Written by Steven Appelbaum and Michelle Metzger
Upon hearing “Grooming Essentials,” many people automatically think of dog grooming. This is understandable, given that more pet owners have their dogs professionally groomed than their cats. That doesn’t mean cats can’t or shouldn’t be groomed, and even if you don’t consider taking your kitty to a grooming salon, it doesn’t mean you can’t perform essential grooming with your cat at home.
For this article, let’s define pet grooming. The Oxford Dictionary defines grooming as “The practice of brushing and cleaning the coat of a horse, dog, or other animal.”
I don’t pretend to know more than Oxford, but I would modify that to include basic cleaning of the animal’s ears and teeth and trimming the pet’s nails.
So, with the above definition in mind, let’s talk about what kinds of things a cat parent should consider when grooming their feline companion.
- Brushing
- Nail trimming
- Bathing
- Brushing teeth
- Keeping ears clean
When speaking with people about this topic, I am sometimes asked, “Why bother? Cats don’t require this kind of care. After all, don’t cats self-groom?”
While cats do indeed self-groom, I have never seen one clean its ears as well as their human companion can. Yes, indoor cats are usually cleaner than outdoor cats. Still, regular grooming keeps your cat much more sanitary but that’s not the only benefit. It allows you to identify potential skin problems, discover parasites or sensitive areas on older cats before they cause real discomfort or health problems. Add tooth care, which can sometimes alleviate gum or other dental challenges, ear care to reduce ear infections, and you are well on your way to having a more sparkling and healthier cat.
If performed gently and with patience and love, grooming is a positive experience for your cat and an excellent way to strengthen the bond between you. Most kitties come to love being groomed, and some even demand it!
Bathing
Most experts, including the National Cat Groomers Institute of America, suggest bathing your cat every 4-6 weeks. Outdoor cats require slightly more frequent bathing, so might long-haired cats. Also, when I refer to bathing, I do not mention specific skin care regimens prescribed by a veterinarian or professional groomer. Those might require more treatments and are outside the scope of this discussion.
Most cats don’t love being bathed. While not all cats dislike getting wet, I suspect if 1,000 kitties were asked if they liked getting wet, the results would be pretty overwhelming against it. Indeed, almost no cat will naturally enjoy getting wet against their will. This means it’s vital to gradually get your cat used to getting wet with as much positivity as possible. Avoid spraying them and try to keep water off their faces and out of their ears. Cats that already tolerate being bathed can learn to associate the bathing experience more positively. To accomplish this, try to be as gentle as possible in the lead-up to the bath and the bath itself. Let the water run and get the items you need out, and then instead of scooping the kitty up and getting down to business, try just sitting with and petting them. If your cat is food motivated, give them special treats before bath time. For some cats, additional petting and treats combined with less spray and a gentler approach while bathing can change their attitude toward being groomed.
Some cats won’t tolerate being bathed. If you have one, don’t despair; many can learn to accept or even enjoy the experience. However, it could take some time to change feline hearts and minds. How you ask?
Rather than simply filling a tub (the sound of gushing water from the bath alone can trigger avoidance for many cats) and putting them in it, take a container of warm water, sit next to your cat, soak a washcloth, and rub it on the cat while praising your feline friend’s fantastic patience and tolerance. Avoid getting water in their ears or on their face.
While this isn’t a real bath, the more your cat gets used to this, the easier it will be to graduate to wetter conditions. After a couple of minutes, dry the cat and call it a day. You can do this a few times a week and since you are not using shampoo, it won’t dry out the cat’s fur or skin. After a couple of weeks, increase the amount of water you transfer from the washcloth to the cat. Most people can progress to getting their cat pretty wet without them protesting or trying to escape. When you reach that point, use a gentle shampoo specifically formulated for cats. Again, avoid the eyes and ears, gently massage the shampoo into your cat’s fur, and gently use your wet towel to rinse it all away. While this method will take a lot longer than dunking them in a bath, it’s far less traumatic, and depending on your cat, you might find they like or at least tolerate the procedure. No human or dog shampoo, please. At this juncture, try using the washcloth method with shampoo every 4-6 weeks for the subsequent 2 or 3 baths. In bath 4, put the cat in a dry tub or sink, and use the same washcloth method. By bath 6, start putting a little water in the tub and using some of that on your washcloth. From there, you can add gently running water to the process.
Other bathing tips:
- Cats feel insecure on a slippery surface; lay a thick towel at the bottom of the tub to give your cat something to cling to.
- Perform a nail trim a few days in advance; if your cat clings to you for safety, the nails will be dull.
- Don’t try to bathe your cat when they are excited. Regular brushing will make bathing more effective.
- Once you graduate to using lots of water, consider cotton balls for the cats’ ears to prevent water from getting inside them.