Baby and Her "Beauty Appointment"

It always amazes me how much fur one can get from a cat or dog; especially this time of the year.  I just finished grooming our cat, Baby.  Baby learned a lot from Appi* who was almost exactly two years older than Baby.  Appi loved to have her ears cleaned gently with a Q-tip® and would purr.  Baby then assumed that was a good thing and she responded the same way and absolutely loves it.  She starts to purr when she sees the Q-tip®.  I have never had cats that enjoyed that!   I start out using the FURminator® and then switch to the Love Glove® and clean her ears last.  Baby loves to be groomed but she is one of those cats that get over stimulated so grooming sessions with her are a little shorter than they were with Appi who could be groomed for hours.  Appi had the most luxurious fur of any cat I have ever met.  I used to tell her she had magic cat spit.   Baby always feels “pretty” afterwards and her demeanor shows it.

A few tips on grooming your pet.

1.        It is important to keep a light touch.  Before grooming your pet, run the tool, brush, comb whatever you are using down your bare arm.  That gives you an idea of what pressure to use.  If it is uncomfortable for you it will be for your pet too.  Many times I hear complaints that my pet doesn’t like to be brushed and this may be one reason why.

2.       When you get a new pet regardless of the age; add grooming to your regimen immediately.

3.       Groom frequently.

4.       Start out with very short sessions.  A few strokes at a time until they get used to it.

5.       Make it a fun thing with your pet; they will respond to your actions.   If you make it a big deal or a punishment they may equate that with going to the vet and we all know how well that usually works! 

6.       Please be very careful using Q-tips on your pet's ears and if you are not taught this properly by a vet, do not do it as you can damage their eardrums.

There are many grooming tools out there and you need to find the right one for your pet.  I find that online shopping finds many bargains for pets.  I paid half of what local pet stores charge for the FURminator® and the shipping costs were offset by no sales tax.  The Love Glove® is actually a mitten and I have tried all kinds of these knock offs and our girls knew the real thing from the knock off.  The little nubbies on the knock off are much longer and closer together and are not as effective as the Love Glove®.

*Appi was our beloved cat who died last September