Art of nail clipping...

Some cats disappear as soon as they see you with the nail clippers! Not any more...here’s how to make nail clipping a pleasure, not a chore.

Start young

Kittens should be introduced to nail clipping when they are young and in this way, they will become accustomed to having their nails clipped on a regular basis and not try to hide away.

Quiet atmosphere

Nail clipping should be done in a quiet and calm atmosphere and the cat should be handled gently but securely on your lap with as few distractions as possible.

Build up the rapport

It is a good idea to take one paw at a time and gently massage the paw for a very short period of time. Don’t squeeze, don’t pull or pinch. Most cats will settle down and not resist their pet parent who has always been kind to them. Always speak calmly and lovingly to your cat during the nail clipping procedure and this should help to settle her down.

Spring into action

The cat should sit on your lap and be facing away from you. Take one of her toes in your hand, massage and press the pad until the nail extends. Check how much nail needs to be clipped and where ‘The Quick’ begins. Trim only the sharp tip of the nail and continue on until all nails have been clipped. Start slowly and never rush cutting your cat’s nails so you do not make any mistakes. Once all nails have been cut, use an emery board to smooth off the rough end of the nail. Trimming nails every 10-14 days should be enough.

Word of caution

The pink part of the cat’s nail called ‘The Quick’ is where the nerves and blood vessels are. Do not cut into this very sensitive area. Snip only the white part of the claw. It is far better to be cautious and only clip a small portion of the nail rather than clipping too much and cause bleeding of the pink area of the nail. A styptic powder or stick (available from your veterinarian) is worth having on hand to stop any bleeding. If you have any problems, then have your veterinarian or groomer to do this for you.

Tips to follow

If your cat resists and becomes angry, never raise your voice or growl at her. She won’t forget that and you will always have problems. Sometimes it is easier to only trim 3-4 nails at a time and then trim the remaining nails at a later time. Provide your cat with a scratching post and she will help to keep her nails smooth in between clipping.

(Joan E Henderson is based in Australia and she has judged furry felines in many other countries including USA, Bermuda, Malaysia, South Africa, Hong Kong, Philippines and New Zealand).

Pause for paws...

Here’s how to heal your kitty’s cracked heels and sore paw pads.

Paw woes...

• If you have a cat who goes outdoors, she can often hurt her paws on a rough stone or wire if they jump over a fence.


• Indoor cats can also damage their paw pads by jumping on sharp objects, chewing the pads and between toes if they are left alone too long and become stressed or accidently damaging them by playing with a child’s toy made of wood that is a little splintered.


• Any contact with hot water can lead to blistering and painful paw pads.

Paw healing...

• A scraped and sore paw pad can be healed by using a baby’s sock that is tied on with a flat bandage. Do not use cord or you can cut off the circulation by tying it too tight. Remove the sock every few hours to make sure the pad is healing – never leave it on for too long as infection can occur.


• If a paw pad is bleeding, wrap a bandage fairly tight around the whole foot. It is not necessary to use a tourniquet unless there is a great deal of blood gushing out. In that case, taking your cat to the veterinarian is very wise so he can check if a blood vessel has been damaged. Tourniquets can be quite dangerous unless loosened every 15-20 minutes to relieve the pressure.


• Cracked and sore paw pads can be soothed by gently rubbing in cod-liver oil. The cat will probably lick the oil off but it won’t harm him. Just keep a close eye on your cat and replace the cod-liver oil on a regular basis for 2-3 days to help soften the pad. The best idea is to be alert to your cat and regularly check your cat’s paw pads, legs, ears and tail as she can get up to all sorts of mischief and need attention.

(Joan E Henderson is based in Australia and she has judged furry felines in many other countries including USA, Bermuda, Malaysia, South Africa, Hong Kong, Philippines and New Zealand).

Brush till it shines!

As a judge, I come across cats who are beautifully groomed only to find that the hair on their tummy is matted and tangled. Presentation and grooming is important and it means the whole cat and not just the top coat. However, regardless of whether your cat is a loving companion or a show cat they all deserve to be groomed with care and affection on a daily basis or at least 4-5 times a week. Here’s how to groom your kitty’s coat.

Bringing a kitten into your home is a lifelong commitment and grooming is a major part of owning a cat. It is very rare for a cat not to enjoy being groomed by their pet parent and over the time this develops a wonderful, loving relationship between you and your cat.

The basics of cat hair...

There are three types of cat hair: primary or guard hair within the outer coat; awn hair that is medium-sized hair forming part of the primary coat and secondary or downy hair found in the undercoat. Guard hair is coarser, thick, straight hair and taper to a fine tip. Such hair keeps the body warm and protects the skin. Awn hair is finer but thicker just below the tip of the hair and also helps to keep the cat warm and gives protection to the body. The thinnest hair of the undercoat is soft and can help regulate the body temperature and prevent heat loss.

A few exceptions in cat coats are the Devon Rex, Cornish Rex and Selkirk Rex that have curlier, wavy coats and generally are not quite as thick as the normal breeds of cat. Their whiskers can be very curly and appear to be more brittle than most cats and break easily if pet parents are not careful when handling their cats. The Sphynx breed is almost totally hairless but we often see this breed with wisps of hair at the end of their tail and in the area of their ears. The Sphynx also can have a fine down on their bodies. It is interesting to note that whatever the colour of the skin of this breed is the colour of the hair would be if they had a full coat.

Changes in coat as the kitten grows...

Kitten coats feel very soft until they are approximately six months old. They generally have a fair amount of guard hair but as they age you will notice that their hair can be longer and becomes coarse. Every breed of pedigreed cats has their own type of hair whilst the range of hair in the domestic cat varies a great deal.

Shedding is normal...

All cats shed hair. Shedding is perfectly normal in a cat’s life and is generally influenced by light so that cats who live outdoors may appear to lose more hair, especially during periods of longer daylight. Indoor cats can shed far more than those who permanently live outdoors and this can be annoying if the pet parent does not look after their cat’s coat. The way we look after our cat has a lot to do with shedding of the coat. A good diet is very important, males and females often shed differently, the climate can make a big difference as well as hormones and how much sunlight or fresh air your cat gets. Age also has a lot to do with a cat’s coat and quite often the older cats will lose their coat more frequently than younger animals. Sick cats can also lose a lot of hair and this can be helped by gentle and careful grooming to maintain the coat.

Grooming a long-haired cat...

Pet parents of long-haired cats must be especially vigilant with the care of their cat’s coat. A longhaired cat will get tangles and matting if not looked after properly – this means combing and brushing on a regular basis. Matting of hair is seen behind the ears, on the abdomen and at the back of the hind legs. However, a cat whose coat is neglected, especially a long-haired coat who has extensive matting throughout the whole coat often means a trip to the veterinarian to have the coat shaved.

It is a good idea to check the rear end of your long-haired cat to make sure that they do not have bowel or urine attached to their hair. A bad smell on your cat is unpleasant for all concerned and should not be allowed as it can cause health problems like skin infections.

Grooming a short-haired coat...

If your cat has shorthair that does not mean that their coat does not need regular attention. Even short-haired cats get tangles and they require good grooming at least 3-4 times a week – more if you have the time and the cat will enjoy the brushing and combing.

You are responsible for the well being of your cat...

• Tangles and an unclean coat can be very painful for any animal and an unhappy cat can be difficult and cranky and not the loving, friendly companion that we desire.


• Matted and unclean coat will lead to skin allergies and this causes infections and red and painful patches on the skin.


• Long-haired cats are more prone to hairballs and this is another good reason to keep up regular grooming. Hairballs can cause bowel obstructions and vomiting in cats.


• Cats can be treated for hairballs with laxatives prescribed by your veterinarian or small amounts of petroleum jelly. Again, a good diet and regular grooming can help prevent your cat developing hairballs.

So, cheers to happy grooming for happy cat!

The chic look!

Cats are fastidious and a large part of a cat’s day is spent grooming in order to keep his coat in pristine condition. However, we must remember that we play a large part in keeping our cat clean and healthy and this must never be forgotten if we want a happy and contented cat.

[caption id="attachment_8259" align="alignright" width="127"] Joan Henderson[/caption]

Groom while young: Accustom your kitten with the brush or whatever else you choose to groom with. Little kittens do not need much grooming care, but when they have been introduced to grooming while young, they will not struggle against it when they mature. Brushing should be done regularly and should be a pleasurable experience for both the cat and the pet parents.

Coat care: Regular coat care keeps the fur free of ticks and fleas, prevents the coat from matting and being tangled (which is very painful for the cat) and helps to remove dandruff flakes that develop when the cat renews the skin beneath the fur.

Twice yearly, when preparing for the summer and winter, your cat will thin or fill out his coat. This is less noticeable in cats who are kept indoors than those who live outside, but it nevertheless occurs. Brushing will remove the excess fur and at these times should be done daily; hairballs which form in the cat’s stomach when he swallows hair following self grooming can cause very serious health problems which is why brushing is so important.

Clip the nails: The front claws should be clipped as needed. There are several types of nail clippers available; be sure to get one suited for cats. The thin red line in the nail, the quick, is where the vein begins. Do not cut into this as it will be very painful for your pet and it will bleed. If you have not yet learned how to trim properly or if you are afraid of hurting your cat, just trim off the very tip where the nail is most pointed. Use an emery board (nail file) to smooth the tip down so it is not rough and can scratch you. Take the help of your vet to clip his nails.

Clean the ears: It is very important that you take great care of a cat’s ears. They should be wiped out with cotton and mineral oil occasionally. Mites can accumulate in the ears and the brown matter that you see is generally caused by mites which really need to be eradicated immediately. Your veterinarian can also show you the correct way to do this but you must be very careful and not push the cotton too deep into the ear drum. Never put anything into the ear canal. Cats’ ears are very sensitive, and you can do permanent damage or injury to your pet if you are careless about ear care.

Take care of the eyes: Cat’s eyes are generally kept clean by the cat himself unless they have an infection or disease which needs to be attended to. The matter that appears daily in the corners of the eye is usually cleaned by the cat but keep a watch to make sure that this does not build up and create a problem. Some cats are quite lazy about eye care and you need to help them to keep their eyes clean at all times.

Bathe him when he needs it: The best rule about bathing a cat is to only do so when the cat needs a bath. Longhairs need more bathing than the shorthaired cats do as they can pick up bits of rubbish and dust in their coat which becomes tangled and uncomfortable. Use a feline shampoo only. Wash your cat in warm water, using as little shampoo as possible, and make sure that you completely rinse the shampoo out. This may take 2-3 rinses so that shampoo does not build up in the coat. If too much shampoo is left on the coat then the skin oils dry out and the cat scratches a lot. Make sure you towel dry the cat thoroughly or he may catch a cold.

Cats should not be bathed and then allowed outside because the coat could still be a little damp and the cat will pick up a chill. It is best to do this inside in a warm room and keep the cat confined.

The general care and bathing of a long hair cat requires a lot of attention and owners need to get some information from owners who really know how to do this. Longhair cats need combing and brushing daily to keep their coats clean and sparkling. After bathing it takes some time to GENTLY comb out any tangles from the coat and then carefully brush the cat until it is completely dry and comfortable. Longhairs need more bathing than the shorthaired cats do as they can pick up bits of rubbish and dust in their coat which becomes tangled and uncomfortable. Always remember that a cute, fluffy kitten with a reasonably short coat, will grow into an adult with a long coat that needs a great deal more care than a shorthaired cat. Persians and all longhair cats make very affectionate companions but they do need to be groomed daily or you will be facing an unhappy cat with a matted and tangled coat.

It is one of the major responsibilities of a cat owner that they keep their cats clean, healthy and with sparkling, shiny coats. Think about tangles in your own hair and consider how uncomfortable this is for a cat.

(Joan Henderson is based in Australia and she has judged furry felines in many other countries including USA, Bermuda, Malaysia, South Africa, Hong Kong, Philippines and New Zealand)

Smarten up!

Your kitty is very conscious of her looks…let us also help him maintain his sparkling look!

Coat care: Combing and brushing your cat once a week is an excellent habit as it helps reduce the incidence of hairballs. Place your cat on any comfortable surface. Use a fine-toothed comb on short-haired cats and a wide-toothed comb on cats with long hair. Stroke gently and evenly from the head towards the tail. Finish with brushing – always working in the direction the cat’s coat grows.

Dental care: Dental disease can cause sore, swollen gums and loss of teeth. But even more serious, it can allow the bacteria in your cat’s mouth to gain access to the body, which may lead to infections of major organs. Your veterinarian will show you the proper way to brush your cat’s teeth.

Proper dental care should begin when your cat is a kitten. Maintain your cat’s oral hygiene with a weekly tooth brushing with a cat toothpaste. Finger brushes are also available. They fit over your forefinger to make it easy work with your cat – and this is probably the best way to clean a cat’s teeth. Any time you put your fingers in a cat’s mouth, be careful not to get bitten. Always work with your cat from above and behind, to maintain control over your restless patient. Remember, you are going to begin regular tooth-brushing, it is best and very wise to start when your cat is kitten. You can also use dental chews to keep his teeth clean.

Time to call a vet: Cats tend to be fastidiously neat and your cat will clean and groom himself. But, if he begins to neglect his appearance, chances are that there is something physically wrong. Consult your vet immediately.

(Joan Henderson is based in Australia and she has judged furry felines in many other countries including USA, Bermuda, Malaysia, South Africa, Hong Kong, Philippines and New Zealand)

Caring for the Claws!!!

Cats have a tremendous drive to knead with or without their claws. This kneading is largely benign and sometimes results in slight wear to your furniture. But you can trim your kitty’s claws to reduce the effect.

Clip your kitty's claws

You can clip you kitty’s claws to keep them in proper shape. To do so, follow the steps:

• You can get fancy claw clippers, or just use human style nail clippers.


• Choose a time when your kitten is asleep or nearly asleep, generally in the late afternoon.


• Choose excellent lighting.


• Gently press the cat’s toe pads to reveal sharp claws in need of a trim. Notice the pink tissue (the quick) on the inside of the claw.


• Avoid the quick when you trim the claw as cutting into it will cause pain and bleeding.


• Remove the sharp tip below the quick (away from the toe), clipping about halfway between the end of the quick and the tip of claw.


• Always reward the kitty after, with words and treats.

Bonus tip: The cat’s claw is flattish, and nail clippers would need to be held sideways to respect the direction of flatness.

(Kit Humphrey, featured columnist of Cats & Kittens, is a retired physician from Siberian Gatos Cattery in the US)

Groom him beautiful!

Even though cats spend a lot of time licking and cleaning themselves, they still need regular grooming to remove loose hair, prevent matting and keep the skin free from diseases. Here's how to do that.

Step by step instructions for grooming cats

• Clean the cat's ears – Put a few drops of solution in your kitty's ears and wipe out with a cotton ball. If you notice excess waxy buildup, check for ear mites.


• Comb kitty if he has long hair.


• Wet cat thoroughly – If you don't get the cat wet down to the skin, he will not get clean.


• Apply shampoo – Apply to cat's neck first, then lather all over. Rinse thoroughly!


• Conditioner – If you opt for conditioner, use only a rinse-out type. Leave-in conditioners can cause diarrhea because your kitty licks himself to groom.


• Towel dry – If you have a longhaired cat, you may need a couple of towels for this step.


• Comb or brush – Combs work best for longhaired cats, brushes for shorthaired cats.


• Blowdrier – If you are blowdrying a longhaired cat, stop about halfway through and comb the cat again. This will speed up the drying process.


• Final comb through – If you have a shorthaired cat, you can skip the blowdrying, but towel dry your kitty well and then give them a good brushing.

Tips to follow

• Brushing too hard can roughen the hair cuticle, exposing its cortex and leaving the hair porous and frayed. If you can hear the brush, you are brushing too hard!


• Take your pets to a professional groomer or a vet for nail clipping as you can cut the quick- a vein present in their nails which can then bleed and cause pain.


• While cleaning ears, do not go deep into the ears.

Smarten up your Siberian

Comb up their tresses

The fur of Siberian does not tend to mat usually. They only tend to shed heavily twice a year, which can be prolonged depending on weather. You can comb your Siberian weekly but in shedding season, they ought to be combed every day, maybe more than once and I recommend a Furminator for shedding season.

Different combs for different age groups

Kittens: Use plastic combs to comb kittens’ fur. Kittens have fine silky fur and a comb with a fine tooth side on it,

[caption id="attachment_8262" align="alignright" width="250"] Joan E Henderson[/caption]

is an easy tool to use. Since they will bite the comb or brush, always keep two plastic combs handy.

Adult cats: As they get older, shift to steel and a full groom kit for the adult coat. The adults’ fur does nicely with the combs with a Furminator, which greatly cuts down on the shedding. A brush made of rubber called Pet Hair Elimator is very comfortable for the cat and a good tool for a cat who does not like grooming. You can use battery-powered ionic deep brush, which catches flying fur. And you can also use a fine rake brush. The cats seem to especially like the rubber brush as it feels like petting.

Tips to follow

• Always talk to your cats whilew grooming them, telling them what a wonderful experience it is.


• They must be taught as kittens too like grooming, so that they will enjoy it as adults when they really need it.


• If you have a problem with feces sticking to perianal hair, try trimming the hair shorter with scissors.


• With or without grooming, a kitten needs to be petted and played with every day.

So, make your grooming sessions fun and see your kitty really smarten up!

Grooming the lil' kitty

A large part of a cat’s day is spent on grooming in order to keep her coat in pristine condition. However, we as a per parent play a large part in keeping our cat clean and healthy and this must never be forgotten if we want a happy and contented cat.

Start early

Make your kitten accustomed to grooming tools right from day one. Little kittens do not need much grooming care, but when they have been introduced to grooming while young, they will not struggle against it when they mature.

Brushing

Brushing should be done regularly and should be a pleasurable experience for both the cat and you. Regular coat care keeps the fur free of ticks and fleas, prevents the coat from matting and being tangled which is very painful for the cat and helps to remove dandruff flakes that develop.

Twice yearly, when preparing for the summer and winter, your cat will thin or fill out her coat. This is less noticeable in cats who are kept indoors than those who live outside, but it nevertheless occurs. Brushing will remove the excess fur and at these times should be done daily; to prevent formation of hairballs in the cat’s stomach when she swallows hair while self- grooming. This can cause very serious health problems and this is why brushing is so important.

Nail clipping

The front claws should be clipped as needed. There are several types of nail clippers available; be sure to get one suited especially for cats. The thin red line in the nail, the quick, is where the vein begins. Do not cut into this as it will be very painful for your pet and will bleed. If you have not yet learned how to trim properly or if you are afraid of hurting your cat, just trim off the very tip where the nail is most pointed. You can use an emery board (nail file) to smooth the tip down so it is not rough and can scratch you. You can also take your cat to a professional groomer or a veterinarian.

Ears

It is very important that you take great care of a cat’s ears. They should be wiped out with cotton occasionally. Mites can accumulate in the ears and the brown matter that you see is generally caused by mites which really need to be eradicated immediately. Your veterinarian can also show you the correct way to do this but you must be very careful and not push the cotton too deep into the ear drum. Never put anything into the ear canal. Cats’ ears are very sensitive, and you can do permanent damage or injury to your pet if you are careless about ear care.

Eyes

Cat’s eyes are generally kept clean by the cat herself unless they have an infection or disease which needs to be attended to. The matter that appears daily in the corners of the eye is usually cleaned by the cat but keep a watch to make sure that this does not build up and create a problem. Some cats are quite lazy about eye care and you need to help them to keep their eyes clean at all times.
Bathing

The best rule about bathing a cat is to do so only when the cat needs it. Show cats become used to this very early in their life but household pets keep their coat clean themselves. Use a shampoo, especially made for cats. Wash your cat in warm water, using as little shampoo as possible, and make sure that you completely rinse the shampoo out. If too much shampoo is left on the coat, then the skin oils dry out and the cat scratches a lot. Make sure you towel dry the cat thoroughly so that she does not remain damp and catch a cold. It is best to bathe her inside in a warm room and keep her confined until totally dry.

Grooming tips for longhairs

• Longhair cats need combing and brushing daily to keep their coats clean and sparkling.


• After bathing it takes some time to GENTLY comb out any tangles from the coat and then carefully brush the cat until she is completely dry and comfortable.


• Longhairs need more bathing than the shorthaired cats do as they can pick up bits of rubbish and dust in their coat which becomes tangled and uncomfortable.

Always remember that a cute, fluffy kitten with a reasonably short coat, will grow into an adult with a long coat that needs a great deal more care than a shorthaired cat. Persians and all longhair cats make very affectionate companions, but they do need to be groomed daily or you will be facing an unhappy cat with a matted and tangled coat.

It is one of the major responsibilities of a cat owner that they keep their cats clean, healthy and with sparkling, shiny coats. Think about tangles in your own hair and consider how uncomfortable this is for a cat.