DIY cat grooming

What is grooming?

This is a set of measures for caring for the coat and sometimes for the ears and claws of a cat. In fact, this is what caring owners have always done even before the advent of specialized salons.

Basic principles of grooming at home:

• It is advisable to comb out daily, even if the cat has a short coat;

• Frequent bathing is not recommended, but the exception may be when the cat is visibly dirty;

• It is necessary to regularly (about once a month) cut the cat’s claws;

• If there is tear or other discharge from the eyes, they should be wiped with a cotton swab dipped in weak tea leaves.

The most difficult is the haircut of the cat. This may be necessary if the animal has a lot of tangles or has a fur coat that is too warm in which it is hot in summer. In addition, some owners cut their pets for purely aesthetic purposes.

What do you need to trim a cat at home?

• Scissors;

• Hair clipper;

• Iodine and hydrogen peroxide (in case there are cuts);

• Table or other stable surface.

It is very good when there is an assistant who can hold the animal if it resists.

How to cut your own cat

You can cut a cat both against the coat and in the direction of its growth. In the first case, the haircut will be more thorough.

• First, you should cut your pet’s claws, as most of them try to escape, barely hearing the sound of the machine turned on;

• Then the cat is placed on the table;

• The assistant takes the animal with one hand for the front limbs, and the other for the hind limbs. The cat is pressed tightly against the surface of the table;

• A nozzle 2-3 mm long is installed on the machine. It is not worth reducing the nozzle below this value so as not to injure the pet’s skin during the haircut. A large nozzle will complicate the cutting process;

• You can cut a cat both against the coat and in the direction of its growth. In the first case, the haircut will be more thorough;

• You need to start cutting from the sides, then go to the back and only then to the stomach;

• It is not recommended to cut the lower part of the paws. It is also better to leave a brush at the tip of the tail;

• The most vulnerable are the neck and head, as they are the easiest to injure. Therefore, it is better not to cut these parts of the body at all. If the mane is too thick on the head, it can be carefully reduced with scissors.

Following these recommendations when caring for a pet on your own will eventually allow you to accumulate enough experience so that you do not need the services of professionals.

7 2017 June

Updated: 19 May 2022