Cat Grooming Techniques

Brushing Fur

• Plan for excess fur coming off your cat. Use a towel or sheet over yourself, and brushing the cat while sitting on a non-carpeted floor will make it easier to sweep up after you're done.
  Start the session by petting the cat to calm it, then remove excess fur and give the fur coat a nice healthy sheen.
  With a shorthaired cat, use a fine-tooth metal comb from head to tail. Switch to a rubber or soft natural-bristle brush and brush the cat from head to tail. Make sure to comb and brush the cat's belly as well.
  With a longhaired cat, use the wider side of a double-sided comb to clear tangles first and then switch to the fine-tooth comb. Use a wire brush to remove more of the fur. Many grooming brushes have two sides: a wire brush side and a soft bristle side. If you want to increase the volume of the cat's fur, comb with the fine-tooth comb from tail to head after brushing. Take care of the fur around the cat's face by using a soft toothbrush.
  Longhaired cats need to be brushed daily to avoid tangles and mats in the fur, and to help avoid hairballs. Shorthaired cats may only need to be brushed a couple times a week, although doing it more often won't hurt. Many shorthaired cats love to be brushed, so you can do it every day if you want to.

Clipping Claws

• Cat claws are cylindrical in shape and have small blood vessels in them, so care must be taken when clipping the claws to avoid hurting the cat. Scissors should never be used to clip a cat's claws, because they will crush the claws, which is quite painful to the cat.
  You will need tools specifically designed for clipping claws. These can be purchased at any pet store. You can use clippers that have blades designed for the shape of a cat's claw. They will either cut or slice the end of the claw off. An electric grinder that grinds down the claw is now available for purchase.
  If your cat doesn't want to cooperate with this, you may need a second person--one will hold the cat while the other clips the claws. The person holding the cat should also hold the three paws that aren't being clipped.
  To clip the claws, press on the knuckle just above the claw to extend it out. Make sure you're in a well-lit room so you can see the pink flesh inside the claw. Do not cut down too close to it, or the claw will start to bleed. You may only get to do one or two paws, depending on the stress level of the cat. You can always do the rest of the claws the next day.
  Clip the claws about once every two weeks or so depending on how fast the claws grow and how much you remove when clipping (and how much damage the cat is doing to your furniture).

Bathing

• Bathing doesn't need to be a regular part of grooming a cat, since cats will give themselves a bath by licking their fur. However, if a cat has fleas or gets something on it that it can't lick off--or if you just like the look of a show cat--you can give it a bath, but be prepared for the cat to not be happy, especially if it isn't used to having a bath.
  Use a small portable tub or a large sink for the bath. Use a cat shampoo or a flea shampoo if the cat has fleas. Use warm, not hot, water.
  Put only about four inches of water in the tub or sink. Use a plastic jug or large cup to pour water on the cat while avoiding the face. Rub in the shampoo while avoiding the face. Rinse off the cat with the jug or cup. Use clean water for the final rinse.
  Wrap the cat in a large towel and dry it off as much as you can. Give the cat a good brushing after the bath.