Regular cat care

Regular cat care

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  Looking after your cat's teeth

  Tooth and gum problems occur in eight out of every ten cats over the age of three, so there's good reason to establish a routine of brushing your cat's teeth early on. Cats tend to accumulate plaque (food debris and bacteria) on the outside of their teeth, but not on the inside. This hardens to form tartar, irritating the gums and causing gingivitis and loss of teeth. The bacteria can even potentially enter the bloodstream and damage internal organs.

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  Importance of grooming your cat

  Cats are famous for taking care of their own grooming, without needing encouragement from anyone else. Getting involved in your cat's grooming, however, helps to strengthen the bond between you and provides a chance to check for any signs of ill health. Most cats get used to grooming - and enjoy it.

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  Grooming your kitten

  Cats are designed to look after their own coats. Their rough tongues are like mini-brushes, removing dead hair and distributing oils through the coat. However, they still need a helping hand - for example to reduce fur-balls, or to avoid tangles in long-coated breeds.

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  Should you bath your cat?

  Cats don't usually need a bath - nor do they usually want one! However, on rare occasions such as if your cat gets very dirty or gets too close to something it shouldn't (toxic sprays or oils, for example), or needs to be bathed for medical reasons, there are ways to make the experience more comfortable for both of you.

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  Looking after claws

  You won't have to worry about claw-trimming if your cat spends a lot of time outdoors, as rough surfaces tend to take care of things. Indoor and elderly cats, however, may need to have their claws trimmed every few weeks. Trimming the claws prevents them growing inwards into their pads, causing pain and infection.

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  Fleas and ticks

  It's not just cats who suffer from fleas. For every single flea living on your cat, there could be 99 more developing in your carpeted, centrally-heated home, however clean it is! Outdoor cats may also come in with other unwelcome passengers such as ticks.

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  The importance of regular vet check-ups

  In addition to examining your cat regularly at home for early signs of illness, it's also a good idea to take him or her to the vet for an annual wellness check up. This can be crucial when it comes to detecting subtle changes in your pet's health, especially important for a species likely to hide illness until it becomes severe.

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  General cat health tips

  Prevention is always better than cure and your cat’s health and wellbeing is no exception! Every month you should check your cat carefully and systematically for possible early signs of illness. Just remember that some cats are very good at hiding ill health or pain, so you need to be vigilant.

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