My first Publication CC May Edition for Web | Page 12

Cat Grooming
PRETTY KITTY
THE ART OF GROOMING YOUR CAT
By: Rachel Arora
ats are neatness freaks
and have remarkable self-
grooming abilities. All cat
owners know fi rsthand that
their kitty is a meticulous
groomer and has two favourite
pastimes- sleeping and grooming.
C
Cats are blessed with natural grooming
skills, and they don’t feel that they require
our help in this area. But, the truth is that
no matter how gung ho your feline friend
might be about grooming itself, using some
human help can be benefi cial. Although
the frequency and kind of grooming
required might vary depending on the
breed of cat and the type of coat it owns,
regular grooming sessions hold various
advantages for our feline friends such as
getting rid of dirt and grime, identifying
mats and tangles and fi nding any cuts or
scrapes on the skin.
Many cat owners assume that cats have a
12
natural aversion to water and dislike baths.
Th is myth prevents them from bathing their
cat regularly, which is not only unhealthy
for the cat but also for the humans living
in the same household. In fact, many cat
breeds love water; for instance, the Turkish
Van is known for possessing exceptional
swimming abilities and the Bengal and
Maine Coon love playing with water.
It is important to bathe your cat regularly
to get rid of dander, paint, grease, parasites
and stubborn dirt. Not only this but when
cats lick their coats they produce a saliva-
based allergen that can trigger allergic
reactions in humans. Bathing your cat can
help prevent these issues.
Cats that need regular
baths and grooming sessions:
Our feline friends belonging to particular
breeds with long, thick or even medium
density coats require regular bathing and
brushing which can help decrease matting
Creature Companion | May 2019 • Vol. XII • Issue 5 • Noida
and tangling and also lessen shedding.
Persians, Maine Coons, Ragdolls, and
Norwegian Forest cats are examples of some
breeds that fall in this category.
Short haired cat breeds:
If kitty happens to have a silken fur or
a short-haired coat, then the grooming
sessions required would be less frequent as
they don’t tend to tangle or mat much. Only
those short-haired breeds need regular
grooming that have very dense coats to
prevent hairballs, matting and excessive
shedding. However, these cats can benefi t
from regular bathing sessions that help get
rid of grime, grease, excess oils, saliva and
dander. Th is also enhances the texture,
appearance, feel and smell of the coat and
lessens shedding. Bengals, Burmese and
Siamese fall in this category.
Hairless cat breeds:
Breeds of hairless cats such as the Sphynx
tend to leave oily deposits on couches,