|
Claw trimming is generally a painless procedure. But some cats view it as nothing short of torture. Here are some quick tips for making claw trimming easier for you and your cat.
First, make sure you and your cat are positioned properly. Let your cat sit on a table, facing away from you. Hold him with your non-dominant hand. You can then use your dominant hand to trim his claws. Use the right tool for the job. A special scissor designed for trimming cat nails is the best choice, but a sharp fingernail clipper will work too. Make sure you are calm as well. If you come off as anxious and stressed, your cat will pick up on that and it will make him more upset. If your cat squirms and struggles, or if he is new to claw trimming, do only one or two claws at a time and reward him with a treat afterwards. If all else fails, have a professional groomer or your vet trim those nails. They can show you their technique, which might make it easier for you in the future. Cat expert and animal communicator JaneA Kelley is the webmaster and chief cat slave for Paws and Effect, a weekly cat advice column by cats, for cats and their people. |
You are viewing entries tagged 'brushing'.
|
Clipping a long-haired cat in critical spots can reduce the work and misery for both of you. If there are already mats, then you need to have them cut out professionally, either by your vet or by a highly-skilled groomer who specializes in cats (and realizes they are not “little dogs”).
The areas to clip short are in the armpits, inside the back legs and chest area, or anywhere you have noticed matting on your cat in the past. Radio show host and pet expert Tracie Hotchner is the author of The Dog Bible and The Cat Bible. Click here to follow her on Twitter. |
|
|
My current cat Ed is a sweet, affectionate creature. One morning, I awoke to him grooming my head and he hasn’t looked back since. If my hair is anywhere in his reach, he pounces on it and starts a slow, rhythmic process of licking my locks.
I assumed this was some sort of expression of his love for me and it may be. Cats groom each other as a sign of comfort and bonding (you’re unlikely to see two cats who despise each other grooming each other). Especially if your cat is kneading and purring while doing this, it is likely to be a sign of contentment and acceptance. Or, it could be the shampoo you use – you never know with cats. Kelly is a dog columnist and pet writer. She lives in the Boston-area with her three pit bulls and one neurotic cat. |
|
You know that sound – as you’re sitting, playing on your computer there comes a hacking noise from your cat behind you. It’s somehow different that other kinds of coughing – you can hear him straining to get something foreign out over and over.
It’s hairball time. Almost all cats get hairballs, some more often than others. Long-haired cats like Himalayans tend to be most prone. There’s not too much you can do once your cat has a hairball. You can gently push on his stomach to help get it out. But prevention is best. Try feeding a food specially formulated for hairballs, try Petromalt on a regular basis or try a home remedy such as pumpkin. Even brushing his teeth can help to keep them at bay. |
|
|
There are probably just as many cats out there who enjoy being brushed as those who don’t. I fall into the latter category, and this tip is for the humans of cats like me:
Just do a little section at a time. I know that it’s good for me to have my coat brushed and know that you are doing it for my own good, but being brushed is a scary thing for me, and so I appreciate it when you do just a little section at a time, even spreading it out over a few days. kthxbai |
|
|
When you finish grooming your cat, firmly rub a piece of velvet or a soft chamois cloth firmly in the direction of your cat’s hair, to bring out the shine in her coat. |
|
|
Is your cat going bald inexplicably? Try bathing her with diluted tea tree shampoo. It is a natural flea deterrent, and often works miracles on skin and scalp problems. For your cat’s safety, the product should not contain more than 1% tea tree oil. You should never use it on kittens or on cats who suffer from diabetes, epilepsy, or metabolic or neurological disorders.
Keep in mind that if your cat is losing hair in conjunction with obsessive grooming behavior that’s not a result of fleas or ringworm, it could be indicative of an underlying internal condition. In those situations, your cat should be examined by a vet. |
|
|
If you have a kitten, the sooner you start getting her used to being brushed, bathed, and having her nails cut, the easier it will be on both of you down the road. Once a kitten becomes accustomed to standing for brushing and the sensation of the brush and her nails being exposed and clipped, then there is no trauma or drama about it. If you have a grown cat who has not had a good foundation in being groomed, it will be an ongoing effort to get her to relax and maybe even one day enjoy the pampering! |
|
|
Take it easy on your cat’s tail when grooming him. Cats are particularly sensitive about their tails and generally do not like having them touched. Keep that in mind when you are grooming the tail, especially of a long-haired cat, so that you can move swiftly and extra-gently when brushing it. |
|
|
A cat experiencing stress, even a small dose of it, will shed automatically as a response. Since we know how long the list of stress factors for cats is, this can happen quite frequently and your cat will need some extra brushing help from you. So if you know that your cat has recently been in a stressful situation (your absence, going to the vet, household visitors, etc.) then jump right in with some extra brush strokes and attention. |