Grooming Your Cat

Most cats love to be groomed, and it’s great for bonding between human and cat. Aside from the health benefits for the cat (and human), grooming can be very effective as a means of healing for a grieving or depressed cat.

Ideally, grooming should start in kittenhood, but once you start slowly and gently, most adult cats will grow to love the experience and the time with their human. I tend to both brush and comb my cat, but depending on your cat’s coat and personal preferences, one or the other is adequate.

Brushing and combing removes loose hair that will otherwise end up in your house or in your cat’s stomach, so lessening the quantity of ingested hair is an added benefit to your cat’s general health. Long haired cats need regular grooming anyhow, including regular bathing, but even short haired cats benefit from this exercise.

If you are grooming an adult cat for the first time, be very aware of your cat’s warning signs as to when he or she has had enough. Start with gentle strokes on the head and neck, places that a cat usually likes to be stroked, and going in the direction that the hair grows. Your cat may only tolerate a minute or two, but that’s okay. Immediately you see warning signs of irritability, stop, you can have another short session later in the day. Gradually, your cat will start to enjoy the brushing/combing and will tolerate extended periods on a regular basis. I groom my short haired cat for a good fifteen minutes two or three times a week, and she loves it.

If your cat is grieving over the loss of a companion, grooming can be a good way to help him or her come to terms with the loss and to move on. Similarly, a depressed or unhappy cat can benefit immensely from regular grooming from their human. That interaction is so important and is not only important for the cat’s physical and mental health, but there are similar benefits for the human too. 

Choose your tools carefully as you don’t want to pull the cat’s hair and cause discomfort in any way. I find that a simple flea comb and a silicone brush are ideal for my short haired cat. Long haired cats will need tools specifically for longer coats, but everything is easily obtainable online or from your local pet store.