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Proper cat health and grooming is about as essential as what you give your fuzzy pal to eat. When it comes to cat health and grooming, the closer we can come to the animal's natural ways, the healthier it will be for them. Brushing imitates the natural action of an animal's tongue and paws as it licks and scratches away the day's buildup of knots in the coat. How important is grooming for your pet?

Cats are by nature very clean. Here are some of the benefits of regularly grooming your cat:

• It keeps your cat's coat and skin dirt free and in good condition
• It decreases the amount of hair on your clothing and furniture
• Reduces hairballs
• Helps allergy sufferers tolerate your cat better
• Reduces damage and injury from sharp toenails
• You will discover health problems before they become serious
• Prevents uncomfortable and unsightly mats
• Allows you to spend quality time with your cat

Hairballs are very common in cats that groom themselves. Cats ingest fur while grooming, which can stay in the stomach or small intestine causing an incomplete blockage. The best way to reduce hairballs is by grooming your cat daily with a slicker brush. This brush acts a lot like the rough tongue of a cat. Most cats enjoy being groomed by a slicker brush.

Grooming can be a special bonding time between you and your cat. Shorthaired cats generally require once a week brushing with the slicker brush and maybe a fine-toothed comb. If your cat lives indoors you may need to trim its nails once a week to minimize destruction of furniture and draperies. It's important to check your cat's ears once a week for dirt and debris.

Use the correct tools, start when your cat is young and establish regular schedules to make the job less overwhelming, because grooming can prove difficult. When combing or brushing your cat, inspect its body for problems such as skin irritations, fleas or ticks and mats, which can hide deep in the coat. Linda Tumminello, head groomer of The Cat Connection Inc. in Dallas, says, "Combing your cat from head to toe usually takes only about five minutes if done regularly."

Sometimes a bath is a necessary part of cat health and grooming. If you need to bathe your cat, clip his nails first. Fill a basin (sink or tub) with warm water. Do not let soap, shampoo or water get into your cat's face or ears, but do wet the hair behind the ears, the side of the head and the chin down to the toes and tail - since the coat needs to become soaking wet and thoroughly saturated to permit the shampoo to do its cleaning job. If your cat is a breed with a water resistant or slightly greasy coat, try treating the coat with a degreaser while it's still dry.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ashley_Cloverdale
http://EzineArticles.com/?What-You-Need-To-Know-About-Cat-Health-and-Grooming&id=720390

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