We all know that cats groom themselves frequently, but there is only so much your little kitty can do to keep itself healthy. The rest is up to you!
There are several other reasons to get in the habit of grooming your cat. While you may not be too happy about trying to groom a particularly independent, or even worse, very irritated cat, your cat can benefit in several ways.
Benefits Of Grooming Your Cat
Physical
When you groom your cat, you have the perfect opportunity to examine its physical condition. Really "let your fingers do the walking and the talking" as you run your hands through your cat's coat. Move slowly and deliberately to feel for any cuts and bruises.
If you find any, it may be wise to purchase some Skin-Eze cream from your local Petworld store to calm the sore. If you find anything more serious like new lumps or bumps or deep wounds, you may want to bring your cat to the vet.
Grooming your cat is also the perfect time to check for parasites. Part the fur in different areas and look for raw patches as well as signs of flea infestation - whether the actual flea or the "dirt" residue they leave behind.
If your cat does have fleas, pick up some flea shampoo and cat spot on.
As you stroke your cat's coat deeper than you normally would, you may find matted areas that need attention. You can begin working in those areas with the help of a grooming brush.
Stroking and brushing your cat in this manner will stimulate his or her circulation as well as release good body oils to the cat's coat.
Removing clumps of shedding hair will also reduce the chances of your cat having hairballs, some of which can be quite severe.
A quick examination of your cat's eyes, ears, teeth, and nails might identify problems that you hadn't yet seen. All of your grooming work will help in giving you a "reference point" of your cat's current health condition.
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Benefits After Your Cat Has Been Groomed
Mental And Emotional
Grooming your cat can serve as a good socialization-teaching tool. Kitty might be agitated during your initial grooming sessions, but hopefully, as you continue to repeat the process, your cat will begin to enjoy being groomed.
Their stress level will reduce and they will become more outgoing and friendly, and less aggressive. All of these benefits will particularly be of use when your cat needs to visit the vet or interact with other people.
Grooming your cat, while possibly being a challenge initially, could turn out to be a wonderful time for both you and your cat. It's a win-win situation for the two of you, as you too will begin to feel less stressed!
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If you have more questions, reach out to our nearest petworld store or call us now