While your cat is pretty darn good at grooming herself, there is nothing like being pampered and giving her a good rub down. Yes, cats are meticulous self-groomers, but they still need some extra attention every now and then.

Keeping your cat well taken care of will help prevent excess dander and cat-smell from consuming your home. It can be challenging to convince your furbaby that water isn’t the enemy, but you can do it!

Tips for Grooming Your Cat

It’s always easiest if you start the habit when your cat is younger, of course, but even if you have adopted a middle-aged feline, you will want to introduce her to your touch. You’ll need nail clippers, a good brush, and a gentle pet shampoo.

Sometimes your cat will smell a bit off. It may be due to rolling in something stinky, it could be old age and arthritis affecting her ability to groomer herself, or it could be depression and a lack of self-care. To remedy the situation, a gentle bath is in order.  Use lukewarm water, massage the soap over your cat, and completely rinse your cat before drying.

When it comes to brushing your cat, you want to take into account your cat’s coat. According to Vet Street, "Persians, Ragamuffins, Siberians and other medium-to-long-haired cats have gorgeous coats, but they usually don't come that way. Their coats need regular maintenance to prevent mats and hair balls. You can groom her coat daily, weekly or monthly depending on your cat's needs. In general, the softer and more cottony your cat's coat, the more it will need to be brushed and groomed.”

Trimming your cat’s nails is typically a dreaded event that can leave you scratched and bleeding, but it’s an unavoidable task. You can always choose to drop your furbaby at the groomers to have it done, but either way, your cat’s nails need regular maintenance. If a cat’s claws are not trimmed on a regular basis, they can curl in on themselves and grow into the foot pad, causing intense pain. Untrimmed nails can also pose a hazard to people and furniture, both of which can be injured by too-long claws. “Progressively increase how vigorously you handle your cat’s paws, but only as long as she stays relaxed. Work toward squeezing more vigorously and then tapping the claws with trimmers without trimming.”

• Apply pressure to the top of the foot and the pad to draw out their claws.
• Use a sharp cat nail scissor to trim the white tip of each nail to the point where it begins to curl.
• Avoid the quick - the vein that runs into the nail. (It is in the pinkish area of the nail.)
• Apply styptic powder to stop the bleeding if you accidentally cut too close to the quick. 

You need to stay relaxed yourself, too. Your anxiety can trigger your cat’s anxiety. 

Whether you bring your cat in for a pedicure, bath, and blow-out, or you DIY it all at home, make sure that you keep it up so your cat stays healthy and happy!