If You Seriously Want Your Cat To Be Happy and Healthy, You Must
Help With Grooming
Although your cat may take the time to clean himself through
licking his paws and face, he does still need you. Cats don't
want to be dirty and they need you to help them stay clean.
Grooming your cat has to happen. You need to do it to remove the
loose hair on the cat.
Brushing
Brushing your cat's hair will keep it from ending up in his
stomach. It is not easy to digest and often the cat can only get
rid of it through hairballs. If they can not spit them up, they
are likely to clog the intestinal tract. Grooming can also
remove dirt and debris from the coat. It can help you to check
for fleas and ticks too.
Many cats do not hate to be groomed. It is much easier to become
accustomed to it if you start when he is still a kitten. Gently
brush or comb over the coat, following the fur from the neck to
the tail. If he becomes annoyed with you, stop and play with him
for a few minutes. When he is relaxed again, go back to it.
Don't groom the face or paws with the brush though.
Those who do not like to be brushed can still be groomed with a
different tool for example the grooming glove. When your cat is
in a good mood, the kitty will not mind the massage. The glove
is working to remove the hairs and the debris from the cat
though. Most cats won't even mind if you do this to their face
either.
Lastly, if you have a cat that has longer hair, take the time to
insure he is brushed. Those who are not will end up with matted
hair. To remove matted hair, the animal is likely to need to be
sedated and shaved. This is an awful experience for him so
insure that you keep his coat clean and brushed thoroughly
instead.
Check Eyes, Ears, Claws and Teeth, too
When you do brush him, make sure to check his eyes and his ears
too. They should be clear and bright without anything in the
corners. The ears should be clean and pink. Dirt that gets into
the ears can be a sign of ear mites. These can cause the ears to
shrivel up and your cat to lose his ability to hear. Make sure
to bring this to your vets attention.
If your cat has not been declawed, you'll need to remove the
hooks on the ends of the claws. Not only will this ruin your
clothing or upholstery, but it will also hurt your cat if he
becomes snagged on something. The cat's teeth should be free
from tartar buildup too. You'll need to keep them healthy by
brushing them once a day with a finger tip brush and pet
toothpaste.
If you follow these simple tips it will help your cat to be
happy and healthy, and full of life.