Cat grooming basics: coat and nail care at home

Cats spend a lot of their day cleaning themselves. But brushing reduces the hair they swallow, prevents mats, and lets you spot anything unusual on the skin early. Done calmly, it's also good time together.

How often to brush

• Short-haired cats (such as baladi cats): once a week is usually enough.
• Long-haired cats (Persian, Himalayan): every day, because their coat mats fast.
• Brush more during shedding seasons.

Brushing without a fight

• Start when your cat is calm, after a meal or when it's sleepy.
• Brush in the direction of the fur, starting where it likes being touched, such as the back and cheeks.
• Keep sessions short, two minutes at first, and reward with a treat or play.
• If the tail starts lashing or the ears go back, stop and try later.

Mats

• Don't pull on a mat. It hurts, and your cat will learn to hate brushing.
• Don't cut mats out with scissors. A cat's skin is thin and sits right under the fur, so scissors can easily cut your cat, or you.
• Small mats can be teased out gently with a mat comb. Large or many mats need a groomer or vet, and sometimes clippers.

Nails

• Get your cat used to having its paws handled from a young age, with rewards.
• Trim only the clear tip, away from the pink part that holds blood and nerves. If you're unsure, ask your vet to show you the first time.
• A scratching post helps keep nails in shape. See why cats scratch and bite.
• Don't have your cat declawed. It isn't a nail trim: it removes the last bone of each toe, and feline vets' associations oppose it.

Does a cat need baths?

Most cats don't need regular baths. Bathe only if the coat gets sticky or smelly, with warm water and a cat shampoo, after brushing out mats. Dry your cat well and keep it somewhere warm.

Teeth and ears

• Bad breath that doesn't go away can be a sign of dental disease or another illness, so have your vet check it.
• Look in the ears as you brush. Dark discharge or lots of scratching needs a check-up.