Tips on Grooming Your Cat

Our two cats love it when I approach them with one of their grooming brushes or combs! Our female cat is quite petite, and her fur is quite thin, so grooming her is easy...although she is a little hesitant to let me groom her tummy-fur. Our male cat is quite a bit larger, and his fur is quite thick, so grooming him is a little more work, but he is rather fond of having his fur brushed and combed, so when I groom him, he is inclined to lay quite still. In fact, he often rolls over a few times to let me groom him on all sides!

Basically, grooming cats is not difficult...unless your cats are the skittish type. Some cats do not like too much stimulation, and may become a little agitated if brushed too long or too rough. In fact, some cats may lash out and scratch after being brushed or combed for a few minutes. Seems that they love it, but it becomes too much for them...so if you know your cat(s) well enough, try these simple steps to help remove some of their shedding fur. They will thank you, because otherwise they will be licking all that fur, swallowing most of whatever comes loose on their tongues, then vomiting up massive fur-balls. That cannot be very comfortable!

Most people have an old hair brush and comb around the house...and those items work quite well for home-grooming of cats.
Begin by using a hair brush (one that has bristles that are not too stiff or too sharp); brush the cat from the top of the head to the tip of the tail, in smooth, light strokes. Do not bear down too hard, as this may cause their skin to become irritated. Clean the brush periodically to keep already removed fur from being re-deposited on the cat. Brush lightly all around the cat's body...or as much as you can access without forcing the cat into positions it may not appreciate.
Continue brushing until you feel you have removed most of the easily-removed fur.

Next, use the comb...preferably one with fairly fine teeth. Holding the comb at a fairly flat angle against the cat's body, lightly stroke from head to tail. You will notice that the comb may become stuck at some points...this usually means there is thicker fur under the top layers which is holding the comb back. Do not pull too hard, as that may cause pain and irritation. Instead, try to lift the comb a little and pull through that area with several light strokes to remove any fur loose enough to come out with light pressure. We don't want to strip the fur off the cat, y'know?

As you carry out these grooming steps, your cat may let you know that he/she has had enough by simply trotting away. Some cats may let you groom them for hours; however, they need to keep their fur-coats intact, so use discretion! Some cats will actually roll-over for you to get at their underside...use extreme caution there! Cats are quite sensitive to tummy-tickling...but most cat owners already know that! If you are grooming their tummies, stroke very lightly to avoid over-stimulation or injury.

Once you have finished your grooming, it is a good idea to stroke your hand along the cat's body to help lift any remaining loose fur that may have settled back onto them. Their newly-groomed fur coat should feel smooth and silky.

Most cats will thank you many times over for your attention to their grooming needs. After all, I would think they may get a little tired of doing it all with their tongues! Cats are normally very fastidious about their personal hygiene, so you must also respect that as you groom them. Do not brush or comb them against the normal lay of their fur...do not pull too hard, either, as these may aggravate them. Be as gentle as you can, and, most of all...be sure to talk with your cats while grooming them...they will normally respond with those unmistakable love-eyes, which will reassure you that they appreciate what you are doing for them!

Good luck...and happy grooming!