Towels – This is one of the most versatile tools to a cat groomer as it can be used in a myriad of fashions. For shy or anxious cats, they may prefer for a towel to be draped over the head while the groomer works on the back or rear end.
For shy or anxious cats, they may prefer for a towel to be draped over the head while the groomer works on the back or rear end. Some feisty or even nervous cats may respond well to being wrapped up snuggly in a “kitty burrito” while having ears, eyes, and nails done.
Full-body restraint is defined as the cat being "held on its side with its back against the handler, while the handler grasps the front and back legs, with a forearm across the cat's neck. The cat is allowed little to no movement of its head, body or limbs."
If a cat is too stressed on the grooming table, and is badly matted, the most humane route to take is to sedate the cat to get it shaved.
Bring out the clippers. Hold for four seconds, give your pet a treat, then put the clippers away. Continue to gradually increase the time you are holding the clippers before giving a treat, only adding time when your pet is repeatedly comfortable at the current time.
The cause for over-grooming may be behavioral or medical. Behavioral over-grooming, otherwise known as “psychogenic alopecia,” is a form of stress-relief for many cats.
Ring Grip. Cats amendable to minimal restraint can be held using a “ring-grip” just below the chin, with your body behind the cat to prevent him from backing up.
Start by stroking your pet to make them feel relaxed and comfortable. Let your pet sniff the brush you intend to use, so that they can start to identify with it and understand that their smell is associated with it. Then, softly, start to groom them in an area they like to be stroked.
If your cat carries too much weight, they may not be able to contort as well as when they were more slender. The difficulty in reaching all their parts hinders grooming. Extra weight can also cause pain or disease that may prevent cats from cleaning themselves. As cats age, limitations arise.
Some cats will happily accept being groomed and even enjoy it! But, if you're not this lucky, you may have a cat that absolutely hates being groomed and will do anything to avoid it.
Your kitty may also be more aloof or grumpy than normal immediately following a mat removal grooming, but they should be back to their old selves within a few hours to a day.
When cats groom, their barb-like tongues stimulate the sebaceous glands at the base of their hairs and spread the resultant sebum throughout the hairs. Their self-grooming also helps rid the coat of dirt and parasites such as fleas.
Take the scruff of the cat's neck in one hand, grasping as much of the loose skin as possible along the neck. Grasp high up between the ears, or the cat may be able to turn her head and bite. Wrap the fingers of the other hand around and through the cat's hind legs.
Not only is scruffing a cat a counterproductive way of attempting to restrain or immobilize them, but it can also lead to a lack of trust between you and your feline. "People should never hold or restrain a cat by their scruff, as it could compromise their trust with the human handling them," say Dr.
Cats lick, nibble and bite at their hair as part of the natural grooming process to remove moulting hair, dead skin cells and parasites. The tiny backward spikes on their tongue act like a comb to lift out dirt.
Grooming your cat has a number of important benefits: helps to prevent the formation of hairballs which can cause intestinal blockages. promotes a healthy, shiny coat. provides the opportunity to check for fleas, flea dirt, skin problems or lumps and bumps.