??W ?? GROOM ? CAT ?? ???? ?? 10 STEPS ! 

Just like humans cats need grooming to stay healthy and clean. Cats are masters at grooming themselves and do not need to be groomed as often of as dogs. However, getting involved in cats grooming can not only strengthen the bond between the cat and its caretaker  but  also provides a chance to check for any health issues that might lead to infection and disease. With regular brushing excess hair is removed that prevents excess hair being licked up by your cat which leads to hairballs. Regular nail trimming and cleaning of ear and eyes improves its overall health and regular tooth brushing keeps all forms of teeth and gum disease at bay. If you are wondering how to groom a cat, here are 10 Easy steps !

Gather Supplies:

• Cat slicker brush
• Pail of warm water
• Cat shampoo
• High quality specialty nail scissors for cats
• Clean cotton Swabs
• Ear cleaning medication and cotton balls
• Cat shampoo
• Fresh towels
• Specialty pet dryer
• Cat specific tooth cleaning solution and Toothbrush

1   Gently stroke the cat and pat it down into a calm stable position.

2   Thoroughly examine your cat’s skin and hair coat, looking for any lumps, bumps, scabs, bruises, fleas, ticks or other  health issues. It should include a look at your cat’s ears, eyes and teeth as well. Gently press the toes of the cat to see if there are any foreign objects stuck to its toes or fur.

3   Clip cat’s nails using clippers made for cat’s nail clipping. Only cut the white tip of each nail. If you happen to cut the pink area, it may cause bleeding. Use cautery powder or styptic pencils to stop the bleeding. If you happen to have neither of the two, place an ice cube on the area. This will cause bleeding vessel to constrict and slow the bleeding.

4    Brush the cat from head to tail in the same & opposite direction of the hair growth  close to the skin to get rid of any loose hair and  matting. Then brush the back of the legs to untangle knots and matted fur.

5   Use cotton swab to clean build up in cat’s eyes.

6  Make sure you kitty is at least 8 months if you want to give it a Full Bathe. For younger cats just wipe with wet damp towel.

7    Bath the cat in lukewarm water. Cat shampoos are sold separately at your local pet stores. Do Not use human or dog shampoo on your cat, it can severely irritate its skin. Use a speciality flea shampoo for cats that have noticeable presence of fleas. Always use lukewarm water and protection for your cat’s eyes from shampoos and conditioners. Especially, medicated shampoos. Then, use a blow dryer to dry. Do not attempt to use a human blow dryer. These can get too hot and burn your cat.

8     An ear wash should be used after the bath. Put a few drops in each of your cat ear. Let your cat give a shake. This will help loosen any dirt. Never push a cue tip or cotton ball always wipe out dirt away from the ear.

9     About 85 percent of cats over 4 years old are affected by periodontal disease, you do not want your four-legged companion to become part of that disturbing statistic, frequently brushing its teeth can dramatically reduce the risk of periodontal disease. It might take several weeks to train your cat to warm up to the toothbrush, so start by letting her smell the toothbrush and pet toothpaste, then slowly work up to brushing for 30 seconds on each side of her mouth at least every other day. By the way, human toothpaste is not safe for pets, so be sure to use a product approved for your cat.

10 By keeping your cat’s coat short, you will reduce the amount of hair available for shedding. Give him a bath and brush him regularly, and your fur-free floor and furniture will thank you. Not good with scissors? A groomer can clip its hair short while you bathe and brush him in between appointments. Sounds sort of like how you take care of your own human hair.