Search about cats

Cat Skin Problems - Preventing Them

Cat skin problems are a common form of ailment in the feline, but are preventable, especially if you brush them at regular intervals. The more hair you remove, the less they can lick off and swallow or shed throughout the house. This will help reduce the problem of hairballs. Frequent grooming also keeps the coat smooth and shiny and free of parasites and other skin problems. Once a week grooming should be sufficient for older cats. however, long haired cats with thick coats should be combed every day.

When brushing a short haired cat, begin at the head and work towards the tail moving a narrow- toothed-comb gently through the fur. Then brush in the same direction with a bristle or rubber brush.

Using a hound glove or chamois cloth, polish the coat to give it a sheen. With a long haired cat, use a wide-toothed-comb and work against the lay of the hair to fluff out the coat. Comb upwards over the legs and sides of the chest, the back, flanks and tail. Then use a brush in the same fashion. The fur around the head is brushed up to form a frame for the face.

The cat's ears should be inspected weekly along with a routine inspection of the teeth, to make sure there is not a buildup of tartar or food.

Indoor cats should be trained to use a scratching post to keep their front claws worn down. If training has not been successful you might need to trim them. As a rule, you will need to clip only the front nails. most cats chew their back claws during the social grooming process. Nail clippers with two cutting edges are the best. Lift up your cat's front paw and squeeze one toe between your thumb and finger to extend the vessels. Identify the pink part of the nail that contains the nerves and blood vessels. Be sure to cut the clear part of the nail well ahead of the pink part quickly. If you slip and bleeding occurs, you can use a cotton ball or styptic (used for shaving), to stop the bleeding. I have also personally found that flour works best to stop bleeding.

While, many cats groom themselves and stay fairly clean, there are times when they get dirty and need to have a bath. It is difficult to lay down rules for bathing a cat because of the different coat types and personalities of the specific cat. Over bathing can remove natural oils which are essential for the health of the coat. Most owners prefer to bathe only for a specific purpose. Periodic social grooming by the cat will keep the coat smooth and shiny. This will help to eliminate the need for frequent bathing. However, when the coat is badly stained or has a strong odor and when a brushing isn't enough, a bath becomes necessary. Even though bathing a dirty cat can reduce the risks of skin problems, cats with already existing skin problems might need to be bathed with medicated shampoos.

Brushing the coat, clipping the nails, inspecting the ears and teeth, and bathing are four preventative measures an owner can take to eliminate cat skin problems.

I have been feeding and rescuing stray cats for over 20 years. I currently have 4 males and 2 females at home.

http://hubpages.com/hub/Cat-Problems-Within-My-Home

No comments:

Post a Comment