Persian Cat Grooming Tips

A Persian cat’s long coat can make grooming quite a challenge. However, by staying on top of your Persian’s grooming needs, you can eliminate the time spent working out tangles and mats. A few helpful tips may be all you need to keep your cat’s fur, ears, nails and eyes clean and healthy.

  1. Time

    • Dedicate plenty of time to grooming your cat. According to an article on Pictures of Cats.org, most Persians should be brushed at least ten minutes each day and bathed every one to two weeks. However, some cats need to be bathed more often, so keep an eye out for any signs that your cat's hair is becoming greasy or beginning to clump.

    Haircut

    • The right haircut can significantly reduce your Persian’s upkeep. You may want to ask your groomer to shave any areas that tend to become matted, such as the chest and stomach. Castlebath.com notes that some Persian cat owners prefer a lion cut, where the torso, upper legs, and majority of the tail are shaved, but normal growth is allowed everywhere else

    Mats

    • Work out any mats, before you bathe your cat. Getting mats wet will only cause them to worsen. If you cannot comb out the mats yourself, make an appointment with the groomer or veterinarian, before the skin becomes irritated or infected.

    Bathing

    • One experienced Persian owner at purrinlot.com suggests bathing your cat in a two-sided kitchen sink. Fill one half with a mixture of shampoo and water (never squirt shampoo directly on your cat) and the other side with clean-rinse water. Use a cup to pour the water over your cat, instead of using the spray nozzle.

    Rinsing

    • Most Persian owners do not rinse their cat’s fur thoroughly enough. Even when the cat’s fur looks and feels clean, spend several extra minutes pouring clean water over its fur.

    Brushing

    • A typical cat brush is not effective on a Persian cat’s fur. Instead, use a wide-toothed metal greyhound brush, for detangling and a wire slicker brush, for smoothing the fur.

    Nails

    • Keep your cat’s nails trimmed short. However, be careful not to cut past the quick. If you are uncomfortable trimming your Persian’s nails, make an appointment with a groomer, and watch how she trims them, so you can do it yourself, in the future.

    Ears

    • Never clean your Persian’s ears with Q-tips. However, you may use moistened cotton balls to wipe the inner flaps of its ears. Use this time to ensure that her ears are free from excessive wax and unusual odors.

    Eyes

    • Check your cat’s eyes frequently for redness, irritation or tear stains. Keep an eye rinse and allergy eye drops on hand, in case you need to rinse your cat’s eyes. Be sure to check for soap in your cat's eyes, after a bath.