Cats make for awesome pets, but they have a reputation for doing things their own way, which is one of the reasons we find them so endearing. Sometimes it can be a bit of a nuisance however; especially when you are trying to do something that your cat actually needs such as attempting to groom your cat.
Cat Grooming isn’t just for your cat to look pretty, its actually necessary for their health and well-being, so when your cat makes regular grooming attempts a hard task to complete, it can get very annoying very quickly. Don’t take this out on your cat though, as it is just doing what feels natural to it, and you can actually do quite a few things to make grooming your cat that bit easier.
Brushing your cats coat is a grooming task that must be done on a regular basis. The quicker you learn how to do this with no fuss from your feline friend the better!
Basic Tips on How to Brush a Cat ?
For anyone who is unsure of how they should be brushing your cat, always do so in the direction of their hair. Brushing against it can be incredibly uncomfortable for a cat and if you are doing this, your cat will likely hate the experience all together, making brushing him nearly impossible.
Your cat will need to be brushed entirely throughout a week. This includes every hard to reach spot, or sensitive areas that cats can traditionally be annoyed at being touched. Behind the legs and arms is one example of an area that may not be as easy to brush as the fur on their backs.
For any area such as these that you are struggling to brush, try to do so next time your cat goes down for a nap. Look out for the next time they are comfortably stretched out and sleeping and try to get some soft brushes done.
Start When They Are Young
The golden rule for tips for brushing your cat is to start doing it as soon as possible. The younger your pet is the better, as they can better acclimatise to the feeling of being brushed, making them far easier to groom over time.
A cat that has been regularly groomed as a kitten will be used to the process of being groomed by the time they are an adult, making life simpler for any owner who needs to brush them.
Other Tips to Help With Brushing
- If your cat doesn’t like to be brushed for too long, or has a problem area of their body that is a struggle to brush, aim to break up their grooming over the course of a week. Dedicate one day to each section of their body that needs brushed, as it will eliminate the time required for grooming, making it easier to accomplish the task at hand rather than half finishing it.
- Plank brushes near and around your cats favourite spots in the house. Look for where they like to nap and stick one close by to that spot. As soon as your kitty dozes off, you can get to work quickly before they have a chance to realise they don’t want to be brushed!
- Start using an oven mitt if your cat hates the feeling of being brushed. A mitt can allow them to get used to being touched with something that his different from a hand, making them more use to the idea of objects touching them. You can eventually work your way towards a grooming mitt before finally getting them used to a brush.
- Be soft and gentle as you brush, with a similar motion used for when stroking a cat. They love the feeling of being stroked, so to closely mimic this with your brushing will likely make them more open to it.
- Never force too much onto your cat. Even if you want to get the task over and done with, know when your cat has had too much stress. He will only grow to resent it further if he has constant bad experiences from brushing – slow and steady wins the race!
For Step By Step Instructions on How to Groom A Cat Click Here