Grooming your cat

A clean, shiny coat is a sign that your cat is happy, healthy and is eating nutritious food. By grooming her, you can help her coat grow and shine.

Cats are naturally clean animals, so your cat may not need you to groom her very much, particularly if she has short hair. Longhaired cats, on the other hand, need to be groomed more regularly, usually once a day. Try to get your cat used to -- and comfortable with -- grooming when she's a kitten so that grooming her when she's an adult will be much easier.

Groom all the loose hair out of your cat's coat, using a comb or soft bristle brush. Be particularly gentle when you're combing her head, then groom down her body, tail and legs.

The hair of longhaired cats can easily become matted. Once that happens, the tangled hair has to be removed before you can groom the cat properly. This may involve sedating the cat and having the hair clipped by a professional cat groomer or your vet. Be sure to seek expert advice if your cat's hair becomes matted. If your cat is dirty, wipe her down with a clean, damp cloth, or use a gentle cat shampoo.

While you groom your cat, take the time to check her skin for lumps, rashes, discharges or any other signs that she's not well. If you find any problems, talk to your vet.