"How to Keep Your Cat Free from Diseases with Your Quick Guide to Cat Grooming"

Even a cat that compulsively cleans itself can benefit from alittle grooming from her owner. Cats rarely need a bath, butfrequent brushing removes a lot of loose hair which wouldotherwise end up either shed around your home or swallowed bythe cat, creating constipating hairballs. Grooming your cat on aregular basis also helps you monitor her health and make hereasier to handle.Long-haired cats should be brushed and combed daily;short-haired cats only need grooming about once per week. Whilebrushing your cat's coat, keep an eye out for lumps and skinirritations. Brush along your cats back, from head to tail withfirm pressure. Repeat this several times, and then switch to oneside. You should brush each area 4 or 5 times Always remember tobrush in the direction of the hair growth.If you find places where hair is missing, watch your cat for thenext week to determine if she is over-grooming these spots, orif the hair loss could be a skin condition that requires a vet'sattention. Be sure to watch for fleas and remove themimmediately using a flea comb. If you notice rice-like particlesaround her anus (or in her bed), she probably has worms andneeds medication from a veterinarian.The grooming session is a good time to check your cat's ears,eyes, teeth and claws. If your cat is a young kitten, be sure tofrequently manipulate these areas to get her used to handling.By the time she is an adult, looking inside her ears for miteswill be a non-traumatic event. If your cat is an adult, proceedat her pace. If she will let you touch her ear, but not fold itback to look inside, that's fine. Each time you groom her, trygoing a little farther with your examination, praising her withwords, strokes, and treats for letting you handle her. If shestruggles, it is best to let her go, and try again another day.You can use a cotton ball slightly dampened with warm water toclean the inside surface of your cat's ears. Never put a cottonball or swab into her ear canal. If she reacts and jerks, youcould injure her. Dark, coffee ground-like flecks inside herears indicates possible ear mites. If you also notice hershaking her head or scratching at her ears a lot, or notice astrong odor in her ears, have your vet take a look.A healthy cat's eyes are bright, clear and free of discharge.Lift her upper lip to check her gums, which should be pink, andtake a look at her teeth. If you choose to brush your cat'steeth, be sure to use toothpaste made for cats, as human-typetoothpaste can be toxic to your pet. Pet supply stores carry avariety of cat toothpastes, as well as toothbrushes designed tobe gentle and easy to use.When you start to clean your cat's teeth don't even use atoothbrush. Stroke the outside of her cheeks with your finger.When she becomes comfortable with that, add a little toothpasteto your finger and let her taste it. C.E.T. poultry flavoredtoothpaste can be used to start as cats like the taste. When thecat is comfortable you are ready to introduce the toothbrush.With a small amount of toothpaste on the brush, brush two teethand the adjoining gum line with a slow circular motion. Thiswill get your cat accustomed to the feel of the brush. You willthen be able to gradually increase the number of teeth brushed.