Are you the proud owner of a new cat? Aside from a food and water dish, kitty litter, and a large sack of cat food, you also need to invest in cat grooming supplies.
Cats are naturally fastidious animals, and will clean themselves. However, regular grooming will help keep their beautiful coat shiny, and maintain their nails so they don’t scratch your furniture (and you). It will also prevent hair balls, especially during the hot months. Here’s a list of basic cat grooming supplies.
Brushes and combs
These are very important if you have a long-haired cat, to prevent matted fur and stimulate the production of oils that will keep your cat’s coat shiny. Regular combing can also prevent fleas and hairballs. Other great bonuses? You give your pet a ‘massage’ (cats get stressed too, so this can be relaxing) and you bond at the same time!
You’ll find a wide selection of brushes and combs at the pet store. How do you know which ones to get? Well, there are different grooming tools for short haired and long haired cats. As a general rule, though, the stainless steel combs are best. Choose one with fine teeth if your cat has coarse fur, though you may want to get one with both coarse and fine teeth for versatility. Press the comb against your arm to check if the teeth are too sharp.
As for brushes, you can pick from wire, rubber, plastic an even palm. Again, check if the bristles are painful to the touch. In general, long haired cats need wire brushes which are more effective at preventing knotted and matted fur. Short haired cats will need soft brushes. Get more than one, since brushes get lost. If your cat hates brushes, consider getting grooming gloves.
Shampoos
It’s okay to give cats a bath, especially if your pet likes to go outdoors. Do buy the ones for cats because dog shampoos irritate their skin. If your cat really hates water, get waterless shampoo (spray or powder form). Dry your cat with an old towel.
Eyes, ear, teeth and nails
Many pet stores sell eye drops for cats, which you can use to clear the area of any dried discharge. It’s very important to clean the ears, too (ask the vet to recommend an ear solution).
Get your cat dental chew toys (even though you can use a finger toothbrush on them, they are unlikely to enjoy the experience and will give you a hard time!). This will help clear the teeth of any tartar buildup.
As for nails, invest in cat furniture (or make a scratching post yourself) so your pet won’t use your antique chair or your favorite sofa to trim his nails. You can also get nail clippers.
Photo from kitten kaboodle