How to Groom Your Cats

                   GROOMING BASICS

                   Regular grooming is essential for your cat's good health. A
                   glossy, beautiful coat is a sign of your cat's overall health and
                   well-being. It not only helps your cat to look its best, it helps
                   you avoid more complicated problems like parasites and skin
                   diseases. Most cats do a credible job of keeping themselves
                   clean, but they'll need your help when it comes to preventing
                   matted hair and fur balls, and in detecting problems with their
                   eyes or ears. If your cat is not used to being groomed, start
                   with gently combing the areas that it seems to enjoy and
                   gradually work up to a full grooming session.

                   Shedding

                   Hairballs are common, especially in long-haired cats. To
                   minimize hairballs, brush your cat thoroughly and regularly or
                   try a commercial hairball remedy, closely following package
                   directions.

                   Brushing and Combing

                   For shorthair cats, we recommend grooming once a week with
                   a natural bristle brush and a fine-tooth comb. For Siamese and
                   other breeds without an undercoat, you can substitute a
                   rubber brush for the natural bristled one. Longhair cats require
                   more frequent grooming, usually 2-3 times a week unless it is
                   an outdoor cat. Then, every day might be necessary. In order
                   to properly groom your longhair, you will need a wire brush, a
                   wide-tooth comb and a fine-tooth flea comb.

                   Start by untangling long hair with a fine-tooth comb or mat
                   splitter. Carefully untangle mats, working toward the skin, not
                   away from it.

                   Next, use long, gentle strokes to brush your cat from the nose
                   to the tip of the tail. Remove as much dead and loose fur as
                   possible. If necessary, rub your cat`s coat with a nylon
                   stocking to remove static electricity.

                   Finally, give your cat the once over by running your hands
                   over your cat`s body, looking for any unusual lumps or
                   sensitive spots.

                   Bathing

                   In general, you should not have to bathe your cat, as they are
                   very good at keeping themselves clean. However, should
                   bathing be necessary, use only warm water and mild soap,
                   preferably a cat shampoo. Rinse your cat thoroughly, dry it
                   well with towels and keep it away from drafts until fully dried
                   and fluffy, as cats can easily catch cold. If possible, use two
                   tubs or a double sink to speed up the bathing process.

                   Reasons you might need to bathe your cat are:

                    Poison on its fur 
                    It doesn`t take care of its coat as it should 
                    You are allergic and need to minimize allergens 
                    You are about to show your cat 
                    It needs a flea, tick, or lice dip 
                    Bad weather has left it unusually dirty



                   Trimming Claws

                   All cats need their claws trimmed on a regular basis unless
                   they have been de-clawed and in fact, keeping your cats nails
                   trimmed on a regular basis may eliminate the need for
                   declawing. If your cat`s claws start snagging--on fabric or on
                   you--it`s a good indication that they need clipping. A pair of
                   clippers designed especially for cats should be used and are
                   available at pet stores. Never use regular scissors as they can
                   crush and injure your cat`s claw. 

                   Since most cats will struggle when you clip their claws, it is
                   wise to wear long sleeves and pants and wait until the cat is
                   sleepy. If your cat is especially reluctant to have its claws
                   clipped, you might need someone to hold it for you, while you
                   do the clipping. Otherwise, begin by holding your cat in your
                   lap or on the floor between your knees. Make sure there is
                   sufficient lighting and that you are familiar with the way the
                   claws look. Pin the cat to your side with your arm and hold
                   one of its front paws in your hand. Gently press on one toe
                   until the claw pops into full view. Clip it, being careful not to
                   cut into the quick, the slightly pinkish area containing nerves
                   and blood vessels. When in doubt, trim less of the nail. Repeat
                   with the next toe and so on. Don`t forget the dewclaws -
                   found only on the front paws - located right about where
                   humans would have there thumbs.

                   Ear Cleaning

                   Since dirt and debris seems to collect primary in a cat`s ears,
                   it is important to check them at least once bi-weekly. If your
                   cat`s ears need cleaning, use a piece of cotton or cotton
                   swab moistened with hydrogen peroxide. Be careful not to go
                   deeper into the ear than what you can see and never apply
                   the peroxide directly into the ear. Consult your vet if you find
                   deeply lodged earwax or redness and black spots - which may
                   be an indication of mites.

                   Eye Care

                   It`s a good idea to keep plenty of clean cotton balls on hand
                   and use a moistened one to remove any discharge from around
                   the eye area.

                   Dental Care

                   Cats, like humans, need dental care on a regular basis. Bad
                   teeth are painful and can affect the overall health of your cat.
                   You can help minimize or prevent dental problems for your cat
                   through regular cleaning and scaling as the most common
                   problems are a result of plaque and calculus buildup. If left
                   unchecked, this build up can cause inflammation of both the
                   gums (gingivitis) and the membrane lining of the tooth socket
                   (periodontitis). Without proper treatment, the teeth may
                   become infected and fall out. The resulting infection may
                   spread to other parts of the body such as the kidneys or heart
                   valves.

                   Brush your cat`s teeth regularly using a toothbrush and
                   toothpaste designed especially for cats or a child-sized
                   toothbrush dampened and rubbed with baking soda. Do not
                   use toothpaste formulated for humans as your cat will swallow
                   it and it may cause an upset stomach. If your cat is reluctant,
                   use a bathtowel as a restrainer or try putting a little bit of
                   tuna juice on the toothbrush.

                   Most cats tend to accumulate plaque on the outside of their
                   upper teeth. Brush the outer surfaces of your cat`s teeth with
                   a gentle, circular motion. When your cat becomes used to this
                   type of cleaning, try brushing the inner surfaces. Do this by
                   gently pushing back on the corners of the jaws and tilting
                   back the head.

                   If your cat has red, swollen, or bleeding gums, bad breath,
                   dark spots on his molars, chronic runny nose, loses weight, or
                   is reluctant to eat, you should contact your vet immediately.

                   Finally, though there is no substitute for regular dental care,
                   dry, crunchy foods can help to keep your cat`s teeth clean.