Although your cat is beautiful, they are so much more than a pretty face. Not only do they have a stunning coat, but they have a strong instinct to look after that and keep themselves clean and tidy.
Their rough tongues act like mini brushes, removing dead hair and distributing oils through their coat. There might however be times when they need your help.
Find out how to make sure your kitten’s coat stays in tip top condition and how to make grooming enjoyable for you both.
Why Groom Your Kitten?
Most kittens will groom themselves just as their mothers have taught them. This instinct is strong in most cats - even from an early age - so all you need to do is be on hand for a little bit of tidying up. Some breeds however that have longer thicker coats, might need you to be a little more hands on with the grooming.
Benefits of grooming your kitten:
- Healthy skin and shiny coat: Grooming for your kitten isn't just about them keeping themselves clean - it removes dead hair and keeps their coat and skin healthy. Often getting involved in this regular task, helps you build a closer bond.
- Secret health check: Giving your kitten a weekly brush will also give you the opportunity to spot any injuries and check their overall health.
- Improve your bond: If your kitten is doing a great job of looking after their own coat, there is little for you to do - but teaching them to enjoy having you brush them can be a great bonding exercise for you and an enjoyable part of cat ownership.
- Preparing for the future: Getting your kitten used to being groomed by you means that as your cat gets older and might not be able to manage their daily grooming, you can help them.
If you can get your kitten used to regular grooming from a young age, it will make life much easier for both of you in the future. The good news is that most cats love the gentle attention of being groomed, and it is a good way to improve your relationship.
How to brush your kitten
How thoroughly and how often you’ll end up brushing your kitten usually depends on their type of coat. A short-coated cat will usually look after themselves and might only need a quick 'once-over' from you weekly as more of a health check, while a long-coated breed might need daily attention with the right type of equipment - ask your breeder or a groomer for advice on specific coat types.
Longhaired breeds need more cat care, and their grooming will take longer.
Step-by-Step Guide: Making Brushing a Breeze
- When your kitten is sleepy and resting beside you, offer them the brush to sniff so they become familiar with it.
- Once they have seen it and sniffed it, run it gently over their back so they can get used to the feeling of it.
- If they are happy, you can start brushing them gently. Begin with their back and then move on to the sides of their body.
- Only aim for a few strokes the first few times so they can get used to the brush slowly. Cats feel touch very intensely and what feels good for a few seconds can very quickly become overwhelming soit is something that you should do little and often to start with. It always has to be enjoyable.
- Repeat this several times a week, gradually increasing the length of brushing time.
- When your cat is familiar and comfortable with the sensation of being groomed, you can start to brush other parts of their body – but be very gentle around their belly, tail, ears and other sensitive areas and only ever do one of these in any one session.
- Be gentle and keep the initial sessions very short. There’s no rush, and the most important thing is that they feel relaxed. If you notice any signs of boredom or agitation take a break.
Most cats will not need grooming as they will take care of that themselves - you are just there for a bit of back up!
While your cat is relaxed and enjoying the experience, you can use this time to give them a quick health check. A few things you can try as part of an “at-home” check-up are:
- Touch their paws and gently examine their claws and toes. Start with just one claw at first to get them used to the experience and give them plenty of praise and even a treat as a reward. Over the next few grooming sessions, you can try looking at two claws and so on, slowly building up your cat pedicure skills until they are willing to let you look at their paws.
- If your pet’s still happy and relaxed at the end of a grooming session, take a moment to carefully look inside their ears for any dirt or waxiness. For more information, look at our next article on cat ear care and cleaning.
- Always end a kitten grooming session with a treat – after all, they’ve deserved it!
Trimming your kitten's claws
When your cat climbs a tree or uses their scratching post, they will keep their own claws healthy and you may see that they have pulled off the outer layer of one of their claws, but don’t worry – this is normal! Scratching is a normal part of being a cat, and their claws are layered, so when the outer layer goes, there’ll be a brand new, sharp claw underneath (you’ll sometimes find outer husks near their favourite scratching areas).
If you have an active, healthy outdoor cat, they’re unlikely to need their claws cut. Indoor cats and older cats may, however, need the occasional tidy up - but it is important that you give your cat plenty of claw care in the form of scratching opportunities in the house so they can look after their own claws.
Find scratching materials you’re your individual cat likes – and make sure some of them are vertical so they need to stretch to scratch. Scratching is vital for cats - to look after their claws, to get an outlet for this natural behaviour, and to stretch and stay active.
If you think your kitten's claws do need a trim, it's best to take them to your vet as they will be able to do this for you and advise on better home claw care.
Routine health checks
As well as brushing their coat and taking care of their claws, there are a few extra checks you can do to make sure your cat is in tip-top condition.
- Ears: Check that your cat’s ears are clean and smell fresh. If they’re dirty, smell bad, are red or itchy or if your cat keeps shaking their head, contact your vet. Ear mites are a common problem, particularly in younger cats.
- Lumps and Bumps: Run your hands all over your cat's body. Feel for any scratches, lumps, bumps or spots that seem tender to them. If you’re concerned about anything, get in touch with your vet.
- Eyes and Nose: Check their eyes and nose and contact your vet if you notice any discharge or redness.
- Bottom and tail: Take a look under your cat's tail. Their rear end should be clean. If it’s dirty or there are signs of soreness or redness, visit your vet.
- Check the hair roots and skin for signs of parasites, or flea dirt (black specks). You can prevent infestations with regular flea control but, if it’s too late and you suspect fleas, your vet will be able to advise you on treatments.
Bathing your kitten
Most cats go through their lives without having to take a bath, but sometimes a quick dip is unavoidable, even for kittens. They may need a special shampoo to treat a skin condition, to clean up after an upset stomach or else after getting something in their fur while out exploring.
Despite popular belief, some cats don’t mind baths with some breeds being natural water-lovers – but these are in the minority! If your feline friend makes it difficult for you to bathe them, a groomer will be able to do it for you without you being the one causing your cat stress.
However, if you’d like to do this yourself and you have the facilities, follow these tips:
Step-by-Step Guide: Making Bath Time as Stress-Free as Possible
- Be careful with the water temperature. Too hot will scald your cat, and too cold will make them uncomfortable and even lead to chills. Lukewarm is ideal.
- Handle your cat with care during bathing to put them at ease and offer plenty of praise and reassurance.
- Having another person your cat knows to assist will be really helpful and you will appreciate an extra pair of hands.
- Looks out for signs that your cat is getting stressed. Cats may find bathing frightening, so take care not to be bitten or scratched. If you’re concerned, speak to groomer.
- Use whatever product your vet has recommended if there are health reasons for the bath, or else specialist cat shampoo
- If your cat is unhappy being bathed, only wash the parts that really need it to cut down time in the tub.
- Rinse your cat thoroughly to get rid of any soap residue
- Afterwards, dry them with a warm towel and keep them cosy until they’re dry. Avoid a hairdryer unless your cat has been used to them from a young age, as it may frighten them.
- If you have more than one cat, bath time can cause them to fight, especially if they’re stressed, as they will smell different to normal. Separate your bathed cats until they’re calm, then rub them all down with the same towel to distribute their scents.
If you're looking for more helpful guides on cat hygiene, read our cat grooming guide, next.
FAQs
Find a groomer who specialises in cats who can get rid of all the mats and tangles. Once your cat is tangle-free, you can get into a regular grooming routine to prevent them happening again. Take the groomer’s advice about any products that might help.
Regular grooming will help with shedding, but long-haired cats will shed! Having throws on their favourite furniture can make it easier to keep your home hair-free.
Thankfully most cats look after their own coats - but starting slowly and while they are sleepy can help. There are products that are most like massage tools which might be better for your kitten.
Only use cat specific products on your cat.
Take more time slowly teaching your cat to enjoy being groomed - but recognise that it is a really intense experience for many cats and so it needs to be done slowly, gently and only for a few seconds at a time.
Hardly any cats need to be professionally groomed - unless they are seriously long-haired or unnaturally tangled.
Purina Editorial Team
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