Cat Grooming For Senior Cats – This Is The Way The Experts Easily Perform It

Cats have a well deserved reputation for cleanliness, and most keep themselves as clean and tidy as possible.

Still, regular grooming is an essential part of caring for a cat, and it becomes even more important as your cat’s years up. Old joints become stiff and sore, the senses lose their sharpness, and energy wanes, making it difficult for your old friends to groom herself.

A small investment of your time will keep your cat and your house cleaner and healthier and provide a regular opportunity for you to examine her for lumps, bumps, fleas and other signs of illness or injury. Grooming sessions also will reinforce the bond between you and your feline companion.

Advancing age will bring changes in your cat’s skin and fur. She may show gray or white hair, especially on her face unless she is white. Her fur also may become thinner, and its texture may change as well. Her skin may lose its elasticity and become thinner, dryer, more fragile, and slower to heal.

Such changes also can be signs of health problems or nutritional deficiencies, so consult your veterinarian if your cat’s coat changes suddenly or significantly. Healthy skin and coat begin with proper nutrition, health care, and parasite control, but regular brushing and perhaps an occasional bath help too.

If your senior feline is not used to being brushed, begin slowly. Brush her a little, and then pet her. Talk softly to reassure her. Most cats enjoy being brushed on the tops of their necks and their heads, so start there and slowly move to other areas. You can groom your cat on your lap, or put her on a table covered with a towel or rubber mat for traction.

As with any job, the right tools make cat grooming a lot easier. For long, thick fur, use a pin brush, which has straight metal pins 1 inch (2.5 cm) or so long. A soft bristle brush works well on long, silky fur. To remove loose hairs from short fur, use a rubber brush.

A metal or Teflon coated comb is good for a final touch, especially on long coats. If you think that your cat has fleas, a flea comb with small teeth set close together to trap the insect is useful.