[ How Cats Can Transmit Infection ] [ Site Map ] [ Feline Statistics ] [ Cat Care ] [ Autogrooming ] [ Allogrooming ] 

[ Feline Behaviour ] 

Feline Grooming

Cats are very clean animals, and spend a lot of their time grooming themselves, but they will still need a helping hand. The Persian requires daily grooming and weekly grooming is a must for the shorter haired cats. Regular grooming not only keeps the coat in good condition, it also helps you to:

* Detect fleas or other parasites and effect treatment before they become too much of a problem.

* Minimise the chances of your cat developing fur balls by swallowing too much fur.

* Notice sore or swollen areas, before they can develop into more serious conditions.

The type of equipment you choose is dependent upon your cats breed and fur length. Here is a listing of items that will be of help:

Longhaired

Start by gently combing through the coat with the wide-toothed comb, paying special attention to the armpits, tummy and inside the rear legs. As these areas are prone to matting. Lightly sprinkle some baby powder into the coat (take care to protect the eyes), as this will help the brush to glide through the fur more easily. It will also separate the hairs, thus adding bulk to the coat.

Now thoroughly but gently brush the coat using the wire brush, brushing the fur towards the cat's head to check that the knots have been removed. You might feel happier using the bristle brush as it is easy to damage the fur using a wire brush. The best method for the rather delicate areas like the face is to use a toothbrush, taking extra care near the eyes. If you want to add that final 'finishing touch'! a slicker brush can be used.

Remove excess dead fur by the use of the rubber toothed grooming bar, then use the fine-toothed comb, removing any remaining fur left by the grooming bar. Next you can give the cat a thorough brushing with the bristle brush. The good thing about shorthaired cats is that you can 'hand groom' them; this is done by stroking firmly with the palms of your hands, working from the head towards the tail. If you sprinkle a small amount of bay rum onto your hand before you start it will bring out the colour of your cat's coat.

Finally if you really want to see your cats coat at its best, using a piece of chamois leather or silk will give it that extra shine!