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Articles

Cat Grooming Essentials - Warning Signs of Cat Health Problems By Jen Dixon

Cat Grooming By Terry Blackburn

Tips on Persian Cat Grooming By Jared D. Ingram

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Cat Grooming Essentials - Warning Signs of Cat Health Problems

When grooming your cat you should always make checking your cat for disease and illness part of your routine. It is advised that you groom your cat at least twice a week and if you have a long haired cat then daily. You should groom your long haired feline daily to avoid your feline friend developing hairballs and matted fur. When checking the skin of your cat gently rub your hands over its body. The signs of infection or health problems include lumps and wounds.

If you allow your cat outside then you should also be checking for ticks. These normally look like shiny balls which appear to be growing out of your cat's coat. Remember never to pull a tick straight out of your cat's fur. Instead using a little alcohol on cotton wool and then dab this onto the tick. The tick should contract its pincers and fall out of the fur.

Another essential area to check is underneath your cat's tail. Many long haired felines develop matted hair containing feces. I always advise that you cut away this matted hair to avoid potential infection. A good pair of household scissors should suffice. If you see any white rice shape particles in the faeces then your cat may have tapeworm and a trip to the vet is in order. Your vet will be able to recommend a good de-worming product.

If you find anything out of the ordinary when grooming your feline then you should definitely consult your vet for further advice and treatment.

You are kidding me! 90% of cat owners buy the wrong cat brush. Make sure you are the 10% who get the right cat brush. Those 10% use Furminator for cats! You owe it to your cat to groom him or her properly.

Cat Grooming

Cats are notorious for licking and cleaning themselves constantly, which begs the question why you should even consider cat grooming at all. However, you should be aware that there are any number of perfectly good reasons why your cat needs you to brush it regularly. For instance, cats that frequently spend time out of doors, will naturally shed their coat twice a year, preparing for the summer and winter conditions that they will be subjected to. On the other hand, indoor cats living in modern housing conditions, with consistent lighting and temperature conditions will shed moderately, but continuously, the full year round. In either case, shedding creates excess hair which the cat will lick at and swallow as it self grooms. Without regular brushing, the cat can develop uncomfortable hairballs from all the swallowed hair which will then be continuously "sicked up."

Long haired cats, in particular, need the most assistance in maintaining their coats in excellent condition, but all cats, including short haired cats will benefit from a regular vigorous brushing, which will get rid of extraneous materials caught in the fur, and will help to remove matted hair. Also you should recognize that cats will shed hair as an automatic and natural reaction to any stressful situation, even something so banal as household visitors or a brush (sorry for the pun) with other animals such as dogs. An additional consideration is that regular brushing will reduce dander and cat hairs about the house, which may be a great relief to anyone suffering from chest complaints such as asthma, for example. There is also the fact that getting the cat used to being handled will help the socialisation of the animal, and induce the cat to be more tolerant when it comes to taking baths or medication.

Start Young

It is best to begin the grooming routine at the kitten stage, 6-12 weeks of age being considered the optimum period when a kitten learns fastest about behaviour. A good learning foundation for brushing, bathing and nail trimming at this age will bear fruit later in developing a stress free mature cat. Keep grooming sessions short and don't forget to reward the animal with a treat at the end. Be gentle and patient, and do not pull the hair which can be painful and cause the cat to fear the grooming process. Be aware of your cat's patience level and if you see the cat's tail begin to swish, take that as a signal to end that session. You can always go back for a second session later.

Talking about tails, these are usually particularly sensitive and cats do not generally like having them touched, especially long haired cats. To untangle matted hair without causing pain, a suggestion would be to firstly sprinkle cornstarch or to spray hair detangler on the matted hair and gently work the mat out with a comb or brush. Remember that hairless cats get dirty much faster than long haired cats and will need to be brushed more regularly than them, perhaps as often as once a week, because their skin gets greasy.

Where to Groom

Choose a table or counter set at a comfortable height for you, which is well illuminated and make sure this is not in the kitchen. Cat's should never be allowed on kitchen surfaces, so to be obedient to this rule, choose a bathroom surface, the top of a washer or a laundry table top, and use a rubber grooming mat which the cat will become accustomed to standing on as a grooming surface. Never fuss, just adopt a relaxed but firm approach, and speak to your cat throughout. Don't forget a little treat as a reward when you finish. If you approach cat grooming in the way I have described, you will be surprised how quickly the grooming process will become accepted by your cat and will become a positive and rewarding experience for you both.

Terry Blackburn is an Internet Marketing Consultant, living in South Shields in the North-East of England. Author and Publisher of Cat Cote

Tips on Persian Cat Grooming

When you buy your own Persian cat, you should know the different responsibilities that come with it. You should be aware that your cat needs to be groomed regularly. Persian cat grooming is very important to keep your Persian cat happy and healthy. It is sometimes time consuming but just think of it as a moment to bond between you and your Persian cat.

Persian pets have very long and soft fur. It is prone to mats and dirt. Sometimes its fur looks clean but when you inspect it closely, you will find dirt hidden within its fur. There are also times when your cat's fur gets in the way when it poops or urinates. If your cat is not groomed regularly, mats in its fur might cause skin infections.

Here are some tips in Persian pet grooming

1. Use a comb instead of a brush when you groom your cat. Combing can effectively remove dead hair deep in its fur. Use a wide and metal toothed comb.

2. Persian cats may not take their bath daily. You can bathe them every two to six weeks depending on how dirty the fur is. Cats are natural groomers but there are times when the dirt is too much for them to clean by themselves. Make sure to remove mats before you bathe the cat.

3. When you decide to bathe your cat, make sure you use the right type of shampoo. The shampoo color must match with the color of the cat's fur. For example, use a dark colored shampoo when bathing a black Persian cat. You can also use a clear shampoo for any color of fur.

4. If you do not comb your cat daily, mats will form on its fur. Do not use very sharp scissors when you cut the mat. Your cat might get injured since they move without any notice. Make sure to comb the fur behind its ears, on its neck and legs. These are the areas where mats usually appear.

5. Cutting or trimming your cat's fur can help you prevent many problems associated with its fur. You can avoid getting poop and urine on its fur. Matting will not be a problem since your cat will have shorter hair. You can ask your veterinarian to give your cat a lion cut. As much as possible, take your cat to the groomer instead of you trimming the cat's fur to prevent unnecessary cuts and injuries.

6. Keep your Persian pets indoors. There are many things outside your house that can make your cat's fur dirty. In this way, you can lessen the tangles in its fur and lessen how frequent you give your cat a bath. Persian cats shed minimally so do not worry about its fur flying anywhere.

Persian cat grooming will require your patience. Some maybe complicated but some are simple enough for you to do it yourself. You should keep in mind that this is as important as feeding your cat. cat grooming in the end will be rewarding for both the cat and yourself.

Are you looking for more information regarding Persian cat grooming? Visit Passionate About Persions today!

Offers

Pet Urns
This is a new partner, so please take a look. Pets To Rest is an industry leading, family owned cremation urn company based in California, USA. They pride themselves on providing clients with a vast catalog of urns to choose from.

Furminator Shedding Comb, Large	Furminator Shedding Comb Small
Mat Removal Comb	Anti-itch spray
Mycodex Flea Shampoo	Brightening Shampoo to add shine to the coat.
Shed No More Plus Hairball Control For Cats 90 Sprinkle Capsules	Small Comfort Tip Brush
Oatmeal shampoo for cats with flea allergies.	Allergroom shampoo gently removes dander.
Hairball remedy	Grooming wipes for between shampoos

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