It is well known that the cat be a real one passionate about hygiene. He loves clean places and spends most of his time licking, smoothing and grooming his coat. However, cleaning done independently may not always be enough to guarantee the hygiene of all parts of his body. Here then is that with a few simple tricks we can help our furry ones in theirs grooming daily.
The care of the cat's coat
In the change of seasons, during the shedding of the hair, the cat tends to increase the cleaning activities of the coat, with the risk that a large amount of hair is ingested. This can cause the formation of dangerous hairballs which can lead to digestive problems and cause severe intestinal obstructions.
To help the cat, a useful trick is to brush it regularly with the use of combs, brushes or carders. In cats a short hair it may be sufficient to use the brush once a week. If they have the long hair, especially during moulting periods, brushing should be daily.
Getting used to this practice from an early age will make it easier and more enjoyable. And it will not only be essential to avoid ingestion of the hair, but also to evade the knot formation and take care of the coat where the cat is unable to reach on its own, especially when it becomes older and has difficulty in moving.
Bathing the cat: useful tips
Have you ever bathed a cat? It is certainly not an easy task ... cats have a poor tolerance towards water! But if it is true that the cat knows how to provide for its own hygiene independently and accurately, it is equally advisable bathe him from time to time.
In particular it makes itself necessary to wash it in these cases:
- if he has undergone surgery and is forced to wear the Elizabethan collar
- if he is elderly and therefore no longer able to take care of himself
- if you have come into contact with dangerous substances that you could swallow by licking
Also, especially for cats that live outdoors, it can be useful to periodically take a bath. This guarantees them better grooming and helps them remove dead hair , dirt that accumulates.
La frequency with which to bathe the cat is variable and several factors must be taken into account including the type of hair, the time of year and the health and lifestyle of the animal.
For the bath of our furry it is a good rule to use lukewarm water, use natural and safe products and dry it well, first by wrapping it in a towel, and then using a hair dryer making sure the air is not too hot or too cold.
If the cat has not been accustomed to grooming from an early age or when it is particularly dirty or with very knotted hair, perhaps we should consider the possibility of contacting a professional groomer.
In extreme cases, if our cat totally refuses the water and the attempt to give him a bath is impractical, we can resort to one dry shampoo which will allow us to guarantee good hygiene anyway.
Cat nails: is it right to cut them?
It is okay to cut the nails to the cat? It depends on his lifestyle and the environment in which he lives. In fact, cats that live outdoors do not need this practice because they are able to get their nails autonomously, using rough surfaces such as those of trees. If, on the other hand, the cat lives in the house, it will be enough to provide him with a scratching post or we can arrange to cut his nails. It is a very difficult practice, which requires tenacity, patience and delicacy. In this case it is good to ask our trusted veterinarian for advice.
Cleaning the ears and eyes
We have said that we usually think of the cat as an independent animal, especially as regards cleaning operations. However, there are some areas of his body that are more difficult to clean and among these ears and eyes.
Run smoothly ear cleaning of our cat is essential for its well-being. Let's not forget that thehearing of cats is very developed and is used to orient and hunt and it is therefore essential that it works at its best. The examination and then cleaning operations can often be difficult as our pet may not like them, such as the use of a cotton swab - possibly to be avoided - or a cotton swab or a gauze.
In these cases the use of specific products they can help us. Ear hygiene performed with an oily product allows for a simpler detachment of dirt from the walls, preventing it from remaining in the ear and consequently creating a suitable environment for the growth of bacteria and yeasts.
A healthy eye is a shiny eye and that does not cause discomfort to our pet! If necessary, we can clean the cat's eye to eliminate impurities, secretions and tear residues. Being a very delicate organ, i products to use they must be as natural as possible, in small and resealable packages, without chemical preservatives and bacterial contamination.
Conclusions: why wash the cat
As much as the cat loves and is able to clean itself naturally by itself, through its tongue, we must take into account that it will never be completely free from the presence of dirt. It can indeed accumulate dirt and be subject to the presence of parasites e problems related to the skin which can endanger your health.
