Essential Cat Grooming: Why It’s Necessary, At-Home Tips, and How to Find a Professional Groomer

Cats are known to be super clean and may spend up to 50% of their day cleaning themselves! So why do they need our help?

The answer is: it depends! Firstly, it depends on how successfully your cat can groom itself—this may depend on its fur length, age, dental health, and even body condition (obese cats often struggle). Secondly, it depends on your understanding of grooming.

Can I just bring her to the groomer? 

This seems to be the easiest way! Outsourcing the job and getting a kitty back in purrfect condition might be warranted in some cases. Especially for long-haired kitties, a good groomer can help with a sanitary shave, trimming the fur, or safely removing mats from hard-to-reach places. Sometimes, obese cats might also need a good bum wash from time to time!

But don’t I need to wash my cat? 

The simple answer is: usually not! What helps cats of any fur length is regular brushing! For long-haired cats, this should be a daily activity! It also helps strengthen the bond with your feline friend if you find the right brush and technique and make it an enjoyable experience. For humans, this can be therapeutic and relaxing, so don’t make it a chore; treat it as quality time with kitty! Avoid brushes with sharp metal edges, though, or kitty would rather run than lounge on your lap for a spa session. Even short-haired cats benefit from our help to remove excess fur, so get a soft-bristled brush or comb and make it part of your daily routine.

What about the less fun stuff like trimming nails or cleaning ears? 

Like most humans, healthy cat ears keep themselves relatively clean! A small amount of earwax has a purpose; it helps trap dirt and irritants and slowly moves them out of the ear canal. You can clean your kitty’s ears when you see excess earwax on the outer folds of her ear. Make sure to inspect her ears weekly to check for any excess debris or buildup that could point to a yeast or ear mite infestation. A vet can determine the cause and help with treatment options. Minor cleaning can be done with gentle ear cleansers or a soft tissue. Avoid digging into your cat’s ears with Q-Tips, as you may unintentionally harm them or push wax down their ear canal.

Has your kitty just decided to make biscuits on your lap, and her tiny, sharp nails got snagged on your pants? Oh no, it’s time for a nail trim! Many owners dread this time, but in this case, training as well as trial and error is key. Firstly, find out what your cat tolerates best—some are okay with having 1-2 nails trimmed while in a snoozy state, while others respond to pureed or freeze-dried treats. Recruit an assistant to feed the treats continuously while you expertly trim only the tips of their nails. Train cats by regularly touching their paws, extending their nails, letting them sniff the clippers, and rewarding the whole process with treats. This can lead to an adult cat that is more than happy to have its nails clipped by you!

But what if my cat really doesn’t like me touching her paws and ears? And she also hates the groomer? 

Here, the best advice is: talk to your vet! There are gentle anti-anxiety medications that can be given prior to a vet or grooming visit or at home before you need to carry out certain procedures. This is much better than waiting until a situation escalates, leading to ingrown nails or the like.

What techniques can I use while grooming my stressed cat?

I advise looking into Fear Free techniques. This works great for cats and requires you to be patient and work with your cat rather than against her. You might be surprised that they can be cooperative even in a clinic or cat boarding setting with treats and gentle handling. Most cats hate to be restrained, as they are also prey animals, and this can create a sense of anxiety and fear of what is going to happen next. If you think about it, getting restrained at the vet often means pills and needles, and that’s no fun.

Recruit extra help, find high-value treats, or maybe even have a catnip session prior to your grooming time to help kitty relax. Start slowly with just one nail trim or letting her sniff a new brush and then rewarding her with a treat instead of immediately going for the mat you have spotted.

Also, evaluate what is necessary and what is not! While trimming the fur between paw pads can help your cat with grip, and a sanitary shave will help keep the nether regions of long-haired cats tidy, a lion or bear cut rarely serves a purpose other than the aesthetic pleasure of their humans. There may be medical reasons to shave your cat, such as fungal or other skin diseases, but usually, fur serves an important purpose to regulate their body temperature and comfort.

How do I find a professional, trustworthy groomer? 

My advice is to find someone who is open to your concerns and has experience with the kind of service and animal you are looking for. Here are a few things to consider:

1. Do they have a separate area for cats, or are they in a dog grooming salon? Dogs and barking could stress your cat!
2. Do they have good reviews or referrals from people you know or other cat owners?
3. Are they licensed?
4. Will they let you be present during the first grooming session and observe (potentially through a screen)?
5. Do they have Fear Free or similar knowledge, and how would they handle the situation if your cat became fearful and/or aggressive? This one is crucial, as poor handling can create future aversions to grooming visits.

Ideally, groomers employ techniques to create a calm and pleasant atmosphere from the start and should take time to get to know your pet. Pausing and not rushing the grooming session is necessary, and there should be no rough handling or extreme restraints on your cat. If grooming is absolutely necessary but your cat is not cooperative at all, the groomer should recommend that you revisit, potentially after talking to your vet about anti-anxiety medication to help facilitate the session. You could also consider home grooming services where you can help your cat feel at ease and spare her the stress of being in a carrier and a car ride!

Whether you groom your cat at home, by yourself, or professionally, try to find a method that works for you and your cat. Cooperation beats coercion any day. You may even find it a bonding experience and get to know your kitty better!