Grooming short-haired cats may not be much of a tedious task to include in our regular pet care routine. But surely, you always get to think of scratches from hell when we take our cats in a bath session for example. But as we look after our cats’ welfare, grooming can mean so much to them and to their lives as they get older.
Do Cats Groom Themselves?
Cats do groom themselves for a lot of reasons. Probably, you might be seeing your cat spending the whole day sleeping, eating, and grooming herself. Grooming is an important part of a cat’s daily regimen. Cats groom themselves to cool down when the temperature rises or simply to calm themselves when stressed out. Sometimes, when a cat has been from a fight, she licks and grooms her body to get rid of foreign scents and retain her natural smell.
As we all know, cats are naturally neat and clean creatures but most of the time, they like to do the cleaning all by themselves, from licking, and scratching, to licking again. But it’s never wrong to take on the tasks by ourselves, especially when we think of the best for our cats. No matter how cats have been so meticulous when it comes to hygiene all on their own, they could still use a little bit of help from us.
Though it is not quite long hard work to groom short-haired cats unlike their long-haired relatives, the idea of taking these water-hating creatures is still a big thing to handle. Here are some cat grooming tips to help you do it properly and to simply let your cat fall in love with regular grooming even more:
Getting Started
If you’re taking your cat to a grooming session for the first time, don’t just snatch her out from her comfy, serene situation and force it, otherwise, you’ll end up crying for a messy altercation with your finicky cat throughout the day. There are a few steps to follow when getting started and being gentle and patient are always part of the game.
Brushing Short-haired Cat
Brushing is the most prior step when it comes to short hair cat grooming. Brushing your cat helps her get dead hair off and sort out small fur tangles. It can also help your cat get rid of parasites like fleas and eggs sticking to her fur, especially behind the ears and neck. Brushing or combing will also feel like a massage to your cat when you do it properly and gently.
- Use a Brush With Soft Bristles
Start everything with a gentle touch. When it comes to choosing a hairbrush or comb, it’s best for you to use brushes with soft bristles or a fine-toothed comb as it will help regulate your cat’s hypersensitivity while perceiving something on her body. - Always Follow The Grain
When brushing your cat, always follow the hair’s direction or the “grain”. It’s also good for the hair and keeps it in a neat, shiny look. - Be Extra Careful In The Belly And Chest
You know how sensitive a cat is in some parts of her body, most especially the belly and chest. Be gentle as you do the brushing. Also, watch for small specks as indications of fleas and ticks’ presence. And remove them as soon as possible.
Nail-Clipping
Nail-clipping is an entirely foreign feeling for your cat which could upset her if you do it the wrong way. To prevent unfortunate circumstances with your kitty, letting her get used to feet and paw touching sessions may eventually help her get along with it. Also, it’s important for you to clip stubborn nails from time to time as they may get painful and may cause infections to your cat’s feet like ingrown nails.
- Massage the cat’s feet and paws on a daily basis
If you plan to trim your cat’s nails for the first time ever, practice massaging your cat’s feet and paws on a daily basis. Cats don’t really like having someone touching their feet but as you do it in regular sessions, it will eventually let your cat perceive it as part of her usual routine that she has to take on every day. - Use sharp clippers specifically designed for cats
Always opt for sharp clippers suitable for feline use. They can be bought from all pet stores near you. - Be very careful not to cut the pink area
Always watch for the small vein that runs through your cat’s paws. Avoid it as much as you can to prevent bleeding. If you accidentally cut the skin, don’t panic – get your kit, press with soft cotton or pad to stop bleeding, and apply first-aid.
Bathing
Your cat’s hair will naturally get oily and greasy, which is why your cat may need to have her bath session for some time – no matter how much she sneers on it. It will also keep her fresh and clean which is good for her health. By starting off with a pleasant bath setup, you can help your cat take her bath with fewer protests.
- Place A Rubber Bath Mat
Place a rubber bath mat on the tub or sink to provide your cat with a secure footing. Fill the tub with lukewarm water to a depth of 3 to 4 inches. - Use A Spray Hose Or A Cup
Wet your cat with a spray hose with just a steady water pressure to avoid messy splashes everywhere. If you don’t have a spray hose, you can use a cup or a pitcher so you can have control over pouring water on your cat. Start by wetting her body while avoiding direct spray on her eyes, nose, and ears. Concentrate on hidden areas like under the legs, behind the ears, and belly to check for fleas and ticks. - Use A Mild Cat Shampoo
Always opt for a shampoo that is specifically formulated for felines. Shampoos may vary according to the purpose from flea repellent, to odor control, and more. You can use whatever you deem fit for your cat or as what was recommended by your vet. Massage the right amount of shampoo to your cat’s body, still avoiding direct contact with the eyes, ears, and nose. Check for any presence of fleas and take them out as soon as possible. - Rinse thoroughly
After shampooing, rinse your cat thoroughly to get rid of excess chemicals that may be present in the product you are using. Also, you don’t want some soap still sticking on your cat’s hair, do you? Afterwhich, dry your cat with a large, clean towel or with a blow dryer.
Important Advice for Grooming:
It’s better to start off or practice grooming at kittenhood. That way your cat gets used to it and may eventually even love more sessions as she gets older. But if do it with an adult kitty, above are some of the best cat grooming solutions that can help your cat incorporate these sessions into her daily habit. Of course, it also entails action with a gentle and patient approach.
Cat grooming is one of the important duties that you must do in a timely manner, even though cats don’t ask for it, they simply need it. You just got to master some proper cat grooming techniques to keep a smooth session all the way whether you do it on your own or even opt for a short-haired cat grooming service.
Grooming your cat is tantamount to giving her the healthy, long life she deserves. Doing so will eventually keep you aware of your cat’s physical condition, by then you get time to check for hidden lumps on her body and small infections or even parasite infestation. It can also help your cat prevent digestive problems caused by loose hairballs. And lastly, aside from all these health benefits, it helps your cat stay in good shape and keep her fabulously looking good which can be loved by anyone even more.
At Mission Cats, we also make it part of our compassionate program to give cats the best care and attention every day for cat parents like you. We offer cat grooming services that are done with gentleness and passion by cat-loving staff. Aside from that, there are lots of surprising things we offer to just simply make you and your kitty happy. We are best at pet sitting and pet walking, and we also stimulate fun among your adventure-loving pets. We love helping you give the best care for your kitty and offer her a well-deserved fun reward.
