Unlike dogs, cats are mostly self-sufficient pets. Besides providing your cat with food, water, and a litter box (and keeping it clean), there’s little else required of you for your pet to live a happy life. Cats will even groom themselves when they feel the need, such as after eating or using their litter box. But just because your cat grooms herself a-plenty, there can be occasions when you might want to give your kitty some extra TLC.
There can be a lot of reasons why you might want to learn how to groom your cat. For instance, despite your cat’s self-grooming efforts, you may just want to be able to give your cat’s fur a deeper cleaning. Or, you may want to trim her nails, or clean those parts of her body that she just can’t reach, like her ears, eyes, and teeth.
In this post, you’ll learn how to groom a cat safely and properly, so your furbaby can be happy, clean, and healthy.
How to Clean Your Cat’s Ears
Over time, dirt, wax, and other debris can build up in your cat’s ears, so regularly checking her ears when you play with her is recommended. If you notice that your cat’s ears are a little dirty, then place a little bit of feline liquid ear cleaner on a cotton ball and gently wipe away the dirt. Be sure to fold your cat’s ears back gently and lift the dirt away. Never rub the dirt or try to clean your cat’s ear canal, as that can result in injury.
If your ear inspection shows signs of discharge, redness, or swelling, then you should contact your veterinarian to have your cat’s ears examined because she may need an antibiotic or other medicine.
How to Clean Your Cat’s Eyes
Some cat breeds are more prone to have general eye discharge over others, but if you notice your cat suffering from substantial discharge from her eyes, then a trip to the veterinarian is recommended because she may be suffering from an illness or injury to her eyes.
Like checking your cat’s ears, you should also check her eyes regularly, so you can hopefully catch any issues early on and get her the treatment she needs. When inspecting her eyes, they should be clear and bright, and the area around the eyeball should be white. Her pupils should be equal in size.
If she just has non-serious eye discharge, then you can clean it simply by using a damp cotton ball to wipe away the gunk. Use a fresh cotton ball on each eye. If your cat has long hairs that could be causing her to suffer ocular problems, then carefully snip the hairs away or take her to the vet to have it done if you are nervous using scissors near your cat’s face.
How to Clean Your Cat’s Teeth
Your cat’s teeth should be clean and free of tartar, and her gums should be firm and pink (not red). Her breath should also be free of abnormally strong odors. If any of these are not the case, or if you discover loose teeth, swollen gums, ulcers, pus, or a dark red line along your cat’s gums, then you should take your cat to the vet for a dental check-up.
Regularly cleaning your cat’s teeth will help her avoid many common feline dental issues, like gingivitis, receding gums, and tooth loss. The best way to brush your cat’s teeth is to use cotton swabs, a small toothbrush, and tube of toothpaste that is formulated for felines. Before you try to brush your cat’s teeth, you will need to get her accustomed to having your hands in her mouth.
Start by gently massaging her gums with your fingers. Then, after a while, start using a cotton swab instead of your fingers. Next, you will want to touch a tiny amount of toothpaste to your cat’s lips to help get her used to the taste. Finally, use a feline-appropriate toothbrush and some of her toothpaste to gently clean her teeth and gums .
How to Trim Your Cat’s Nails
Before you trim your cat’s nails, you will need to get her used to her paws being held and touched. Start by waiting until she is in a relaxed state and then gently massage one of her paws for about three seconds. If she tolerates it, then start massaging one toe. Do this for consecutive days, focusing on a different toe each day.
Once your cat is accustomed to your touch, introduce her to the clippers. Let her smell them. Once she relaxes, snip the tip of one nail being mindful to avoid the quick, as that is where the blood vessels and nerves are located. Continue until you trim all her nails. If she gets overly anxious, stop and pick it back up the following day.
While you are trimming your cat’s nails, pay attention to her paws and keep an eye out for sores, compacted litter, and other potential problems that can impact them.
How to Groom Your Cat’s Fur and Skin
Most cats like being brushed, so this is something you should do for your cat on a daily basis. During this time, check over her fur and skin to look for any signs of potential skin diseases or injuries. If you want to give your cat a thorough cleaning, then there’s some things you should do beforehand to help make the job easier. For one, you should trim her nails and give her fur a good brushing. Only bathe your cat when she is relaxed. You can help her get to a more mellow state by tiring her out with some playtime before bathtime.
Next, place a rubber bath mat in your tub or sink, so her paws have something to hold onto. The more she slides, the more nervous she’ll become. You should also place some cotton balls in her ears to help keep water from getting in her ear canals. Fill the tub with three to four inches of lukewarm water. Using a hand-held spray wand is ideal because it allows you to wet your cat quickly and easily.
Gently massage a feline-safe shampoo into your cat’s wet fur working from head to tail. Be sure you avoid her face, ears, and eyes. Once soaped up, rinse your cat using lukewarm water from the spray wand and make sure all the soap and residue have been washed away.
Lastly, dry your cat gently using a large towel and keep her away from drafts or air vents until she’s dry. Giving her a treat to reward her for good behavior will help make future baths easier and smoother.
It is important to note that some cats simply do not tolerate being groomed. If your cat continually fights the grooming process despite all your efforts, then you should make an appointment with a professional groomer or your veterinarian to have your cat groomed.