Take care a cat

Written by Mike    Friday, 27 February 2009

Take care a cat Grooming All cats and kittens kept in the house even part of the time require to be groomed. A longhaired cat have to be groomed everyday. Once or twice a week will suffice for a shorthair. For a shorthair, use a stiff-bristled brush, finishing with one of those little rubber gadgets designed for suede shoes, spongy on one side and with small “fingers” on the other. For a longhaired cat, use a brush with long bristles, and a special steel comb. Most cats dislike getting their stomachs and tails combed but this need it, especially in the late winter and spring, when the old coat comes out completely and is replaced by new hair. Be very careful, for the tail hairs grow slowly. Work consistently, using a long broom on the back and tail, but a short, choppy outward-and-upward motion on ruff, belly and pantaloons. Be specially thorough in the angles between the body and legs; this is where “fingerstalls” (hard lumps of matted hair) collect more often. Make your fingers through the fur, feeling for small lumps; the comb will not find them. Make them loose if you can; if not, cut them out carefully with small sharp scissors, being careful not to cut the skin. For working ease, have the cat to stand up against your chest, so that you can rub his back and sides. For those ticklish bellies, turn the standing cat away from you, with this his forepaws hooked over one of your arms, while you brush down his neck, chest and belly with your other hand. If you are gentle, and follow each combing with a simple rubbing of your hand, a cat soon learns to enjoy his daily grooming, especially if you begin when he is young. In the longhaired, unchanged male, a black oily spot appears on the tail near the body, where a gonad is located. In grooming, comb gently, and powder from time to time to absorb the oil. After the breeding season, the back legs and tail of the cat can be washed with mild soap and water to free the hair of the collected oils. Never cut out chunks of hair, except in an emergency. Spread the mats with your fingers, and pull out small parts one at a time. In particular, never cut tail hair. It takes two years for new tail hairs to grow. As you groom, watch for the black and white “grit” caused by the eggs and leavings of fleas. Watch also for tiny scabs or bare spots that may show the presence of fungus.

Last Updated ( Friday, 27 February 2009 )