Grooming is a vital part of your job as an owner/appreciator of our feline friends. Cats with longer hair are more likely to get mats in their fur, so you should be brushing and grooming them regularly. Bathing helps too, so do that frequently as well. As you may know, cats with mats can get painful infections if they're not treated. They can even be deadly, but let's not dwell on that! Instead, just remember to groom them often, and you'll be fine.
Brushing their hair
Try and brush your cat's long hair at least once a day, especially if they get matted fur quite often. If they don't have many mats, then feel free to do this less frequently. Maybe once every other day.
Or, if they get mats throughout the day, feel free to break up the brushing session into short parts. Focus on the mats present, and brush them out as and when they appear.
Picking the right brush
There are plenty of different brushes you can use when grooming your cat. However, we'd suggest using a wire brush or a wide-toothed comb.
To loosen their mats, undercoat combs are also ideal as they have longer and shorter teeth. Then, for the smaller mats, use a flea comb.
Preparing your cat for grooming
Start by picking the perfect spot to get grooming. A table or a kitchen surface works best, but if you lack space, the floor or sofa is fine too. It needs to be solid and steady.
Then, calm your cat. Do this however your cat prefers, but stroking them in areas they like or speaking softly to them are good ways to start.
Get brushing
Get your brush of choice and start on their torso by brushing down their fur, the way the hair naturally sits. Use this to get the largest tangles out. Then, once they're gone, switch to the undercoat comb and eventually the flea comb to ensure their coat is nice and straight.
For their head and legs, use a finer comb like the flea comb, so you don't irritate them too much!
Groom your cat's back
Time to brush their back. Let your cat naturally lie on its belly, with its tail facing towards you. Take your brush and, like its body, brush down from the head toward their back end. Then, when you reach the tail, do the same all the way down. Make sure you get all the mats out, and you're ready to continue.
Groom your cat's stomach
Now, it's time to brush their belly! Lay them on their back, with one side of their body closer to the surface they're on. Use the bridge between your thumb and index finger to cradle the leg closest to you. This way, you can help stop them from moving, or worse yet, trying to bite you! Then, take a finer brush and carefully brush their underside. Take care when going around their more...sensitive areas too. For obvious reasons.
Line it up
TWhen brushing, you'll find that sometimes when you get closer to their skin, you'll see the fur naturally 'part'. This is called 'line brushing', and it can help you make the process much quicker and easier. Be cautious that you don't brush too hard when you get to the skin though. No cat wants that. Instead, carefully find the natural 'parts' located around your cat as you go, starting at their back. Then follow the hair naturally down to their sides and, eventually, their belly. Focus on mats and tangles, and take care of them as outlined above.
Or, go against the grain
Alternatively, rather than brushing towards the hair, try the opposite. Start at their belly, and carefully make your way up towards their back. This way, you might find it easier to spot mats and tangled areas around their legs as well.
And don't forget baths!
You should also be bathing your feline friend every 4-6 weeks to ensure their coats stay healthy outside of grooming. Find them a shampoo that will protect their skin and fur, while being kind and gentle to them too. Try Animigo's Skin and Coat Shampoo. Its all-natural formula is the perfect choice.
And now you know everything you need to start your own cat grooming business! Or, at least, groom your cat's long hair yourself.
