Home Grooming Care Tips – Part 2

Purrsonal Favorites

Most of these items can be found in my online Store. Click the featured items for more information, pricing, and to place an order.

• Chris Christensen Butter Combs

#003 – 7 ½” Skip Tooth , Fine/Extra Coarse:  Ideal for dense-coated and longhair breeds

#000 – 7 ½” Fine/Coarse:  Ideal for medium to longhair breeds

#006 – 5” Face/Feet:  Ideal for the face and feet of all breeds and for all shorthair breeds

• Zoom Groom

Ideal for short to medium-haired breeds. Applying light pressure, use short strokes along the back and sides of the cat. The rubber ‘fingers’ massage the skin which stimulates blood flow while grabbing and removing an enormous amount of dead, shedding coat.

• GripSoft Cat Slicker Brush (Soft-Pin) by JW

Brushing the cheeks and head is highly pleasurable for most cats. The slicker brush is also helpful for grooming a cat’s tail. It can remove dead coat, small tangles and debris. Due to the shorter length of the pins, it’s not a good dematting tool.

• EQyss Cat Mist Rehydrant Spray

Using this spray every time you comb and brush your cat will reduce shedding and eliminate static. Hold the bottle 6 inches from the cat and lightly spray allowing the fine mist to land on the coat. Follow with combing and brushing as needed. This product helps moisturize the coat while keeping it light and fluffy. Available for purchase at Stonebriar Veterinary Centre.

• Small Cat-Specific Nail Trimmer and Styptic Powder or Gel

The nail clippers need to be sharp to prevent the claw from cracking. Human nail clippers can be used, but it may be difficult to see the nail quick. Only trim the sharp tip of the claw. If you cut into the quick causing it to bleed, apply styptic powder or gel.

• Unscented Wet Wipes, Saline Solution,  and Gauze Pads

Help remove fecal, urine and anal gland debris from the sanitary area with unscented wet wipes. Added fragrance can irritate the skin and cause hyper-aggressive auto-grooming. The eyes can be rinsed with saline solution to remove foreign objects like hair and exudates. Use gauze pads coated with saline solution to remove under eye staining and to clean the nostrils.

• Cat-Safe Clarifying Shampoo, Towels and a Carpeted Bath Mat with a Rubber Underside

The carpeted bath mats serves as ‘home base’ for grooming. The small ones are a purrfect size for a cat to sit on comfortably while being combed. The rubber underside prevents slipping which can frighten a cat. Use a cat-safe clarifying shampoo for routine care and to remove dander, oil, and dead coat. Wrap the cat in at least 2 towels to aid drying after the bath. Towels can offer a shy cat a safe place to hide its head during grooming.

• Feliway Diffuser and Spray, Rescue Remedy for Pets

Grooming can be stressful for some cats. By utilizing the calming pheromone effects of Feliway and the beneficial flower essences of Rescue Remedy for Pets, many cats feel more secure.

• Catnip and Treats

Offering an enjoyable experience immediately following a grooming session will help the cat quickly associate it with positive reward. Cats can be trained to tolerate many things if they’re sufficiently motivated. Wait until your cat has earned its treat. Learning to read your cat’s cues for patience and tolerance will help you determine when it has had enough for the day. Offer a treat and catnip before it’s reached that final point whenever possible.

• A Journal

By keeping track of how often and how long the grooming sessions are, you can accurately assess your cat’s improvements and special needs. Take note of temperament, sensitivities, overall tolerance, and other relative observations about the entire interaction. The things you learn about your cat will enable you to cater to its specific needs. Keeping track of skin, coat, ears, eyes and other issues helps you better communicate with your cat’s veterinarian.

Wishing you and your kitty pawsitively fabulous beauty sessions!

MEOW!!