In this article, we answer some of the most commonly asked questions when cat owners pop by Nekomori Cat Salon!

1. When should you start grooming your cat?

Let grooming be an enjoyable and comfortable experience for your cat by introducing grooming interactions with her cat when she is still a wee kitten. This makes her grow up accustomed to the feeling of being brushed and petted. You don’t necessarily have to start off by immediately giving kitty a full-on grooming session (ie. Nail trimming, ear cleaning, a bath, paw pad shaving etc.). Start of slow with simple things like brushing and nail clipping that are really easy to do at home!

2. How often should I groom my cat?

The frequency to which you should groom your cat greatly depends on your cat’s breed! Is she short-haired? Long-haired? Generally, medium to long-haired cats need more frequent brushing than short-haired cats. But whether your cat is a short-haired, medium-haired or long-haired one, be careful not to overbrush!

• Long-haired & medium-haired cats

Breeds: Ragdoll, Maine Coon, Persians, Japanese Bobtail, Manx & Mixed Breeds

These breeds of cats require daily brushing because their long fur is more susceptible to developing knots and mats. Knots and mats can become uncomfortable and even painful to cats when left unattended. Apart from that, daily brushing also helps prevent the formation of hairballs which can cause intestinal blockages in our cats!

• Short-haired cats

Breeds: Egyptian Mau, American Shorthair, British Shorthair

Short-haired cats are prone to matting just as much as long-haired cats except that they’re slightly less susceptible. But with the buildup of dust and dander in their fur, matting can happen even in short-haired cats!

Unlike medium to long-haired cats who need brushing very often, short-haired cats, on the other hand, only need to be brushed once every few days to ensure that their fur hasn’t knotted into tangled balls of fur.

3. What are the things I can do at home to make grooming sessions more manageable?

• Give treats during grooming sessions

Give treats as part of positive reinforcement! Praise kitty and perhaps reward her with some CIAO treats (because most cats can’t get enough of CIAO) so that she eventually begins to associate grooming sessions with positive outcomes.

• Trim cat’s nails

Master the art of trimming your cat’s claws. If your cat gets too stressed out and starts trying to squirm her way out of your arms, don’t force her to keep still – just let her go. Try again later when she’s more relaxed.

• Brush your cat

We mentioned earlier that it’d be good to start brushing your cat when she’s just a lil’ kitten. Make brushing a part of your cat’s routine so that she grows accustomed to being handled.

• Always ensure that your cat is comfortable

Most importantly, take note of your cat’s comfort level and be attuned to any signs of stress that she might exhibit. The duration of the grooming session should be as long or as short as your cat is comfortable with and should end before she shows signs of discomfort.

4. Does my cat need a bath?

Cats do a wonderful job of keeping themselves clean. Yet, licking, while generally quite effective in keeping themselves clean (for a short period of time at least) does not employ the conventional use of soap and water which are decidedly more effective in getting rid of dirt and bacteria.

So yes, your cat needs a bath. More so when:

• They have mats
• They suffer from skin conditions
• You discover external parasites in your cat’s fur
• They’re getting on in age and require that extra help in keeping themselves clean
• Your cat is a chonky boi

5. How often should my cat’s nails be clipped?

It’s best to trim your cat’s nails every 10 days to 2 weeks. If you notice your cat’s claws getting stuck on soft surfaces, your cat’s claws are definitely long overdue for a trim!

6. My cat coughs hairballs. Will grooming help prevent this?

Yes.

Hairballs in cats form as a result of them swallowing tufts of hair from self-grooming. Most of the hair passes all the way through the digestive tract with no problems but some stays in the stomach, forming hairballs.

Brushing your cat’s fur regularly gets rid of loose hairs so that when your cat grooms herself, she is less likely to swallow fur!

7. Can I use human or dog shampoo on my cat?

Definitely not!

Shampoos for humans have been specially formulated for humans while shampoo for dogs have been specially formulated just for dogs. We’d imagine that you wouldn’t even consider washing your luscious locks with your pet’s shampoo, would you?

The pH levels of our skin are different from that of cats. Washing our cat’s coat with shampoo that has been formulated for the pH levels of human skin would be very harsh on our cat’s skin. Likewise for dog shampoos, they’ve been made for canines and may not be effective or even safe for other types of animals.

8. What brush should I use for grooming my cat?

• Slicker brush

A slicker brush is a fantastic basic cat grooming tool that is suitable for all hair types.

• Bristle brush

If your feline is a short-haired cat, the soft bristles of this brush will help smoothen out her coat effectively. This brush may be used for long-haired cats too but it’ll be more useful as a finishing brush.

• Metal comb

Metal combs are perfect for our long-haired furbabies because its bristles are longer and spaced further apart from one another. This makes working through the tangles of your cat’s long and thick fur a breeze!

• Curry brush

Curry brushes with their soft bristles are very gentle yet effective in removing the loose hairs in your cat’s fur.

9. Does grooming my cat hurt her?

As long as you’re being extra careful and patient with your cat, grooming will not hurt her. As soon as your cat starts showing signs of distress, abort mission! You can try again later when your cat is more relaxed.

10. What causes matting in my cat’s fur?

Matting occurs when shedding and grease on your cat’s skin coagulate and form tangles. Include regular brushing into your cat’s routine and give her a bath once in awhile to prevent mats and tangles from forming!

If you have anymore questions that you have about cat grooming, feel free to check out our FAQ page! If you need more specific answers to questions unique to your cat, you can also book an appointment at Nekomori and get a complimentary pre-groom consultation where you get to ask our friendly cat groomers anything under the sun!

Read more: Top 5 Reasons to Groom Your Cat

*Featured Image Source: Sereja Ris | Unsplash