professional cat grooming

Professional Grooming Isn’t Just For Dogs

Most people believe that cats groom themselves. However, what cats actually do is frequently lick themselves. This deposits dander filled saliva on the cat and causes them to ingest loose hair, dust and debris. This type of “grooming” is very ineffective which is why cats often suffer from matting, hairballs, dandruff and a variety of other issues. Regular professional grooming can significantly reduce the incidence of these problems.

Matting occurs when loose, shedding hair mixes with grease, dirt and debris to form a tangle on a cat’s coat. As more hair sheds underneath the tangle it becomes bigger. Regular, professional grooming interrupts this cycle and allows the cat to live mat free.

Hairballs are the result of large amounts of hair being ingested when a cat attempts to lick itself clean. Regular bathing and blow drying removes any loose hair so that the cat does not ingest it.

Dandruff appears when dead skin cells are shed. Regular bathing is necessary to eliminate dandruff as well as a variety of other skin conditions.

Unfortunately, fleas are a part of living with cats. Professional grooming is your first defense against fleas along with medicated flea treatments. It is extremely important to exercise vigilant flea control in order to avoid a massive infestation.

Shedding is another concern for most cat owners. A good bath, blow dry and shedding treatment can put an end to this common problem.

Cats are not equipped to remove tangles or mats, take care of their own dandruff and skin issues, eliminate fleas from their coats or clip the sharp points off their claws. Professional cat grooming is the only solution. Regular professional grooming ensures a healthy cat and a happy pet parent.

Claws N Paws Day Spa has been offering quality pet grooming services for Orange County’s dogs and cats since 2001. For the convenience of our clients we now offer the same professional grooming services from our fully mobile pet grooming van. Be sure to book your mobile grooming appointments well in advance. Currently, we are booked until September, 2015. For more information, or to schedule an appointment, please call 714-962-1005.

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Brushing Your Cat

Healthy cats will typically spend several hours each day grooming themselves. Regardless, every now and then they will need your help maintaining their sleek or fluffy appearance. Regular brushing and combing helps remove dirt and prevent tangles from forming. It also helps to spread out your cat’s naturally produced oils, keeping their coat shiny. These important oils also keep your cat’s skin free from irritations.

Cats that have long hair will require more grooming assistance than short-haired cats. Long-haired cats can easily become matted and get things tangled in their fur, especially if they are allowed to go outdoors. Long-haired cats should be brushed and combed every single day. Short-haired cats really only require brushing once a week unless they have a habit of collecting things in their coat.

Brushing is especially important during season changes when your cat tends to shed more fur. While outdoor cats will shed in the spring and autumn, indoor cats tend to shed all year long. This is caused mostly because of the amount of time that your cat spends in direct daylight vs. artificial light, and less because of temperature changes. When a cat is shedding and it grooms itself, it will ingest the hair. This can quickly lead to hairballs. Regular brushing removes the loose fur before your cat has a chance to ingest it.

There are a large number of brushes and combs available for use on cats. For short-haired cats, you can use a short metal comb to remove loose hair or a rubber brush which is perfect for removing loose hair and giving a soft massage at the same time. Fine toothed metal combs can be used to lift any fleas from their coat. When selecting a brush or comb, just make sure that the comb is short and delicate enough so that it does not damage your cat’s skin. Start at the head and slowly work your way to the tail, carefully brushing the legs as well.

For long-haired cats you should use a larger comb and a longer pin brush. When brushing a long-haired cat it is extremely important to remove any tangles, but you should never tug on the tangles too hard. Hard to remove tangles should only be removed by a professional groomer. Brush your cat’s fur all the way through, making sure that you brush the cat’s tummy and legs.

After brushing, it’s a good idea to use a damp cloth or a wet hand to carefully remove any remaining loose hair.

Claws N Paws Day Spa has been taking care of Orange County’s cats since 2001. For information on professional cat grooming or to schedule a grooming appointment, please call us at 714-962-1005.

Receive a free teeth brushing for your pet when you mention our blog!