Old Maid Cat Lady's Top Grooming Tips

• Although cats groom themselves, regular help from you will avoid mats and reduce shedding and hairballs. Weekly is a good standard guide, but some longer-haired cats may need daily grooming.
• Make sure you choose the right tools for the type of coat your cat has, and understand how to use each of them. Tips are included with most of our grooming products to help you.
• When grooming your cat, choose a time when the cat is already relaxed. This will combat the cat's natural resistance to being groomed by anyone other than herself.
• Begin the grooming session by petting your cat while talking softly or singing to him. This builds trust between you and helps additionally relax the cat.
• Ears require great delicacy in handling. Make sure you use a cleanser specially designed to be used in a cat's ears, and follow directions carefully. Use the big triple-size cotton balls, not swabs, to keep from damaging kitty's delicate ear components.
• Remember to keep your cat's claws trimmed or filed. This should be done every other week. There's absolutely no need to declaw a cat if you provide appropriate scratching surfaces and keep his claws trimmed.
• Regular tooth brushing may be done if you start while the cat is young enough. This will keep the teeth and gums healthy and could avoid serious illness and pricey medical treatments later on. Use products specifically made for cats, which you'll find below.
• If the cat gets agitated from grooming, stop and try to resume the session later. Her level of tolerance should increase over time, the more accustomed she becomes to being groomed. Starting when she's a kitten may even make her look forward to your grooming sessions together. After all, she has your complete attention then!

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