Grooming Your Own Cat
While it is widely considered that cats are cleaner than dogs (peace, dog owners, it’s just proven science), due to their natural habit of grooming theirselves frequently, they can only attain a certain level of cleanliness through human intervention. However (and oh, what an irony), they are also known to show mmore aversion to water. Simply speaking, cats don’t like getting wet. Since it can be a hard challenge to bathe them, most cat owners seek the help of grooming salons to do the job. But is it possible to groom them yourself at home and save a couple of bucks?
Yes, of course!
What you’ll need…
- Water (tell your cat it’s non-negotiable)
- Cat shampoo (we recommend Bayli)
- Slicker-brush
- Ear wipes
- Nail clippers
- Scissors and razor
- Clean towel
Optional: Gloves for handling
Steps
- Fill a tub or sink or pale with water. Using our trusty tabo, gently pour water over your cat, starting with their neck, and lather with the shampoo. Do this all over their body and be gentle when you reach their face. Rinse them with water and make sure there are no suds left as you do this. You don’t want dry shampoo sticking to their fur. Afterwards, wrap them with a clean towel.
- Inspect your cat’s ears. If they are dirty, use the ear wipes to gently wipe at the outer portion of their ear. Gently dip a finger in the inner portion, but only briefly and not forcefully. These areas can be sensitive to them.
- Nail clipping: this can be quite tricky if you’ve never done this with your cat before. Make sure that your cat is used to you touching and holding their paw. If you’re unsure how they will react, resort to touching and holding their paw for the next few weeks before you clip their nails. Once you’re ready and your cat is used to the sensation of their paws being held, clip their nails bit by bit. Make sure to avoid the pink section of their claw. NEVER DECLAW YOUR CAT.
- If you own a long-haired breed, you can opt to trim them especially in the butt. This will help the fur in that area stay free of excrement. Also trim the area around their paws.
- After bath, once they are completely dry, brush your cat with a slicker-brush or dematting comb. This will help get rid of knots in their furs and prevent the development of hairballs.
Tips for Grooming Your Cat
- Start them young. Introduce them to grooming as early as possible, so that there won’t be accidents that could lead to injury during grooming.
- Clip their claws every few weeks, or if your cat absolutely hates nail-clipping no matter what you do, buy a scratch post.
- Get anti-rabies shots for you and your cat. Grooming a cat can be difficult, and they may scratch or bite during, so be prepared and protect yourself and your cat with vaccines.
- Reward them during grooming. Churu cat treats can tame the wildest of them. It’s a good way to distract your cat, and maybe even train them to look forward to baths!
- Grooming your own cat can be a form of bonding experience. Enjoy and appreciate these little activities that you can do together aside from playtime and snacktime.