularly then take them to your vet.

Grooming your cat will minimise the amount of hair shed around the home. It may also help with the problem of hairball regurgitation, especially if your cat has a propensity for this. Be sure to start grooming your kitten from a young age so they become accustomed to it and see it as a regular practice.

For social animals, such as cats, grooming is an important activity. It helps build trust and relationships. It can also be a way for cats to reconcile or resolve conflict. Taking the time to groom your cat can be relaxing both for you and the cat. It will also help strengthen your relationship with them.

Grooming your cat doesn’t just involve brushing their fur, although this is a major part of it. It is a good time to check your cat for irritated skin, lumps, bumps, ticks, fleas or anything else that might require a vet’s attention. You can also trim your cat’s nails, but it may be best to ask your vet how to go about this or let them do it for you.

There are lots of tools you can use to groom your cat with. Some you can find around the home and others can be purchased at pet stores. There is a large variety of brushes, grooming gloves and other accessories to make grooming fun and pleasurable for both you and your cat. A trip to your nearest pet store or a quick online search will bring up lots of places to find grooming tools.

Here is a site with good diagrams on how to groom your long-hair cat and your short-hair cat. Remember, a cat’s eyes are just as sensitive as our own, if not more so. They need to be clean but take care when brushing their face not to hurt them.

Your cat is a social creature and they love the attention. Enjoy the time you spend with your cat and they’ll enjoy the time they spend with you.

Always be aware though that if your cat is doing something out of the ordinary and you aren’t sure why, take them to the veterinarian.