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The skin and coat/hair of your pet cat offers a highly accurate indication of their health. A cat that has a fine sheen of coat usually means good health. On the flipside, if your cat exhibits a flaxy and unkempt coat this might mean that there is an underlying health problem to be concerned with. Veterinarians will actually use your cat’s current skin and coat appearance as the initial factor to consider when determining your pet’s health.
You should also consider some key benefits your pet will gain from having a healthy-looking fur and skin. Some benefits of keeping your cat’s skin and coat healthy are listed below:
One of the key factors that affect your pet’s skin and the coat is their diet. You should always opt for foods that offer high levels of omega-3 fatty acids, protein, and an assortment of vitamins and minerals. If your pet appears to have excessively dry skin then you should increase their linoleic acid intake.
Linoleic acid can be found in corn, flaxseed, soy, and nuts. Zinc is important for maintaining your cat’s lush coat and it also helps maintain moisture in the body. To help ensure your cat’s metabolism is optimized, you might want to include a healthy dose of B vitamins and biotin.
You can find these in food but also in several pet care products such as cat shampoo. However, as you would expect, cats do not require to be bathed as much as dogs. Now then, let us head into further detail about bathing your pet cat, shall we?
While popular belief dictates otherwise, cats will greatly benefit from bathing every once in a while. However, determining how often you need to bathe your cat will require you to consider several factors first. Before you decide how frequent you need to bathe your cat, you must first ask the following questions:
If you have a cat that tends to wander about outdoors a lot then they will need to bathe more often compared to a strictly indoor cat. For obvious reasons, these cats are more susceptible to the dirt and grime outside. Outdoor cats also tend to ‘relieve’ themselves more often than indoor cats. If you have noticed your cat starting to have an unpleasant smell or is starting to look dirty, you can bathe them then.
Similar to us humans, cats who are more physically active will need to bathe more often than cats who tend to lounge around most of the time. Physical activity will increase the total accumulated dirt and grease found in your cats’ skin and fur. Hence, the need for bathing more often.
A cat’s coat length will also factor in when it comes to the frequency of bathe they need. Cats who have longer coats will need more maintenance than felines with shorter coats. Cats with long coats are more susceptible to tangles and getting matted. However, before you decide on bathing your cat you should first try to see if you can fix these tangles and matting by brushing.
Not all cats groom themselves the same way or as effective as others. For example, cats who are on the heavyset side are more likely to find it difficult to reach specific parts of their bod. The rear end also tends to be often overlooked by your cat during cleaning.
If your cat has fleas or has a skin irritation then you might be required to bathe them often during a set period of time. Of course, this will be with the recommendation of a veterinarian. Don’t decide to bathe your cat daily if it is not specifically instructed by an expert as you might exacerbate or cause a different health issue for your cat in the future.
Of course, bathing your cat a couple of times a week is not recommended. If your cat tends to be a bit messy, you can use dry cat shampoo and wipes as alternatives to clean their skin and coat.
Veterinarians agree that it is actually unnecessary to bathe your cat as regular as you would a dog. While bathing them occasionally will help keep them healthy, unless instructed by your vet you should never bathe your cat weekly or a couple of times per week. You might do more harm than good with this mindset.
Basically, cats are naturally good groomers and will rarely require any outside help to keep themselves clean. Bathing your cat too often might cause important minerals to deteriorate from their fur. Cats are also known to be not big fans of water.
While some cats do enjoy splashing around in the water, like the Bengal cat, most will try to avoid getting wet as their life depended on it. Bathing cats who are stressed out by water might cause them to accidentally lash out with their claws which can cause injuries to their owners. They might also panic and injure themselves in the process.
If you plan on bathing your cat for the first time, I highly suggest you take it as slow as possible and let them settle into the sensation of getting wet at their own pace. The best age to introduce your cat to bathing will be when they are about 3 months old as this is the time they would have gotten all the necessary vaccinations already.
Cat breeds with shorter hair are also unlikely to suffer from excessive loose hair problems. These types of cat breeds will usually do fine with the occasional brushing from their owner. They will also require bathing only if they are showing visible signs of dirt on their coat.
This is actually a big no-no for any cat owner. While you might think this will lead to a cleaner and healthier cat, bathing them every day can lead to some serious health concerns down the line. For one, bathing your cat will essentially cause the nutrients in their fur to decrease. By the time you notice it, your cat’s coat will look dry and flaky.
Some cats are also highly stressed out around water. Stress can be a silent killer for pets which is why it is important not to put them in a highly stressful environment. If your cat is not used to bathing then expect them to become quite hostile during the process.
Unlike their canine counterparts, cats are extremely good at grooming themselves. They normally won’t need any help in this aspect, unlike dogs who tend to enjoy playing around in the dirt. Basically, cats are like those finicky individuals who are often described as clean freaks.
While dogs might require bathing twice a week, cats should only be considered for a trip to the bathroom once every 2 months. Especially, if they are indoor cats. The only time your cat will require an increase in frequency when it comes to bathing is when they are nursing an injury, old, or obese.
Cats will get, without a doubt, some benefits from bathing, especially outdoors and long coat breeds. However, don’t expect them to behave as much as dogs during these occasions. The decision about deciding how often you will need to bathe your cat will boil down to the specifics we discussed earlier. You should also keep in mind the recommended frequency of cat bathing is once every month and a half. At the end of the day, it is best to follow the instructions of your vet regarding this process.
If you notice flakes of dead and dry skin on your cat’s fur it is important to take necessary precautions. Dry skin in cats can be caused by a variety of reason; from over-bathing, malnutrition, to diseases. If your cat does have a dry skin problem then you can use the following products designed to treat this health issue.
Of course, I still highly suggest you consult with your vet first to make sure this isn’t caused by a disease. Now then, let us go and take a look at the highest rated and most recommended treatment for cat dry skin. We will also discuss causes and other preventive measures you can take to ensure that your cat won’t be experiencing dry skin problems again in the future.
Burt’s Bee Cat Dander Reducing Spray is a mild yet highly effective dry skin treatment for cats. The product consists of about 99.7% all-natural ingredients that include Aloe Vera (a great skin care nutrient) as well as oatmeal.
Burt’s Bees is designed specifically for use with our feline friends so you can sleep easy knowing that it does not contain anything that can cause skin irritations. The product is completely free of any artificial ingredients with no color dyes. It is also pH balanced for cats to help give your cat a healthier skin and a lusher coat.
DEchra Miconhex is a shampoo that is formulated to fight off bacterial skin and fungal infections. This is a highly recommended medical shampoo by veterinarians. It can be used not only on your pet cat but also dogs and even horses.
This shampoo also moisturizes your pet’s skin which helps prevent future cases of dander problems. This shampoo also contains ceramides which act as a moisturizer and helps speed up skin regeneration. The ingredients on the shampoo also remain active even after bathing to ensure your pet will get a quick and full recovery from their dry skin problems.
Oster All-Natural Oatmeal shampoo is formulated to help keep your cat’s coat and skin in tip-top shape. It consists of 100% oatmeal extract to help soothe any skin irritation while also acting as a conditioner and detangles the fur of long-haired cat breeds.
The shampoo also utilizes surfactants and a refreshing Vanilla scent that can last for quite a long time. The shampoo is also pH balanced for cats. It uses biodegradable all-natural ingredients with no colorants and alcohol. You are pretty much guaranteed that it won’t be causing any allergic reactions to your cat while solving their dander problems.
Another entry that utilizes natural ingredients, Honey Dew Natural Pet Spray is designed to work on both dogs and cats. It not only helps maintain moisture on your pet’s skin, but it also acts as a conditioner on their fur and eliminates odors at the same time.
It uses a refreshing lavender scent that removes pet odor while also soothing skin irritations. It uses all-natural formula so you don’t need to worry about it causing any skin irritations. Honey Dew also comes with a 100% satisfaction guarantee which is a good safety net for first-time buyers.
For those whose cats are extremely difficult or not used to taking a bath, using waterless shampoos are your next best bet. Vet’s Best No-Rinse Shampoo does not require you to soak your cat in water to work its magic. Just apply the solution to your cat’s coat and dry affected areas.
The formula helps offer relief from itchiness and moisturizes the dried skin. No-Rinse Cat Shampoo also utilizes natural ingredients such as Aloe Vera, Oatmeal extract, neem oil, and Vitamin E. These ingredients not only solve dry skin problems, it also acts as a coat maintenance. This waterless cat shampoo is safe to use for kittens 12 weeks and older and can be used with tick and flea repellants.
Another great alternative for cats who are simply not a big fan of bathing. The Vet Recommended Waterless Cat Shampoo does not, you guessed it, require any water. You just spray it a bit on dry skin areas on your cat and massage thoroughly.
This uses natural ingredients to help moisturize skin while also keeping the coat soft and lush. This dry shampoo also contains no alcohol ingredients to ensure it won’t cause any skin irritations on your pet cat. It features a mild surfactant solution that will greatly help in removing cat dander. It also has a sweet strawberry scent for those who enjoy snuggling with their cat.
Pet MD Oatmeal Cat Shampoo is a good choice for cats who do not only have dander problems but also suffer from excessive itchiness daily. The oatmeal extract helps soothe the skin irritation while moisturizing and speeding up the healing process of the skin.
This cat shampoo does not contain any alcohol and uses a special blend of essential skin care ingredients such as Aloe Vera, oatmeal extract, wheat germ oil, and several vitamins. Pet MD Oatmeal Cat Shampoo might be a good choice if your cat is suffering from skin irritations as well as dandruff.
An alternative to waterless shampoos would be wet wipes. Earthbath All-natural cat Wipes is one such example of an easier way to clean and groom your cat without the need of using water. Each ply of wet wipes is extra thick and is infused with all-natural ingredients that should help treat the dry skin while acting as a conditioner for their coat.
This cat wipe is lanolin-free and is hypoallergenic to ensure your cat won’t experience any side effects. All in all, Earthbath is one of the easiest ways to help clean and treat dry skin on your cat.
This is a fast-acting skin treatment solution designed for cats, dogs, and horses. If you want to cover all possible bases when it comes to skin care treatment for your feline friend then Dermagic just might be the thing you were looking for.
It is formulated to treat skin conditions such as yeast infections, scaly skin, allergies, dermatitis, black skin disease, hot spots, and dandruff. It uses Aloe Vera and vitamin E which helps speed up recovery. It also contains sulfur which targets dandruff causing bacteria and also acts to offer relief from severe itchiness.
As you would expect, cats who usually stay outdoors a lot will be more susceptible to dry skin/dandruff problems. This is because bacteria, fungi, and parasites are the topmost reasons that cause this skin problem in cats.
Other possible causes of dry skin in cats include injuries (getting into a fight with another cat, for example), getting exposed to harsh chemicals, overexposure to sunlight, eating dead rats or prey. Because of this, I would highly recommend you keep your pet cat indoors and only let them go outside under your supervision.
Of course, the most obvious symptom here would be dander and a dull coat. But sometimes it can be rather difficult to spot these two major symptoms of dry skin in cats at first glance. There are other dry skin symptoms that can help you determine whether your cat is going through this skin problem. Below are other symptoms you need to be wary of if you have a pet cat:
Besides the treatment products I listed above, there are other simpler home remedies that you can include to help speed up the recovery process. Below are dry skin treatments that you can apply with simple items you can find at home or at your local grocery.
If the main cause of dry skin on your cats is fleas then using a combination of 50% apple cider vinegar and 50% warm water can help remove these pesky parasites. You can either bathe your cat on this mixture or use a spray and apply the apple cider with water directly to the affected areas. Just make sure to rinse it thoroughly after a couple of minutes.
Another effective way to treat dry skin is with coconut oil. Massage a healthy dose of coconut oil to the patches of dry or scaly skin daily. You can also mix in a spoonful of coconut oil into their daily food but unless your cat does not get the proper daily nutrients, I suggest you stick to using coconut as a topical treatment as it is packed with calories.
Having a DHA and EPA deficiency can lead to several skin problems which is why adding omega-3 fatty acid rich foods in your cat’s diet might help improve their skin health. You can get omega-3 fatty acid from a fish oil. Just remember that cats cannot properly process ALA (alpha-linolenic acid) into DHA and EPA that came from plants like flaxseed oil. I suggest you go with actual fish oil and meat for their primary source of omega-3.
Cat dry skin is more prevalent with cats who stay outdoors. While there are times wherein you just can’t stop them from venturing outside, taking precautionary steps such as proper grooming and a healthy diet can help lower the risk of this skin problem. Take everything you have learned in this article and apply it to your cuddly feline to make sure they won’t have to suffer through this skin health issue.
There are certain aspects of pet grooming that both pet owners and even groomers would agree that it is not their favorite thing to do when taking care of their pets.
One of these unmentionable things in pet grooming is emptying your pet’s anal sacs.
Just like a human’s anal sacs, a dog’s anal sacs must be regularly emptied. However, unlike human anal sacs, a dog’s anal sacs carry a special smelly fluid that enables them to mark their territory.
Unfortunately, if your dog doesn’t get enough fiber in their diets, they are unable to defecate properly and it causes the glands to produce a foul odor. If left untreated, your dog might get chronic infections to the point your vets may be forced to remove the glands.
Fortunately, there is a way to determine if your pet is having trouble with their anal glands and they are the following:
If you notice any one of these symptoms, you may need to clean their anal sacs manually.
Before you do attempt to manually clean your dog’s anal sacs, it is best you ask your vet or your pet groomer the right way to do it. If you make even the slightest mistake or too frequent in cleaning your pet’s anal glands, it may cause impacted anal glands and possibly rupture it. If this occurs, you may trigger further infections that can be fatal if not properly treated.
If you wish to help your pet by yourself, here are the ways you can clean your pet’s anal sacs:
Before you go set out to clean your pet’s anal sacs, you must ensure you are wearing the right gear. Wear some old clothes, a pair of heavy duty rubber gloves and a nose plug to ensure you don’t get the fluid in your clean clothes and in your hands directly.
Nose plugs are actually optional, but your dog’s anal fluids can be very stinky so you may need to wear one as a precaution.
Before you begin in cleaning your pet’s anal sac, you need to prepare an absorbent pad that you will use to clean off the fluids. You can fold up several paper towels and put them all together to create an absorbent pad then use it to catch the liquids that would come out of your pet’s bottom.
Cleaning your pet’s anal sacs can be very irritating, and sometimes painful, for your pet. Get a family member or a friend to help you hold your pet while you clean so they won’t move around while you do the act.
To begin the cleaning process, first, lift your dog’s tail and place the towels over their anus. Make sure you take note where the anus is located since it would be covered by the towel for the next step.
Place your thumb and forefinger over the location of your pet’s anal sacs and squeeze gently towards each other to entice the fluids to flow out of the anus. Some experts also recommend squeezing at the 4 o’clock and 8 o’clock positions of your pet’s bottom, using the anus as a reference.
As you squeeze gently, make sure you keep your face away and only use light pressure similar to how you use an aerosol spray.
Just continue applying light pressure until all the fluids have been removed from the glands.
As you squeeze your pet’s anal sacs and the fluids come out, wipe it off your pet’s bottom with the paper towels you folded. When you are done, properly dispose of the used towels and the gloves you used in a covered trash can since the scent can waft out of the trash can if it is not covered.
When you are sure that no more fluids are coming out, wash your pet’s bottom thoroughly to ensure no fluids can cause infections.
Even if your pet does not exhibit signs that they are having problems with their anal sacs, some experts and pet owners recommended cleaning your pet’s anal sacs during bath time to ensure they are regularly clean.
However, if you notice that your pet’s anal sacs tend to fill up more frequently, you may need to bring your pet to the vet to see if there are no problems causing it.
Alternatively, you can also change your dog’s diet to assist in emptying their anal sacs. Add fiber-rich treats in your dog’s diet so it can help improve their stool’s size and firmness.
Exercise can also assist in emptying your pet’s anal sacs because they can malfunction if your pet is overweight.
If you think you can’t do it yourself, you may opt to ask the staff of your pet’s veterinarian or a professional groomer to tackle the issue for you. Like Singapore’s numerous veterinary centers, Singapore has a lot of pet grooming centers that offer full pet grooming. You can also request a groomer close to your home to make a house call to assist you with the problem.
Whichever choice you pick, it is important that you immediately act when your pet showcases the symptoms of anal sac problems. Even if you may find the symptoms cute and perceive it as normal, such symptoms should not be treated lightly.
If you do not act immediately, the discomfort your pet may feel may become unbearable for them to handle and it may lead to them getting their anal sacs taken out. Without their anal sacs, they won’t be able to mark their territory well and put them at risk to other complications. So, act immediately and carefully when it happens!
When pet owners need to go to work or on a holiday, pets often end up staying indoors so they won’t get lost or end up messy for the owner when they get back. In Singapore, for instance, pets are often left indoors in condo units or in pet daycare by their owners during the day and they play with them at home at night.
As a result of this practice, the pets slowly start to get used to staying indoors and prefer being indoors rather than outdoors.
Since these pets are often indoors, a debate has sprung between pet owners and groomers if indoor pets are cleaner than others. Some would say pets who mostly stay indoors would not be as dirty as compared to their outdoor or indoor/outdoor counterparts.
Since these pets do not go out a lot and play in the dirt, some believe they will not get dirty at all and do not need to get a bath regularly. They are also not exposed to harmful elements like pollution and smoke, which can affect their health.
Others say indoor/outdoor pets are better because they get to exercise and stay active. Even if they do get dirty, they can be cleaned up easily and the pets would also learn how to become immune from the elements. Allowing them some outdoor time is also good since they would be able to swim and run in the rain to cool themselves off.
However, some experts – especially professional groomers – would be immediate in saying indoor pets are dirtier than their indoor/outdoor counterparts and it is also essential they are given a bath regularly. This holds true for indoor cats.
Every animal deserves to be clean since it is important for their health. If you would take notice, animals would often try going on puddles on their own, play under the rain and clean themselves on their own with the help of their tongue.
For cats, it was once said that they would seek a bath themselves to remain clean and not just rely on their spit to clean dirty areas. They would even go on rivers, ponds or tubs filled with water to swim and cool down. This belief is further supported by images or videos of cats going out leisurely on light rainy days, do some light swimming and roll in the snow. When they do this, they are trying to rinse away all the dirt in their bodies that cannot be cleaned easily by saliva and help them cool down.
Since indoor/outdoor cats would seek out cleaning themselves, they would only need to be cleaned or given a bath occasionally. Of course, they would have to be given a bath if they come across substances like oil or mud and if they have long hair.
By comparison, indoor cats can’t easily find means for them to clean their bodies aside from using their tongues. Since they are confined indoors, they cannot step outside for a bit to get drizzled by the rain or go for a swim unless you left your bathtub slightly filled with water that they can manage. They may even develop an attraction to any dripping sink since the urge to stay clean grows stronger and they like to soak the dirt off.
Without a water source to help them clean the layers of food, dirt and litterbox debris, the cat has no choice but to use his tongue to lick it away. However, saliva can only do so much for the cat’s cleanliness since it can combine with the natural oils in a cat’s hair and cause fur matting.
Aside from fur matting, indoor lighting triggers the onset of constant shedding for an entire year. Shed hair from cats is one of the most notable allergens for humans, as well as their saliva.
If this is the case, wouldn’t you want them clean so it reduces the health risks posed to you and your family?
Fortunately, even if your cat mostly stays indoors, you can easily clean them through regular grooming. While grooming your cat, you will be able to remove fur matting on your cat’s coat, release loose hair and also get rid of the grime that might have accumulated in their fur. There are now several grooming tools and guides available in pet stores, bookstores and online sites to help you get started.
If you do not have the time to groom your pets or you are not sure on where to start cleaning, fear not!
In Singapore, there are a lot of pet grooming salons, spas or clinics that offer to groom for all kinds of pets. Some of these clinics even have cat grooming professionals ready to give your cat the pampering and cleaning they need. They would also be happy to provide advice on how you can keep your cat clean even if they only stay indoors. Some of these clinics can even provide you advice on what grooming tools to get for your cats and which shampoos to get. They even sell it directly on their shop.
If there’s any chance you are unable to visit the salon with your cat, groomers can make house visits to check up on your pet and clean them there. They can even answer your questions regarding grooming and even give you a quick tutorial on how to clean your indoor cats at home.
As a pet owner, it is your choice as to whether or not you will keep your pets indoors or have them also go out and explore. However, you must remember that there are dangers outdoors that you need to consider when you do let out your pet play. The same goes when you leave them indoors.
Whether you let them play outdoors or not, it is your responsibility as their owner to schedule regular grooming sessions (see Likeable Pets) because if they are always clean and healthy, it shows that you care for your pets.
When it comes to pet grooming, the usual thing you may notice is that the guidebooks about the topic would often be about grooming dogs. Dogs are the most preferred pet for many people and in Singapore, there are at least 62,000 canines are currently adopted by many citizens since 2015. Many believe dogs are very affectionate and great as a companion pet.
However, not all people can take care of dogs because of their temperament and needs. Instead, they look into cats as their companion pet. Cats are not as active as dogs, but they do make great companions when they are properly taken care of by their owners.
Unfortunately, while there are some citizens who have cats as pets, getting Mobile Cat Grooming professional advice in Singapore can be difficult. Cats are not very common in the country due to the current cat ban laws on HDB flats, preventing ownership for those who live in these residences. According to recent statistics, only 18% of Singaporeans own a cat.
Like dogs, cats should always be kept clean and groomed to make sure they don’t get infections and remain healthy. Contrary to popular belief, they can be given a bath too to keep them clean. Some of the grooming techniques and rules used in dog grooming can also be used in cats; but, there are some major differences.
In dogs, it is standard to trim the hair on their paws since they tend to get dirty easier. They are also heavier and larger than cats, causing them to be heavy in their feet and their deeper paw pads to dig deeper into the ground. Dogs also sweat a lot, causing their paws to collect more dirt and debris as they walk or run around. In order to keep their paws clean, it is important to trim the hair on their paws.
However, there are dog breeds that should have their paws’ hair trimmed. Two of them are the Pekingese and the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. Both breeds are considered “palace” breeds and as such, their ‘hair slippers’ are left long and brushed. These hair slippers even help them reduce the sound of their nails hitting hard floors.
In comparison, cats are very light with their paws and have shallower paw pads. As a result, they do not attract dirt and debris easily unless the paws are really dirty. Fortunately, paw debris can be reduced with regular bathing.
It is not a common knowledge that a cat has tactile hairs or whiskers between its paw pads. These whiskers then send a feedback to the cat as they touch the ground. It could tell them if the ground is cold or hot. The fur also doubles as a protective covering for their paw pads, ensuring that it is protected from skin trauma and exposure to the elements. If they are always inside, the fur on her paws will protect him from indoor debris like chemicals and small toys.
Some cat breeds also see a cat’s paw hair as a crowning feature in cat shows. They can be accentuated or fluffed up for these shows and the fluffier and more distinct, the better it will be.
However, there are cases when you should trim your cat’s paw hair and here are some good examples:
If you do end up trimming the paw hair, make sure you use a small pair of rounded scissors or clippers to cut the fur. You must be very careful when you do clip long paw hair because you may accidentally cut your cat’s feet or paw pads. It is also advisable to trim only up to the pad’s levels so the cat won’t have problems when you trim it all off.
If you remain uncertain as to whether you need to trim the hair on your cat’s paw, you can bring them to a professional groomer in any of Singapore’s top pet grooming spas or salons or book a personal appointment with one to your home. However, make sure they have certified cat groomers because dog groomers may just snip the hair without considering your wish. If you get a cat groomer, they would be able to determine if you need to get it trimmed and if they do, they will ask you if you want it trimmed.
Remember, you need to consider if it is appropriate to trim the tuffs because they may play a second purpose for your cat. If you cut them haphazardly, you may give your cat a disadvantage and it ultimately affects how they move.
You sent your two gorgeous felines for grooming.Their fur looks fluffy and soft to touch. All is well until you reach home and release them from their cages. All hell broke loose. Once best friends who will lick each other, suddenly turn on each other and hiss ferociously.
It is World War III!
Although the cause of the aggressive nonrecognition is not completely clear. However, when a cat threatens its onetime friend. This is usually after having being separated for a time. It can be that the cat is confused by your other cat’s scent. When handling cats who hold the aggressive impulses. It is always a good idea to acquaint the returning cat slowly. Let it seem like they have never met.
Nonrecognition aggression happens when one cat is unusually aggressive towards a companion cat. This is often after some time of separation. For instance, after one feline returns home from a grooming visit in Singapore. The cat that remained at home gets aggressive towards the returning cat. It might even freeze, flee, or maybe fight back.
The origin of this form of aggression is not understood fully. However, some possible causes are:
All feline breeds seem to be equally given to this kind of inter-cat behaviour.
Below are several recommendations when you encounter this problem:
Aggression, in general, refers to attacks or threats. However, that is not always easy to spot when looking at inter-cat problems in general. Aggressive actions between cats will include growling, hissing, swatting, biting and chasing. It may come down to the subtle incidents of intimidation that are unrecognized by cat owners as aggression.
Below listed several rules applicable for the 2 kinds of cats. This is when it comes to the nonrecognition incidents.
Gestures by an Attacking Cat (remained at home)
Gestures of a Defensive Feline (Returning feline)
It is suggested that cat owners reintroduce the two cats. But only after the aggressor is completely calm. A good way would be to reintroduce the cats slowly through a screen. You could do so through a gate or a cracked door. This is before you allowing them to access each other.
Have their food bowls opposite of the barrier. This will encourage closeness as they do something they both enjoy. Once they both appear relaxed. You can open the screen between the two little by little. When they remain relaxed, then they could be ready to meet again.
When they show some aggression (like hissing, growling, swatting, spitting,). Simply separate them and restart this process of reintroduction gradually. Two felines are likely to restore a relationship. They at least can tolerate one another other.
A change in your cat’s behaviour might also be an indication of some medical condition. When either cat’s mannerism in this situations does not get better. Seek further veterinary help. Contact a certified animal behaviourist or even a board-certified vet behaviourist in Singapore (DACVB comes after their last name), it is recommended when no biological causes of illness are identified.
To aid in preventing nonrecognition aggression. You could take these measures after you have brought your cat home from the groomers. This is best done before they are reintroducing to another cat (s).
With patience, you can reintroduce your beloved cats to each other again. Another great suggestion is to have mobile cat grooming sessions in your home instead, that will reduce the change of environment, acquiring different scent and reducing the chances of aggressive feline behaviour.
Although cats do groom themselves, pet parents need to groom them as well. The frequency of grooming your cat will depend on the length of your cats’ hair. Cats lose more hair during the shedding season when the hair loss process is rather increased. Grooming for your feline friend needs to be pleasurable and relaxing.
Starting to do cat grooming early in life will ensure they get used to the brushstrokes when grooming. Eventually, increase the brushstrokes amount your kitten gets as it gets accustomed to the grooming procedure. Give your cat treats for letting you brush them this will teach them to connect grooming to a good experience. It is suggested to brush long and medium-haired cat’s daily, while short-haired feline needs grooming every week.
Regular grooming will keep your cat healthy and clean. Brushing helps remove any dirt trapped on your cat’s hair. Long haired cats or older cats are more prone to health issues caused by poor habits of grooming. These cats will greatly benefit from getting groomed more often to keep them clean, smelling nice.
Brushing your cats’ coat will help to evenly distribute the natural oils from their skin, therefore, growing shiny healthy coat. Brushing also helps reduce the amount of fur shed by your cat. Before brushing your cat, make sure to use the right brush for the hair length and one specially designed for grooming cats. Forced grooming in cats will bring your cat lots of stress and will make the brushing experience bad for your feline friend.
Brushing your cat more often has many essential benefits. These benefits may include;
During their daily grooming routine, cats swallow lots of furs which end up as hairballs in their stomachs. This is however unhealthy for the cats. Cats shed a lot of furs and with regular brushing from the pet parents, the fur does not end up in their bellies. Hairballs in the cat’s stomach cause blockages to their intestinal tract endangering their life.
When you take time to brush your cat, the amount of fur ingested is greatly reduced. There are different brush types to suit the cat’s hair length, therefore acquire the suitable one for your cat’s coat.
There are different types of cat breeds and each requires varying grooming frequencies. Below is a breakdown of different grooming tips for each of the diverse breeds.
Long haired felines like the Maine Coons, Ragdolls and Persians need to be groomed daily. The long hair can get tangled develop knots and mats that require to straighten out. De-matting brushes and Fine-toothed combs get the tangles undone more easily. Professional grooming is available for your cat should there are tangles that are difficult to undo.
The Japanese Bobtail, Manx, and mixed cat breeds fall under this category. Brushing your cat a number of times in a week to each day will benefit your medium- haired feline. For a cat that sheds a lot or has dense hair, each day grooming is mostly preferred. The brush to use for the medium furred feline is the slicker brush and the grooming mittens.
These include the Egyptian Mau, American Shorthair, and the British Shorthair. Grooming for these felines can be several times a week. If you opt to brush your cat each day, avoid overdoing it as it will cause skin irritation and even hair loss. For the short-haired cats, balding signs caused by your cats over-grooming are easily noticed than those caused by over brushing.
During self-grooming, your cat will swallow lots of furs which, with time accumulates in its stomach in the form of a large clump of hair. Although cats’ regurgitate hairballs once or twice each week, it can cause a health issue when it forms a blockage to their intestinal tract.
When you brush your cat, it helps lessen the quantity of hair going into your cats’ stomach, therefore, a smaller hairball size. Professional grooming will decrease hairballs in your cat as well.
Brushing your cat often will help stop mats from developing. When a matt occurs on your cat’s coat, gently working them with your fingers will get them undone. Try not to pull your cat’s fur as it will cause tension to the skin and consequently pain to your cat. Use blunt-nosed scissors to slowly and gently break the matt. Then carefully trim the matt making sure not to come into contact with the skin. For the matt occurring near the skin and very tight, seeking professional groomer will help get them straightened out.
Even though cats groom themselves, they do need your help. The frequency your cat gets groomed is dependent on its fur length. During the shedding season, cats experience increased the loss of fur. The grooming experience for your feline friends needs to be pleasurable and fun.
Giving special treats for good behavior will encourage your cat’s cooperation during brushing sessions. Start by getting your cat accustomed to the brushstrokes and keep increasing them as your cat gets comfortable with the procedure. Regular grooming positively impacts your cat’s health. Hairball formation occurs during the natural grooming of your cat; the cat swallows furs which forms a hair clump in its stomach. Frequently brushing your cat helps reduce the quantity of fur swallowed, therefore, reducing the hairball size.
Different breeds of cats require varied brushing care. Long-haired cats require daily grooming than the medium or short-haired cats. With frequent brushing, your cat’s coat will not easily matt. When a matt is noticed, you can get it gently undone using your fingers. When a matt is difficult to remove, professional cat grooming will ensure your cat’s coat remains healthy and matt-free.
To keep your cat pet happy, clean and healthy, you need to groom your cat properly. As you might be aware by now, cats always groom themselves hence cat grooming is the simplest task that you can perform. Cats groom themselves daily to remove dead and falling hair and any dirt that might be on the surface of their fur. By grooming your cat, you help your cat to remove the extra old and fallen hair as well as to stimulate the growth of new, healthy hair.
As you read through this article, you will learn the different ways that a pet groomer will groom your cat and also when to groom your pet. You will also learn what to expect when a pet groomer bathes, trim, wash, rinse, drying, ear and eye cleaning, combing and shaving your cat.
An essential part of cat grooming is nail trimming. When you are trimming the nails of your cat, you need to be very cautious. When you are clipping the claws of your cat, you should apply some gentle pressure to the top of the foot and the underneath pad of your cat’s leg.
The reason as to why you should apply some pressure to the foot of your cat is to cause your cat to extend its claws so that you can be able to cut them without injuring your cat’s foot.
When you are trimming the claws of your cat, cut the nails either on the front or back leg where they begin to curl.
However, ensure that you use the right claws cutter to trim the claws so that you avoid injuring or cutting the tiny veins that run into the claws of your cat.
Before you bathe your cat, ensure that you brush your cat first so as to remove any excess fur and dirt particles.
Use some cotton wools in the ears of your cat to prevent water from entering your cat’s ears.
While washing your cat, you can use a special cat shampoo. Start by wetting your cat’s hair with warm water. Once your pet is wet, apply the shampoo and gently massage the fur. If your cat is very dirty, you can apply the shampoo twice.
Once you are done with shampooing your cat, next, rinse the whole body of your cat and ensure that you have removed all the shampoo from the cat’s hair.
As soon as you finish rinsing the shampoo from your cat, wrap your cat in a towel so as to prevent your cat from getting cold.
You should make it a routine to clean the ears of your cat on a regular basis using cotton wool and alcohol. To get rid of all the wax and other dirt particles that have accumulated in the ears of your cat, use a cotton swab that is dipped in a mild alcohol solution. However, you should take care not to clean deeper in the ears than you can be able to see because you might damage the ear drum of your cat hence causing hearing problems to your cat.
The eyes of a healthy and well taken care of cat should be clear and bright. Sometimes, the cat’s eyes can get runny which will lead to the formation of the crust which if not properly cleaned may lead to eye infection of your cat.
You can clean the tear ducts of your cat’s eyes using cotton balls and saline solution. Taking one eye at a time, dip the cotton ball in the saline solution and gently wipe the encrusted part of your cat’s eye. Work on one eye until all the crust is done and do the same to the other eye.
Remember, proper drying of your pet after bathing is essential especially if your cat has a long hair. Well, there are specially made blowers for cat drying after washing. The best cat blower blows large volumes of air at high speed.
Blow drying your cat will go a long way to help straighten the hair of your cat, detangle any matted hair, blow away any old loose fur.
If you want your cat’s hair to look and remain healthy always, then you need to groom your cat at home regularly. Regular grooming of your cat will help to prevent the formation of mats. You can help avoid the formation of mats of your cat’s fur by regularly brushing the fur of your cat.
If the mats are too tangled for you to handle, seek professional help at the pet groomers or engage a professional home cat groomer.
Brush your cat gently from head to tail using gentle and short strokes using a comb so as to remove any knots. However, ensure that you do not pull the comb because it will hurt your cat.
Use a brush to fluff off any old fur starting from the head, the back working all the way to the tail.
If you must shave your cat’s fur, then ensure that it is done before washing it, and then drying either with the towel or blower. Sometimes, shaving is good for your cat especially if its fur is matted or the cat is suffering from skin diseases. Shaving will allow easy access for the medication to cure the skin and ease any itch.
It is important for you to note that when you are grooming your cat, be sure that your cat is comfortable with your grooming. Whenever you want to groom your cat, approach it in a friendly manner and during the grooming session, gently sweet talk your cat in a reassuring tone so that your cat will know that you have the best of its interest at heart.
During the grooming session, whether brushing or shaving or washing, do not force your cat to assume some uncomfortable positions. If your cat starts to fight in the middle of the grooming session; stop and divide the sessions into segments so that your cat can have the best grooming experience.
Cats usually lick themselves as part of their natural daily grooming routine. However, the licking can sometimes turn excessive and obsessive. As a cat owner, you cannot overlook this behaviour. Cats usually spend 30-50 percent of the day cat grooming themselves. Over-grooming in the feline is known as psychogenic alopecia.
Over grooming is widely spread obsessive compulsive behaviour in cats. The thing you will likely notice the hairless patches on your cat’s belly. Sometimes these bald patches can appear in the inside part of the cat’s legs, extending to the tail, flank and in other areas of your cat’s body. Alopecia is the complete or partial balding of fur in a cat’s body. Psychogenic refers to having psychological cause rather than physical origin.
The noticeable symptoms of obsessive grooming are chewing and licking. You may also notice hairless patches on your cat are where the fur has been chewed off. In severe cases, your cat will create open wounds and self-mutilate. These wounds are susceptible to infections.
When under stress, your cat will self-soothe itself by excessive grooming. Stress for a cat can be caused by reasons like, move into a new home, loss of a mate or its litter for a female cat.
When having allergic reactions to food and pollen, feline tend to lick and chew on their skin as a way of scratching away the itchiness. Cats will tend to groom themselves in excess when they get bored.
When a cat’s daily routine is suddenly interrupted, the feline will get stressed and seek out licking as a way of relieving its stress.
When experiencing pain or an itch on any part of their body, cats will lick the itchy and painful part. For painful areas, the licking is more focused on the pain area, while itching is widespread throughout the body.
Your cat will tend to lick its tail tip when it has flea infection. Cats with food and pollen allergies will, however, lick the back, belly and the other body parts.
In order to pinpoint the cause of licking as stress, ruling medical problems is essential. This makes it easy to identify the cause of stress to the cat’s life.
The recurring licking involves a stress-relieving gratification aspect that reinforces this behaviour. Therefore, feline licking can be more out of habit that sticks after the stressor has been identified and treated. For a cat, this behaviour is naturally forgotten or with the assistance of medication within a period of a month.
Cats do not like the interruption to their daily routine since they are habit driven. Anything from moving furniture to the loss in the family will cause a cat a lot of stress.
Exposed skin on a cat’s body is prone to sunburn and other sorts of injuries. An open wound on your cat’s skin is exposed to infections. This infection can intensify the chewing and lick, creating a never-ending cycle and a serious infection will occur.
When your cat gets no time to go out into the open to play and exercise, it will get bored. There are ways to help your cat beat boredom. Have your cat outdoors for a walk of 30 minutes to 1 hour. Cats enjoy interactive toys; therefore, getting your cat such a toy will keep it preoccupied.
Taking time to play with your cat will contribute greatly to overcoming stress caused by boredom.
When health problems have been addressed, the next thing to do is helping your cat get treatment for stress. Below are ways you can help your cat over come stress.
Cats are driven by habit and so they do not like any interruption to their daily routine. Having and maintaining a consistent routine for your cat will make sure no interruptions occur. Your cat’s environment needs to have cat-friendly toys like scratching posts, window perches and lots of cat tree. These will take advantage of your cat’s predatory instincts as a cat is designed to leap. Sprint, pounce, and stalk.
When you move to a new house, bring items that your cat is accustomed to like the cat’s bedding will help your cat settle easily in the new home. Felines enjoy the interaction, therefore, having an interactive toy like rotating chasers and a remote controlled laser will help during playtime for you and your cat.
Holistic therapies have proven to be beneficial to cats; therapies like acupuncture, Reiki, and homoeopathy help in tempering off your cat’s behaviour. In severe cases of obsessive grooming, the anti-anxiety prescription will be recommended for your cat to help break the vicious cycle of compulsive behaviour.
Above all, you will need to be very patient and understanding as your cat goes through the treatment and healing process to cure stress related ailments.
Despite having natural grooming practices, some cats require regular baths for purposes of hygiene. This is so because their coats get sticky and greasy. Those cats with issues with their weight can only reach certain parts of their bodies, therefore, need help in keeping clean. The skins at their backs can end up getting flaky, itchy and infected. Cats with long fur also need regular baths as they may not get all their skin thoroughly cleaned. This ensures good healthy skin and coat.
Since cats can get aggressive when you are giving them a bath, starting them off when they are young will get them accustomed to the routine. Getting your supplies ready before bathing your cat makes the routine go smoothly.
One thing to remember is that cats are not fond of baths but can only tolerate the experience. If they get stressed or frightened and bail out, let them go.
On average a regular indoor cat needs a bath once or twice a year. This is however dependent on some factors like the breed of the cat as well as the below-listed factors:
Over-bathing your cat will cause the skin to get dry as it removes essential oils, this causes the skin to flake or get dandruff.
Before washing your cat, ensure the tub is secure both for you and your cat. Put a towel on the floor and have a small rack to secure your cat in the wash tub. Wear protective clothes or old clothes.
1. Try To Familiarize It To Water
Use cat-toys in the empty tub and playing a little with your cat. Add a little water and keep adding as the cat gets used to the water in the tub. You can have a special bath-toy which will inspire your cat to look forward to bath time.
2. Invite The Cat To Bath Instead Of Forcing The Cat To Bath
Let your cat walk around get used to the room you will be bathing him in. Keep the room inviting by either closing the door, if other cats are in the house to keep them out or removing the litter box if it is kept in the room you will be using.
3. Be Careful Not To Hurt Yourself And The Cat
Trim your cat’s claws before you starting the bathing process. Your cat may get excited when water covers him. Trimmed claws will ensure your cat does not hurt himself or scratch you.
4. Never Use Force
Talking to your cat through the bathing routine will help keep him calm. Ask for someone’s help to bathe your cat together. If your cat gets irritated and jumps out of bath water, let it go but keep it within the bathroom so that it doesn’t catch a cold. You can wait until it is calmer before try to dry it with a towel.
5. Use Warm Water And Appropriate Cat Shampoo
Ensure the water is of right temperature before bringing your cat into the bath. If using a faucet, try the water with your hands to be sure it is the right temperature.
Shampoo your cat from the neck down. Wash him using massaging motion so he gets soothed. Keep shampoo out of the cat’s nose, eyes, mouth, and ears.
Rinse out the shampoo ensuring the water temperature is not too cold or too hot.
6. Towel Dry The Cat As Much As It Allows You
Press a towel on your cat’s body to blot out as much water as possible. Wrap your cat and rub gently. Should the towel get wet, change to another wrapping your cat and rubbing to dry its fur.
7. Skip The Hair Dryer
For short haired cats, you can skip the hair dryer and let the cat lick itself dry. Let the cat do the licking in the bathroom or an enclosed area away from drafts.
8. Repeat The Routine Regularly
For your cat to get used to the bathing routine, keep bathing regularly and reward them for good behaviour. Rewarding your cat after a successful bathing routing will help reinforce their cooperation during bath time.
Cats generally do not like bathing but getting your cat inspired, will keep him cooperative during bath-time. Bath your cat only when they want to instead of forcing it to. Trimming your cat’s claws will prevent the cat from hurting itself or even scratching you should they get excited during the bath.
Do not force your cat to have a bath when they clearly do not want to. Let them go and plan for another day for bathing. Using the right temperature of the water will keep your cat calm and enjoying their bath-time routine. Use the right cat shampoo for the care of the skin and coat. Blot out the water off of your cat, then wrap the cat and rub gently. Skip the hair dryer and let your cat lick itself dry in an enclosed room away from drafts.
In repeating regular bathing routine will get your cat used to bathing experience. Rewarding your cat will help reinforce your cat cooperation during bath-time.
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