Although cats spend much of their waking time grooming themselves, when they live indoors, they need a little help from their human friends. In addition to maintaining your health in optimal conditions, contributing to your daily cleanliness, it also influences to establish a bond with them. Of course, we always have to do it armed with care and patience, we already know how little they like water and the genius they can get to spend.
coat brushing
Regular brushing of your kitten, as the experts at Royal Canin explain, is an opportunity to detect parasites such as fleas and ticks. In addition, it helps prevent hairballs that can accumulate in the stomach. For short-haired cats, weekly brushing is sufficient. Whereas for medium haired and Persian cats, a few minutes of brushing every day will prevent matting and remove dirt.
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However, in spring and summer, the seasons of shedding, more regular and careful brushing is required. Uses a rubber massage glove and then comb to remove loose hair more easily. If possible, for short fur, use a soft brush with natural silk bristles to avoid damaging the fur. For long-haired cats, it is best to use a large metal toothed comb. Of course, you have to be careful because combs penetrate deeper into the fur than brushes and there is a greater risk of irritating the skin.
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The best way to start is very gently, “so that your cat gets used to being brushed or combed”, as pointed out by Royal Canin. Remember to always do it in the direction of hair growth (and then against the grain) to gently remove loose hairs and any small knots.
When we come across a difficult knot, we must be patient and act gently, instead of pulling hard as we can damage the fur.
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Cut the nails
A cat’s nails have several layers. Thus, when they climb a tree or use a scratcher, the outer layer of the nail is shed and a new sharp one appears underneath, Purina experts explain. To play together without being scratched, it is advisable take care of your nails frequently.
Examine your cat’s nails once a week and, if they are visible when the animal is at rest, it is necessary to cut them. And it is that, under normal conditions, the nails of cats remain retracted. In general, “you should cut the nails of the rear paws a little more, since cats wear out the ones of the front paws more,” they clarify from Purina.
Carefully and patiently grab each of his fingers, and press the pad so that the nail comes out and you can cut it. The nail clipper should never touch the inner vein that runs through each of the nails. Take your time because, as Royal Canin reminds us, it is better to cut less several times, instead of making one big cut.
If you are nervous or you notice that your feline is getting excessively upset, it is better that you leave the task for another time or you can also take it to the vet to avoid complications. Lastly, “take advantage of the nail clipping moment to check that your kitten’s pads do not have cuts or foreign bodies“.
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oral hygiene
With these simple rules that the veterinarians of Els Llops explain to us, you will be able to take care of your pet’s oral health. These are preventive measures in order to prevent the accumulation of tartar on the teeth and the bad breath that this causes.
A good brushing of the teeth Three or four times a week It will be, without a doubt, the best solution to eliminate the problem. There are different brushes available depending on the size of your teeth. In addition, the toothpaste must be veterinary.
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Another important point is to take care of your diet. Thus, the experts at Els Llops prohibit “giving them food or leftovers from home meals”, and all this accelerates the formation and accumulation of tartar on your pet’s teeth. In addition, dry foods prevent tartar by having a special texture and containing substances that trap calcium in saliva, which decreases its formation.
Face
Some cats, for example those with flat faces, secrete tears that can leave marks under the eye. From Royal Canin they tell us that we can clean the hair “with a pharmaceutical compress soaked in eye lotion, from the inside of the eyelid to the outside“.
Likewise, a healthy kitten’s nose should always be moist and clean. Some cats have nasal discharge in the corners of the nostrils. You can easily remove them with a compress or tissues and warm water.
As for the ears, you should examine your kitten’s ears frequently. If they are dirty, simply spray some ear solution and massage the outer ear.
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