Although most people assume that cats do a good enough job of grooming themselves, the truth is that your feline friend can benefit greatly from some extra help. Here’s everything you need to know.
Brushing Besides promoting a healthy, shiny coat, there are several additional benefits of regularly brushing your cat. Among other things, it helps reduce hairballs, prevents matting, cuts down on shedding and reinforces a positive bond between you and your furry friend. It’s generally recommended to brush long- and medium-haired cats on a daily basis and short-haired cats about once a week. In addition, cats shed more during the spring and fall and may require more frequent brushing during this time. There are a variety of different brushing tools available on the market, from fine-toothed combs to rubber grooming mitts. In general, a wire slicker brush is a safe choice. However, you can always ask your veterinarian for a recommendation. Claw trimming If you have an outdoor cat that’s quite physically active, you don’t have to trim its claws. In fact, your cat needs its claws for climbing, hunting and defending itself. However, if you have an indoor cat that doesn’t get much exercise or one that enjoys sharpening its claws all over your furniture, it could benefit from having its claws trimmed every few weeks. There are plenty of tools available to trim your cat’s claws, such as scissor- and guillotine-type clippers. Whatever you choose, be careful to only trim the white tips. The pink portion of each claw contains the quick, which is made up of nerves and blood vessels that cause bleeding and discomfort when cut. If you don’t feel confident doing this on your own, you can take your cat to the grooming professionals at Bellamy Lawrence Animal Hospital. Bathing In general, you don’t need to bathe your cat. In fact, doing so can be traumatic and could strip its fur of essential oils. However, your vet may occasionally recommend bathing your cat to treat a skin condition or improve its hygiene if your cat can no longer groom itself. If you have any questions about whether a bath is safe for your cat, check with your veterinarian. Lastly, it’s best to leave certain grooming tasks, such as ear cleaning and dental care to the professionals. Pet grooming services near Toronto The professional veterinary team at Bellamy-Lawrence Animal Hospital provides a variety of pet care services for both cats and dogs, including grooming, annual checkups, microchipping, surgical procedures and much more. Contact us if you have questions or to book an appointment. We’re always happy to welcome new patients.