Grooming basics for your cat

It seems like cats spend a lot of time grooming themselves, but they still need some help from us to look and feel their best. Grooming sessions can be a relaxing time for you to bond with your cat, and your reward is a cleaner house and a healthier cat. Grooming also gives you a chance to examine him for flea infestation, lumps, or other signs of disease.

Grooming basics

Prevent hairballs by brushing your cat. Cats with short coats are low-maintenance, but should still shed and should be brushed weekly. Remove loose hair, dead skin and dirt with a bristle brush. Polish your kitty's coat with a grooming glove or washcloth.

Cats with long, luxurious coats, like Persians, need a lot of attention. Use a wide-tooth comb to remove tangles and gently comb out mats with a slicker brush daily. A spray-on detangler will help the comb go through without as much breakage. Carefully cut hair around his anal area to keep him clean. Consider clipping your cat's coat short or taking your pet to a professional groomer on a regular basis.

Ears, eyes & teeth

Check your cat's ears, eyes and teeth weekly. Remove wax and dirt from his ears with a cotton ball moistened with water or a little mineral oil. Cats are especially prone to ear mites, so cleaning his ears will prevent infestations. Do not insert any instrument in the ear canal. This can damage delicate tissues.

Brush your cat's teeth as part of his grooming routine. Use specially formulated toothpaste for cats. Toothpaste for humans or dogs can make him sick. A toothbrush or fingertip massager cleans his teeth and gums and prevents gum disease.

Nails

Clip his nails once a month. Gently squeeze his toe to extend the nail. Use a guillotine-type clipper to trim off the tip of each nail at the point. Be careful not to cut the sensitive pink area (called the quick) that can be seen through the nail. If you accidentally cut the quick, styptic powder will stop the bleeding. Cats shed the outer sheath of their nails by scratching rough surfaces, like your carpet or couch. Regular trims will curtail this activity, but not eliminate it.

Baths

Cats are very clean and don't need baths very often. But if you are faced with this daunting project, here's how to go about it. If your cat isn't used to baths, you might want to make this a two-person job: one to hold the cat, one to wash him. Start with a good brushing. Next, put a bland ophthalmic ointment in the cat's eyes and cotton in his ears. If he is really fighting you, masking tape around his paws will help keep him from scratching you. Place a rubber mat in the bathtub and help your cat get in without slipping. Use a spray hose to wet him thoroughly with warm, not hot, water. Apply shampoo starting at the head and moving toward his tail. Always use a shampoo formulated for cats. Human shampoo can irritate feline skin. Avoid the eyes, ears and nose and rinse thoroughly.

Dry him with a fluffy towel or blow dryer. Be sure to monitor the level of heat.