Page 32 - Complete Cat Care: How To Keep Your Cat Healthy and Happy

Regular grooming

Although staying well-groomed comes naturally to cats, by assisting with
regular grooming sessions, you can enjoy a bonding experience and help
your pet to look good. A clean coat is healthy and comfortable.

Benefits of grooming to monitor your cat for possible
Cats spend a large part of the health problems such as parasites,
day self-grooming—wetting their hidden injuries, lumps and
paws to wipe their face, cleaning bumps, and changes in weight.
between each toe, and twisting Another benefit is that regular
their flexible spine to reach grooming helps reduce the amount
awkward places such as shoulders of loose hairs that cats lick up
and anal areas. The surface of and swallow. Normally, the hair
a cat’s tongue is covered with forms into harmless balls in the
minute barbs and these act as stomach, which the cat then
30 a comb to collect skin debris coughs up. However, sometimes
and loose hairs and to smooth the balls become large enough that
out tangles. In fact, cats are so △ Reaching the corners they are a health hazard, causing
particular about daily grooming
choking or becoming lodged in the
Everyday care that it may not seem necessary industriously washing themselves. They lower gut, and causing a blockage
Cats are clean animals and spend hours
in the digestive tract.
to give them any extra help.
usually start at the head before attending
One reason for grooming your
In old age, cats sometimes
to each area of the body.
cat is that it strengthens the
lose their enthusiasm for hygiene
bond between you and your pet.
to help them maintain dignity
combed. You can also give your
Grooming cats from a young the sensation of being brushed or and may need gentle grooming
age helps establish this special cat a general check-up while and cleanliness. The sudden
bond. Most cats enjoy the close grooming. Take the opportunity to neglect of self-grooming in cats
contact with their owners and inspect eyes, ears, and claws, and of any age is a warning sign that
all is not well, and needs to be
investigated by a vet.
Coat types
In longhaired cats such as
Persians, the undercoat can be
massively thick. The coat not
only collects debris from around
the home and garden but tends
to form tangles that no amount
of licking can remove. Neglected
tangles can easily turn into
impenetrable mats, especially
in areas of the body where there
is friction, such as the armpits.

◁ Molting season
A slicker brush with wire pins is an excellent
tool for removing loose hairs, especially
when a cat is shedding a thick undercoat
in warmer weather.

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