Grooming Long-haired Cats at Home

While most people think of animal groomers as working primarily on dogs, there are a number of reasons you may want to consider for grooming thick or long haired cats. Cats are, to a great extent, self groomers. They lick themselves clean, in the process removing dead hair. However, there are a few reasons to help them out a bit, especially in the case of long or thick coated cats. Short haired cats may need help too, but different tools work better for them.

Reasons to groom

• Clean up matted hair
• Prevent hairballs
• Increase bond with cat
• Reduce shedding and allergens
• Practice for if/when kitty is too old to do it themselves

Tools needed for grooming cats with long hair

You will have to try different tools until you find what works best for your cat’s particular hair thickness and texture, but the following are good places to start:

• Comb
• Shedding comb
• Pin brush
• Slicker brush
• Coat spray (not aerosol!)

How to groom long haired cats

Some cats enjoy the grooming process, some do not. For the first session, I’d recommend keeping it short and pleasant, with as many treats as possible. It helps if you groom at a time when the cat is normally happy and relaxed. Have all your tools ready beforehand—even the most tolerant of cats is not going to wait around while you go and get the comb you forgot. You can either put the cat on a grooming table in front of you, or any table or counter with a towel or non-skid mat on it, or you can try to hold the kitty in your lap.

Nails First : You can buy cat nail trimmers, or use people nail trimmers—just make sure they are sharp. Remove only the curved part, just the tips. Cat nails are translucent, so even if they are not white you should be able to see where the quick (the blood supply) occurs in the nail. Make sure not to trim too close to the quick.

Brushing : Use a soft slicker brush and gently lift the coat up with your hand, brushing in layers from the skin out. Lightly spray the coat to reduce static, or spray the brush instead. Ring 5 Coat Gloss is my favorite, but there are several on the market that will work well. (Make sure whatever grooming spray you purchase is specifically labeled for cats—there are chemicals that are very harmful to cats that have no effect on dogs or humans).

Combing : Use a comb with medium spacing, or one with medium on one end and coarse on the other. Gently comb through, both checking to see if you have left any snags, and using the comb to remove excess undercoat. Be gentle. Combs with blunt ends or ones with rotating teeth may be effective while producing less tugging. The shedding comb, with uneven length teeth, is ideal for removing excess undercoat and some cats mind it less.

If your cat is upset by any portion of the grooming, change to doing something he didn’t mind for a few moments, or just pet him. Give him a treat and end the session. Next time work just a few moments longer before stopping. Before you know it you will both be enjoying your special time together.

*Note: If your cat is a show cat, the undercoat should not be removed, and there is a lot more to the grooming. Consult someone knowledgeable in your breed before grooming your show cat at home.