Guide to Cats Grooming (Tips For Grooming at Home)

All cats need some level of cats grooming, and much of it can be done at home. The type of grooming your cat needs is based on things like their coat type or the climate you live in. Cats need more grooming because they shed their winter coat when good weather arrives.

 

Determine Cats Grooming Needs

Hairless cats should not be brushed but should still be bathed. Claw trimming, base cleaning, skincare, and regular ear cleaning are also necessary, as with their furry friends.

Most short-haired cats are considered low maintenance and generally need brushing weekly or bi-weekly, but some may only need it once a month. Semi-long-haired cats need weekly brushing for a well-groomed coat.

Long-haired cats generally need daily brushing and combing to prevent tangles from forming. This practice also helps remove dirt and manage hair loss.

And remember always to use a soft voice and give your cat regular treats during each home cats grooming session to comfort and put her at ease.

 

Management Of Brushing And Hair Loss

Brushing is one of the easiest ways to deal with cat hair that can quickly accumulate on your couches and clothes. Brushing also allows you to bond with your feline while improving the health of his coat. Not only does this provide him with physical comfort, but you can also help your cat reduce self-grooming issues, such as hairballs or oil buildup in his coat.

Additionally, brushing helps reduce the amount of hair and dandruff you'll find on your furniture and floors, especially when outside temperatures warm up and hair loss increases. You just need to brush him from head to toe, as much as needed. Don't forget to use a comb to maintain his undercoat as well. 

Give Your Cat A Bath

How often you bathe your cat depends on their coat type and lifestyle.

Hairless cat breeds need weekly baths to help manage the buildup of oil, dirt, and sweat. You can use a damp washcloth or baby wipes to keep the skin hygienic between baths. However, if your cat has hair but doesn't like baths, wiping it off with a washcloth is a less stressful alternative.

It's no secret that most cats find baths atrocious. However, they may get used to it over time. A few simple strategies can help make bath time easier. 

Here's what you'll need to get started:

Treats

Shampoo for cats

Cat conditioner (optional)

Cups for rinsing

A non-slip mat

Several towels

An assistant (if available)

Old clothes for yourself and your helper

The key to successfully bathing a cat is preparation. Once you have gathered the accessories, prepare the space. The bathroom is ideal because you can close the door and thus create a safe and quiet room while limiting the chances of your cat running away.

Have the water ready before your cat enters the bathroom, as dripping water could make them uncomfortable. Make sure the water is shallow, level with his lower chest, and the cups for rinsing are already filled with water. You can place a non-slip mat in the bath.

Next, it's time to prepare your cat. Brush him from head to toe to remove tangles, dead hair, or impurities. If your cat isn't comfortable with brushing or bathing, try separating those two tasks with a pause and plenty of petting and verbal praise. When you're done, call your assistant, take your feline friend to the bathroom, and close the door.

Drop him calmly and gently into the bath; use a relaxed tone of voice and take a delicate approach.

Ask your assistant to hold it or pass the accessories to you while you rinse and soap him, avoiding his face. Follow the steps described in the products, using the cups of water for rinsing. You can use a damp washcloth to wipe away any dirt on his face.

Be sure to rinse your cat thoroughly to remove all traces of products. Shampoo or conditioner residue can build up. Finally, dry your cat's coat as much as possible before letting him do his business.

 

Trim A Cat's Claws

Trimming your cat's claws at home can be daunting. But we have some tips that can make it a better experience. Maintaining your cat's claws improves his physical comfort. It also helps protect you and household items like curtains, sofas, and rugs from scratches.

Before you get started, try making contact with his paws for a few play or cuddling sessions. Your cat should ultimately feel more comfortable having his paws touched. When you and your cat are ready for an at-home nail trim, ask a friend to help. You can also wait until your cat is tired after a play session to do the trimming. 

Here's what you'll need to get started:

A claw cutter

Styptic powder or cornstarch

An assistant

Treats

Find a comfortable place where you, your helper, and your feline friend can all feel comfortable. Clip only a few claws at a time, then verbally praise and briefly stroke your cat. The ideal is to keep the time of the sessions short. And don't forget to trim the extra claw on each of his front legs, also called a spur.

To carve, lightly squeeze the top of each finger with your thumb and index finger, exposing the claw. Use the nail clipper on the sides, not the top; just trim the tip. Be careful not to cut into the raw flesh (it contains nerve endings and blood vessels). It is pink, and you should be able to see it from the sides of the claw. It's important to leave some space between the raw flesh and where you cut.

As you prune, check the claw length by looking at it from the front. Cut about halfway between the tip of his claw and the tip of the live flesh.

If you unintentionally cut into the raw flesh and the claw begins to bleed, apply pressure immediately. If the bleeding does not stop, use styptic powder or cornstarch to help stop the bleeding. In such a case, end the session and then give verbal praise and petting to your cat.

If you or your cat aren't comfortable with nail trimming at home, take them to a professional groomer for help.

An additional trick for the maintenance of claws: place scratching posts everywhere in the house. This allows him to naturally file his claws while sparing your furniture.

 

Cat Skincare

As with humans, good skin care starts with hydration. Make sure your cat drinks enough water. If his gums seem pale, you may need to increase his water intake. Also, consider adding quality wet cat food to his diet. If your vet is okay with it, consider giving her small doses of omega-3 fatty acids with her meals.

The humidity in the air can also influence the health of the skin. If the air in your home is dry, consider getting a humidifier to improve the quality.

The final type of hydration we recommend is in topical form – yes, there are moisturizers for cat skin. Their use can help during the dry winter months. You'll probably only need it if you have a hairless cat.

We hope this guide will be helpful for cats grooming at home.

Best Products for Cats

 Cats  grooming At Grooming Salon

While Cats Grooming is so important, choosing the right groomer and how you manage this process is also of great importance for your cat's comfort. Now let's give you a few little tips about it.

 What You Can Do During Cats Grooming

Don't improvise, groomer. It requires expertise to do this job well without hurting or stressing the animal. You should know that the field of grooming is not regulated, and anyone can improvise groomer. It is, therefore, necessary to make sure to choose your groomer carefully.

There are also home cats grooming services that have the advantage of not stressing the cat unnecessarily during a car trip. Although few, there are more and more ethical groomers offering a low-stress grooming service. They have several techniques to manage the animal's stress, going as far as interrupting work in the middle of the session to continue another day if the cat is too stressed.

Important note: ask the groomer not to put the famous fragrant powder often used at the end of grooming. This is useless and can even harm when the cat is reintroduced into his environment with other cats. This brings us to talk about what to do when you get home.

 

How to Avoid Cat Fights After Cats Grooming

One of the most common problems after cats grooming is to see him clash with his colleagues and treat each other as sworn enemies when they return home. The explanation is that cats identify not only by their looks but also by their smell. So when a cat comes back with no hair on his body except for the head, the tips of the legs, and the tip of the tail (the famous insultingly beautiful pompom), it looks nothing like the bushy cat full of hair that it was before leaving home. Moreover, as the hair on which his scent was found has been shaved off, he no longer carries his identifying scent. He is, therefore not recognized by his congeners, who now consider him an invader.

This is why, on returning from the veterinarian or groomer, the cat must be isolated in a room with its litter, food, and water, and this WITHOUT contact with other cats for about 5 to 7 hours. This will allow the cat to calm down from this very stressful time and maybe even get some sleep. He will also be able to wash completely and thus put his unique smell back all over his body) so that his feline friends from the same house can identify him by his smell even though he no longer has hair. 

Techniques After Grooming

When the kitty lockdown is over, don't just open the door and hope everyone recognizes each other by their scent. Put the odds on your side by using the following technique:

Offer all the cats in the house a bowl of their favorite food or treat that you place on either side of the door to the room where the newly groomed cat is confined.

 Arrange the bowls so all the cats can see each other when you open the door. Open the door about a few inches when all the cats are eating. If one of the cats stops eating and stares at the other cat (or tries to approach it), close the door and call a cat behavior consultant to perform a reintroduction technique.

If they continue to eat, you can slowly open the door. Then observe their interactions. If the cats show no signs of stress or aggression, let them loose. If one of the cats spits or growls, get their attention with treats or games to distract them. If he becomes too insistent, put the groomed cat back in the containment room and repeat the technique later.

So remember that the cat can take care of his toilet alone and without your help. Suppose your intervention becomes necessary in the event of an exception. In that case, you must ensure that you do things correctly, safely, and above all by limiting as much as possible the stress often associated with cats grooming.