Essential Grooming & Disease Prevention for Cats

Grooming Your Cat: A Comprehensive Guide

1. Brushing Your Cat

Cats naturally groom themselves, but this can lead to swallowing hair, which forms hairballs. This is particularly true during seasonal changes, like spring to summer or autumn to winter, when the amount of hair ingested can be up to ten times more than usual! Regular brushing is essential to remove loose fur and prevent hairballs. Additionally, feeding a highquality hairball management cat food or providing cat grass can be very effective in avoiding hairball issues.

Frequency: Typically, brush your cat every two days, and increase to once a day during shedding seasons.

Tools: Use a steel comb, detangling brush, silicone brush, and deshedding brush, among others.

How to Brush Your Cat:

1. Spend some playtime with your cat to help it relax and unwind.

2. Begin brushing along the direction of the fur, starting from the neck and working down. Offering a treat while brushing the belly can distract the cat.

3. Tip: If your cat becomes restless or anxious, pause the grooming and comfort it before resuming.

2. Bathing Your Cat

Bathing should be done sparingly, usually every one to two months or every six months, as cats are quite adept at cleaning themselves. However, some may not require bathing at all.

Frequency: Every one to two months or every six months, or as needed.

Products: Pet shampoo.

How to Bathe Your Cat:

1. Adjust the water temperature to around 3840°C.

2. Keep your cat calm and avoid provoking it.

3. Wet the cat's body first, then apply shampoo and gently rub it in.

4. Rinse thoroughly and dry with a towel. Use a blow dryer at a suitable temperature to finish drying.

Tips:

1. Cats should be vaccinated and at least 55 days old before their first bath.

2. Avoid bathing sick or recently operatedon cats for at least a month.

3. Trim the cat's nails before bathing and fit an Elizabethan collar.

4. Consider purchasing bathing bags or drying machines for assistance.

3. Trimming Your Cat's Nails

Nail trimming should be done approximately every two to three weeks.

Frequency: Every two to three weeks.

Tools: A catspecific nail clipper.

How to Trim Your Cat's Nails:

1. Keep your cat calm and secure it in your arms, facing away from you to prevent injury.

2. Hold the paw firmly and trim quickly and accurately.

3. Tip: Be cautious not to cut into the quick, the pink part of the nail that contains blood vessels.

4. Deworming Your Cat

Deworming should be done regularly to prevent parasites.

Frequency: External deworming once a month, and internal deworming every three months.

Products: Deworming medication.

Tips:

1. Kittens typically start their first deworming around 23 months of age.

2. Cats under six months old should be dewormed monthly, both internally and externally.

3. Avoid bathing for three days after external deworming.

5. Brushing Your Cat's Teeth

Regular teeth brushing is important for maintaining oral health.

Frequency: Monthly, or every two weeks if the teeth are particularly dirty.

Tools: A catspecific toothbrush and toothpaste.

How to Brush Your Cat's Teeth:

1. Secure your cat with a towel, wrapping its legs to prevent resistance.

2. Hold the head firmly and clean each tooth for a few seconds.

3. Reward your cat with a treat after brushing.

Tip: If your cat resists brushing, consider using dental powders or rinses instead.