Cats typically take care of daily grooming by themselves. If you’ve ever seen a cat lying in the sun grooming itself, it can be quite calming to observe the meticulous routine. Cats instinctively groom themselves to banish any odors that may be noticed by other animals, especially predators. Cats are also able to maintain a healthy coat by daily grooming and distributing natural oils to keep their coats clean and shiny.
The Benefits and Importance of Cat Grooming
While cats do a good job with basic grooming on their own, there are a number of grooming related items that they need help with. These include:
- A weekly flea check.
- Noticing mats in your cat’s fur before they become unmanageable.
- Attending to any skin problems by scheduling a vet appointment.
- Keeping tabs on whether your cat has gained or lost weight.
- Checking to make sure your cat’s nails are trimmed.
- Daily to weekly brushing, depending on your cat's coat type.
- While brushing, be sure to look for irregularities of the skin.
- Brushing is also a positive way to interact with your cat.
- Remove loose hair as a way of preventing hairballs
If you notice irregularities or have questions, we encourage you to schedule a veterinary appointment.
Cat Grooming Services Offered at Cat Care Center of Baton Rouge
For the cat who does need some extra grooming care, the veterinary grooming services we offer include:
- Nail trimming
- Soft Paw application
- Ear cleaning
- Bathing
- Cleaning soiled fur to reduce odors
- Medical bathing treatments
- Sanitary clips
- Full shaves
All of our grooming services are performed with feline friendly handling techniques for a stress-free experience!
As part of Cat Care Center's mission to provide a unique, feline friendly experience, each cat's individual personality must be considered. Occasionally it may be best for your cat's experience to be given something for stress and anxiety. Please know we will always put your cat's wellbeing first and do all that we can to prevent any negative experiences. Please discuss your cat's temperament, preferences, and needs with our team!
Cat Bathing
From a veterinary perspective, cat bathing is rarely recommended and typically cats don’t require baths. Some cats can become stressed by bathing. Typically, the only time you may need to bathe your cat is if it gets into something that has to be promptly removed from the fur. If this is the case, here is what we suggest:
- Use a mild shampoo.
- Keep the water temperature warm, not hot or cold.
- Perform the bathing in a small area, to minimize the chances for your cat to run off.
- Before you get started, know how to handle your cat safely and properly.
Of course, if dermatological conditions arise, then bathing with a prescribed cleanser may be recommended.
Please call our hospital at (225) 228-1039 if you have any questions or concerns about giving your cat a bath.
Cat Nail Trimming
Trimming your cat’s nails can be challenging. One of the best and safest ways to trim your cat’s nails is to be informed before you begin. Perhaps watching a video will teach you how to hold your cat comfortably while showing you step by step how to get the job done quickly, without causing stress to your cat. Our team will be happy to demonstrate different feline friendly techniques we use here at Cat Care Center.
The most important thing to remember anytime you are asking your cat to allow a procedure or treatment is to use rewards! Always end each nail trimming session on a positive note by using treats, their favorite canned food, favorite wand toy, play session, or petting session. Training your cat to make positive associations with various procedures requires patience and time. You may begin with two nails trimmed a day and work up from there! Before you know it, your cat will patiently allow their nails trimmed in anticipation of their reward. With cats, its all about the compromise!
An amazing alternative to declawing is soft paws. They are vinyl nail caps that glue on to your cat's nails. They are easy to apply and cats tolerate them very well. We have them at Cat Care Center for purchase and can apply them for you for a fee. They will stay on your cats nails typically for 4-6 weeks and fall off naturally. They are very safe, painless and non-toxic for cats. Cats are still able to stretch and do their normal scratching motions, but it will not cause any damage to the environment. Please give us a call if you have any questions.
Cat Shaves
Most veterinarians typically do not recommend shaving your cat’s fur. For some long-haired breeds whose fur becomes matted or hopelessly tangled, those tangles may need to be shaved out. Shaves may also be recommended if your cat (often longhaired cats) is having trouble with excessive hairballs and vomiting. Some cats are fastidious groomers, and their overgrooming can be unhealthy. If your cat is matted, never try to cut these mats out with scissors at home, as cutting their skin is often a result. Mats tend to be very closely adhered to the skin in our feline friends. In order to be safely removed, we recommend professionally having these mats tended to. Also, there are a few styles such as the “lion cut” which have become popular among owners of longhaired cats. However, these cuts do require clippers that can make some cats very uneasy, startled, and unnecessarily stressed. These are services that are best left in the hands of professionals. Call us today and let us help you and your cat with grooming!
Tips for Bathing, Nail Trimming, Shaving, and Brushing at Home
- Cats who have long hair need to be brushed more often than short-haired cats. Try to brush your cat’s fur at least a couple times per week. Remember to reward your cat after each session!
- Keep your cat’s nails trimmed for their comfort, health, and to protect yourself from being scratched by sharp nails. Let us provide this service in a feline friendly manner for you!
- If you notice your cat itching, biting, or developing skin conditions such as bumps, rashes, fur loss, excessive mats, scaly dry skin, or any other dermatological condition, make a veterinary appointment right away.
Schedule a Cat Grooming Appointment Today
If your cat is not keeping up with their grooming or you notice anything unusual with the skin, make a veterinary appointment today. Our staff is available to take your call at (225) 228-1039.
