If you’re a cat owner, you know that cats like to be clean. While they have their own self-grooming habits, sometimes you’ll need to help him or her out. With our cat grooming tips, you can brush and bathe your cat at home. Before starting a grooming regimen at home note that some cats will not tolerate being groomed. Trying to force your cat to be groomed can result in injury to yourself and your cat. In this case, we recommend taking your cat to your local groomer or veterinarian.
A regular brushing regimen is great for your cat. It helps remove dirt and dead hair, which in turn also helps reduce hairballs. It’s also a good time to check for any fleas or ticks.
For a short-haired cat, you can use a metal comb or slicker brush to get rid of dirt and to check for fleas. Brush from their head to the tip of their tail, going in the same direction as their coat. Don’t forget to brush their chest and stomach, but be careful in this area as some cats don’t like their stomachs to be touched. After you’ve used the metal comb to get rid of dirt, use a rubber brush to remove any dead hair.
Long-haired cats obviously have more hair and need to be brushed more frequently than short-haired cats. This is especially important to prevent any tangles. Using a wide-tooth comb, begin with their abdomen and legs and carefully brush upward toward their head. For their neck, brush up toward their chin. Always be gentle and don’t try to aggressively force out any knots or tangles.
The thought of actually making your cat go in water might be scary, but sometimes a bath is necessary. While cats are equipped with a tongue and teeth that can be used for grooming, a bath may be required if they get into something smelly or sticky. If you’re not comfortable giving your cat a bath, schedule an appointment with your local groomer.
1. First, try to tire out your cat with some toys and playtime, so they’re mellow. If you haven’t trimmed your cat’s nails recently, we recommend trimming them before bath time.
2. Fill the sink or tub with about three or four inches of warm–not hot–water. A rubber bath mat can be used to keep your cat from slipping. Use a hand-held sprayer hose or a plastic pitcher to wet down your cat. Massage the cat shampoo into their hair, going the same direction as the hair and avoiding their face, ears, and eyes.
4. Rinse away all the shampoo and use a washcloth with warm water to wipe your cat’s face. Wrap your cat up in a large, dry towel and dry them in a warm place. You may need to brush your cat again after they’re dry, but don’t forget to reward your feline with treats!
Sometimes, your cat’s grooming regimen includes clipping, especially for long-haired cats. With the right clippers and guidance, this task can go without a hitch. We recommend using a 5-in-1 blade from Wahl along with your Wahl Clipper of choice to get the job done, but the clipper you use is up to your preference. To further assist, Blain’s Farm & Fleet and Wahl will provide you with some tips on what settings to use for different types of cuts. Read through the document below for more details.
Sometimes your cat’s undercarriage needs a good trimming. To trim these sensitive areas, you will want to use a #10 setting. If using a Wahl clipper, recommended blades are either a fine 5-in-1 blade, a non-adjustable 5-in-1 blade, or an ultimate competition blade. These blades can be used for the lion cut and the comb cut as well.
A lion cut looks much like the name where your cat’s body is trimmed short, while leaving the tail and head it’s original length. Much like trimming the belly, your blade should be set at #10, and it’ll leave your cat with a velvety smooth 1/16″ cut.
A comb cut is a body trim that is left a bit longer than a lion cut. Set your blade at #30 and you’ll get a longer cut, ranging from 3/8″ to 1″
While being an intimidating trim to do, it’s sometimes necessary. To quickly trim overgrown paws and tuffs, use a trimmer blade set to #30 or a quiet mini clipper, which has minimal noise so that your cat remains happy and calm.
If your cat has a skin condition or any other health issues, we recommend working with your cat’s groomer or vet when it comes to a grooming regimen. If you plan on grooming your cat at home, you can trust the Blain’s Farm & Fleet animal experts to carry all the cat grooming supplies you need. From specialty cat shampoo to brushes, you’ll find everything you need to pamper your feline family member. For more tips on caring for your animals, big and small, visit our Hobby Farming and Pet Care blogs.
