Should I Groom My Cat?

Cat coat care

Regular brushing benefits your feline’s fine fur in lots of ways. Brushing removes loose fur so it won’t get tangled and matted, end up on your furniture, or become a hairball. It also stimulates kitty’s skin and helps distribute natural oils.

Use a wire-slicker brush and brush your cat’s fur in the direction it grows. Once you’ve combed out mats and loose fur, give your pal another once-over with a cat brush, using long, flowing strokes. Ooh, that fur is so soft and shiny!

You can also try a grooming glove, which will remove debris and smooth the fur as you give your cat a nice massage.

Whatever the tools you choose, be careful when brushing your kitty’s stomach. The finer hairs there can be more sensitive.

If your cat is a long-haired breed, be sure to get all the way down to the undercoat, the softer fur closest to a cat’s skin. Too much undercoat will make your cat too warm.

“Peticure” 101

Never trim your cat’s claws with ordinary scissors, which cut in the wrong shape and could injure kitty’s cuticles. Instead, use trimmers specifically designed for cats. Hold your cat’s paw firmly and squeeze at the base of each nail (causing it to stick out a bit). Cut off the tip of the nail with a single, clean stroke. Be careful not to cut too short or close to the quick, which is a vein that can bleed if nicked (it’s easiest to see in cats with light colored nails). Follow up with a nail file, filing toward the tip to smooth the edge.

Need help from a professional? Leave it to the Pet Stylists at our Grooming Salon.