Cat Grooming

Grooming should be an essential part of your cat’s life. If you begin when she is young, she will become accustomed to grooming early in life and it will be easier to groom her as she matures. She may resist at first, but will soon come to enjoy the extra holding and petting you give during grooming time.

For longhaired cats, a long-toothed metal comb and a stiff brush are best. First your should manipulate the hair coat against the way it lays so it is fluffy then brush in the direction of hair growth. Brush shorthaired cats with a soft rubber brush or hand mitt with short bristles. Longhaired cats should be brushed daily and shorthaired cats at least once or twice a week; to help control your cat’s shedding and help prevent hairballs.

A cat sheds to a certain degree all year long, but especially in the spring and fall. Brushing is particularly important during these seasons to help rid your cat’s coat of dead hair. A sleek, lustrous coat reflects the good nutrition and careful good care you give her. Make sure you have your grooming supplies ready when you first get your cat so she can become accustomed to them. - http://delicious.com/url/e7a82352a561dafaea66885beb8a9e2d

Hairballs

Cats usually do an excellent job of grooming themselves, but even the neatest cat can fall victim to troublesome hairballs. You may one day see him vomit a long, dark mass – commonly called a hairball – made up of hair your cat has ingested. Forming in your cat's stomach and intestine, hairballs can cause dehydration, weight loss, and intestinal obstruction, as well as hinder digestion and elimination. Signs or symptoms of hairballs include loss of appetite, chronic vomiting, sluggishness, and constipation. Both long and shorthaired cats can have hairballs and the best solution is prevention. You can help prevent or eliminate hairballs and shedding by careful and regular brushing and combing of your cat's coat. http://disqus.com/people/76f8ee0715e6e08a84dd19f8cef586c4

If hairballs continue to be a problem, remedies are available from your veterinarian and from most pet shops. There are some all natural hairball remedies you can try. Olive oil is said to help with hairballs. You can put 1/2 a tsp of olive oil in your cat's food dish. Some people recommend oily fish to prevent hairballs in their cats. Another trick is to put a small amount of petroleum jelly on the tip of your cat's nose and allow them to lick it off their nose. You may find this odd, however, the active ingredient in in petroleum jelly is petrolatum, which is actually the same active ingredient in many of the over the counter hairball remedies available in pet stores. If you have any concerns please consult your veterinarian before trying these natural hairball remedies.
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