Kitten Care-Grooming

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A kitten will be groomed by its mother from the moment it is born. Licking is the way the mother cat gets its new born offspring to begin breathing. Once it is grown, a kitten will groom itself. Being extremely clean and fastidious animals, they will spend much of the day keeping them selves clean. However all cats will require some help in their grooming.

Grooming your cat is the best way to keep an eye on its general health.

By brushing or combing, you can keep an eye out for fleas, knots or evidence of scratches and bites from other cats. You can also check for ear mites, the symptoms of which are dark brown wax in the ear. Kittens are especially prone to ear mites, but it is good to check older cats on a regular basis as well.

Grooming will also help in the prevention of hair balls. Hair balls are an extremely serious threat to your cat's health. In the worst case they can cause intestinal blockages, but often will make them sick. Long haired cats are especially susceptible to hair balls.

The amount of grooming you need to do will depend on the breed of your cat.

Some cats have no problem with letting their owners groom them, while others are not so accommodating. It really is a matter of temperament.

Long haired cats will obviously require more care than short haired ones.

It would be best to do this every day to prevent matting and reduce unwanted hair clinging to your furniture and clothes.

The most popular way of grooming a cat or kitten is by using a brush or comb, and there is wide range of both available for you to purchase. For short haired cats you have the choice of combs that are good at tackling small knots. These are highly effective on cats with thick coats (and dogs).

There is a tool on the market called the Furminator. This tool enables you to remove loose fur and undercoat and reduces shedding dramatically. It very good at eliminating hair balls and produces a healthy coat and skin by bring out the natural oils in your cat.

Occasionally your cat or kitten may need bathing, a task that is disliked by nearly all cats. Although, fortunately not a necessity for most cats, it is a part of some pets required routine. But for whatever reason you need to bathe your cat you must get organised before starting. Make sure you use a cat shampoo; you must never use an ordinary shampoo on your cat. If flea infestation is the reason you are bathing your cat, use a special flea shampoo. Have a large dry towel ready and waiting, a soft cloth for the bathing and a jug for rinsing. All these things must be close to hand before you start. It is best to use a baby bath or a sink when bathing your pet.

Check the water temperature, add the shampoo to the water and slowly lower your cat in, holding it gently but firmly. Taking care to avoid its eyes, gently massage the soapy water in from the neck down. When you are finished rinse your cat well then wrap it in the handy towel and gently dry. You may be thinking that you will need two pairs of hand to do this task, so if possible ask some one to help you by holding the cat while you wash.

If your cat is really averse to being bathed, you can purchase kitty wipes for the purpose, or use a soft damp cloth.

Should you feel that trimming your cats claws a necessary part of their grooming, you must be aware that extreme care is called for if you are intending to do this yourself.

On no account must you use scissors, however sharp they are, as these can cause splitting the claws. You must use special clippers that are designed for trimming cat's claws. However careful and patient you are, there is always the risk you will cut your cat. Many cats may never need their claws trimmed. In either case it would be best to consult your vet, and if trimming is necessary, leave it to the experts.

Cat care is now big business, and there are many products available on the market to make grooming your cat easy. They include clippers, shampoos, combs and brushes etc.There are even cat spas for the really pampered cat.

Grooming your cat can be both relaxing and pleasurable to both of you.

Start when your pet is a kitten. This will get it into the routine early and help build a lasting bond between you.

Barry Robinson is a life long cat lover and internet reviewer.

To learn more of cat training secrets visit http://www.cattrainingsecrets.weebly.com.

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