As a cat owner, you may have asked yourself what you should pay attention to when caring for cats. Which care measures are actually part of the (regular) basics, i.e. which parts of a cat’s body should you pay attention to? One thing is clear, proper grooming promotes health and can minimise the risk of certain diseases. Although cats are very clean animals and clean themselves, they need our support in certain areas.
How much care does a cat need?
First of all, an important question: How much care do cats usually need? The right amount is crucial. It usually depends on various factors. Depending on the breed, age, agility and physical condition, the amount of care required can vary greatly.
In general, however, it can be said that especially older, very young and particularly weaker and sick cats (especially so-called torture breeds) require more care.
Long-haired cat breeds and free-rangers, for example, have a higher effort in terms of coat and skin care. Claw trimming is hardly necessary for cats in most cases, unless the natural wear of the claws is not given. Eye, tooth and ear care, on the other hand, may be more frequent.
Important: Every cat is an individual, so how often you groom your cat depends on its needs and personal preferences. The list below should therefore be seen as a guideline only.
What is involved in caring for cats?
The basics of cat care
First of all, grooming is primarily intended to promote and maintain the health of your pet. If you find anything of concern in your daily/weekly grooming routine, you should always seek professional advice, i.e. a veterinarian, if in doubt.
Coat and skin care: Your cat’s coat and skin needs regular care. Brushing your cat will remove loose hair from the coat. Long-haired breeds, cat breeds with thick undercoats and cats undergoing a coat change usually need more grooming. Unwelcome fur inhabitants can also be discovered and combated in time. Brushing also promotes blood circulation in the skin and a nice side effect is that it strengthens the human-animal bond (provided your cat has learned to find this pleasant).
This wellness programme can be done daily, provided your kitty enjoys it.
Bathing is not needed in most cases, unless it is necessary for medical reasons. If your cat gets dirty, you can wipe it off with a damp towel.
Claw and paw care: Especially with older and weaker cats, as well as cats that are lazy about movement, it sometimes happens that the claws cannot wear off naturally and grow too long. This can lead to restricted movement, ingrowths and pain.
The paws are not exempt from regular grooming. If your pet tends to have rough and cracked paws, they should be regularly lubricated with a pet-friendly paw cream. Otherwise, painful inflammations can develop.
Dental care: Healthy teeth are of course also immensely important for cats. Therefore, teeth and mouth care should take place more often a week. A bad mouth odour and changes in eating behaviour can be signs of inflammation and so on.
Eye and ear care: Eyes and ears of our beloved velvet paws also need to be checked and cared for more often during the week. Foreign bodies can lead to immense health problems.
Mostly cats show problems with their ears by tilting their head. Scratching and shaking are other indicators of foreign bodies but also other ear problems. Too much earwax, for example, can lead to hearing problems. Likewise, a strong odour in the ears can indicate bacteria and heavy soiling can indicate parasites or other problems.
Tearing and reddened eyes, as well as frequent blinking and the frequent attempt to run the paw over the eye, are usually also signs of inflammation and co of the eye.
Body and soul: Of course, grooming also includes promoting and maintaining the physical and mental well-being of your cat. This means that cats like to be kept mentally and physically occupied and stimulated.
Of course, a high-quality food that meets the cat’s needs also contributes to a healthy cat body. Regular health checks with a vet should also be part of the care basics.
Special needs: Unfortunately, even our most beloved pets are not immune to illness and accidents. In these cases, they naturally require special care measures, such as the administration of medication, wound care and/or help with various movements.
Other care: It’s not just your cat that needs care, their belongings do too. The food bowl should be cleaned regularly, fresh water must be available and his sleeping place must also be kept clean. You can find more tips on hygiene in the household here.
How do I get my cat used to grooming?
Since cat grooming is an integral part of everyday life, it shouldn’t be too much stress for your pet. Get them used to it slowly. Look at the areas to be groomed first, stroke them there every now and then and reward them for it. Medical training is also a helpful tool to encourage the cat’s voluntary cooperation. The cat has a say in this and is allowed to decide when it is too much for it.
Does caring for cats benefit health?
Yes! Regular cat grooming keeps your velvet paw fit. Matted fur, broken teeth, inflammations etc. cause pain and need to be treated. Make a note of the grooming routine in your pet profile! If you notice any changes, contact a veterinarian.
Summary
As a loving cat owner, you are always concerned about the well-being of your cat. It has been proven that regular care can prevent or delay the development of certain diseases. But sometimes you don’t know what to look out for when caring for your cat. Fortunately, you can find all the important information on this topic in one place.