Cats are proud of their fur coats. And they love to preen and primp. Watching a cat groom herself is a study in agility and concentration. For the most part they are very good at it. Being naturally fastidious, it almost seems like cats groom themselves just for the heck of it.
Does this mean your cat doesn't need any help from you? No way.
Two very good reasons to be involved in grooming your cat are:
1. It keeps them healthier and it makes both your lives easier
2. The bond between you is strengthened.
With long-haired cats, especially, they need human help. Nothing is worse than a cat's hair becoming matted. It is very, very uncomfortable for them. I've seen some poor creatures with severe mats that hindered their walking. It's enough to make you cry. Imagine walking in their paw prints for awhile!
In severe cases, it's best to have a groomer or yourself shave the coat. Don't worry. It will grow in quickly. Much better than pulling and yanking and having both you and the cat in total distress. All cat owners know how much pride your cat exhibits. When their coat is not looking its best, they can actually get a pout on.
And then there's the hairballs. Yech! We don't like them. The cat isn't too thrilled, either, when one demands to be expelled. Sometimes the gagging noise alone is enough to give you a coronary. So is stepping on one in bare feet.
Good grooming cuts down on the volume of hair in all sorts of places. The cat's stomach, the coach and your new hot, little black dress.
Grooming Tools
For long-haired cats, choose a pin brush. (yes, it looks like a pin cushion) You can finish with a medium-toothed comb. Short to medium coated cats will want to start with a fine-toothed comb and finish with what is called a slicker brush. (your pet store has such a selection of grooming tools, you'll be bug-eyed)
Some like to use a grooming glove that fits over the hand. For cats who don't care much for being groomed by the owner, the grooming glove fools them into thinking they are being petted. (we need our tricks, too) Of course, it's whatever you prefer. You may need to experiment with different tools to find the ones that work the best and your cat likes the most.
Again, brushing and combing your cat works best if they are trained from a young age. But, with patience, most cats will adjust. Keeping in mind, there are cats who will have you running for the band-aids if you attempt to go anywhere near them with a brush.It doesn't pose too much of a problem if this is a short-haired breed. Long-haired cats, while beautiful, do come with added responsibility. For their own well-being, they do need our assistance.
As always, patience truly is a virtue!
K.D. Cook has always lived with at least one cat. Presently, K.D. is owned by a beautiful 8 year-old, female domestic long-hair.
He invites you to pussy-foot around her very own blog at http://thegoodcat.blogspot.com
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