Cat Grooming, Bathing, Clipping, Brushing Services and Tips

Cats typically take care of daily grooming by themselves. If you’ve ever seen a cat lying in the sun grooming itself, it can be quite calming to observe the meticulous routine. Cats instinctively groom themselves to banish any odors that may be noticed by other animals, especially predators. Cats are also able to maintain a healthy-looking coat by daily grooming and distributing natural oils to keep their coats clean and shiny.

The Benefits and Importance of Feline Grooming

While cats do a good job with basic grooming on their own, there are several grooming-related items that they need help with. These include:

  • A weekly flea check
  • Noticing mats in your cat’s fur before they become unmanageable
  • Attending to any dermatologic problems by scheduling a vet appointment
  • Keeping tabs on whether your cat has gained or lost weight
  • Checking to make sure your cat’s nails are trimmed
  • Once a week while brushing, be sure to look for irregularities of the skin.
  • Brushing is also a positive way to interact with your cat.

If you notice irregularities or have questions we would encourage you to schedule a veterinary appointment.

Grooming Services Offered At Carson Animal Hospital

For the cat who does need some extra grooming care, the veterinary grooming services we offer include:

  • Ear cleaning
  • Cleaning soiled fur to reduce odors
  • Trimming nails
  • Medical bathing treatments
  • Whole body shaves- Under anesthesia only

Bathing

From a veterinary perspective, cat bathing is rarely recommended and typically cats don’t require baths. Some cats can become stressed by bathing. Typically, the only time you may need to bathe your cat is if it gets into something that has to be promptly removed from the fur. If this is the case, here is what we suggest:

  • Use a mild shampoo
  • Keep the water temperature warm, not hot or cold
  • Perform the bathing in a small area, to minimize the chances for your cat to run off
  • Before you get started, know how to handle your cat properly

Of course, if dermatological conditions arise, then bathing with a prescribed cleanser may be recommended.

Claw Trimming

Trimming your cat’s claws can be challenging. One of the best and safest ways to trim your cat’s nails is to be informed before you begin. Perhaps watching a video will teach you how to hold your cat comfortably while showing you step-by-step how to get the job done quickly, without causing stress to your cat. Specialized cat nail clippers can be used, however, it is extremely important to understand that most of what looks like the cat’s nail actually contains the cat’s “quick” which delivers blood supply to the nail. As the cat’s nail gets longer, so does the quick. This is why trimming longer cat nails typically results in the nail bleeding. However, as the tip of the nail is trimmed, the quick will recede. Therefore, proper trimming of cat’s nails involves trimming the very tip of the nail and then waiting a few days for the quick to recede, then trimming the very tip of the nail again. This can be repeated several times on longer nails until the quick recedes enough that you can trim the nail to the proper length. However, even once you understand the procedure for trimming your cat’s nails little by little, the trickiest part may be simply handling the cat in a way that you will be able to trim the nail without causing undue trauma to the cat and potentially earning yourself some cat scratches along the way. When in doubt, cat claw trimming is a task that is best left to professionals.

Tips For Bathing, Nail Clipping, Hair Cutting and Combing At Home

  • Cats who have long hair need to be combed more often than short-haired cats. Try to comb your cat’s fur at least a couple of times per week.
  • Keep your cat’s nails trimmed for their comfort and to protect yourself from being scratched. It’s best to leave nail clipping to a professional.
  • If you notice your cat itching, biting or developing skin conditions such as bumps, rashes, fur loss, scaly dry skin or any other dermatological condition, make a veterinary appointment right away.

If your cat is not keeping up with his grooming, or you notice anything unusual with his skin, make a veterinary appointment today. Our staff is available to take your call at (337) 806-8960.