Do Cats Need Grooming?

Are you a cat owner? Do you ever wonder whether or not your cat needs to be groomed? If you’ve ever been curious about grooming your cat, you’re not alone. There are many people who do take their pet cats to the groomer, but do you really have to do this?

In the article below, we’ll walk you through a few scenarios in which your cat might need to be groomed. Read through this list to find out if your cat is in need of a professional grooming visit or not. If you have any questions, call Veterinary Medical Center of St. Lucie County at (772) 337-8570.

If your cat has gotten into a foreign substance

Cats may sometimes get into foreign substances (like paint, food, or other items) that could get stuck in their fur. If this happens to your cat, you’ll need to groom them to help remove the substance that is stuck in their fur and get their coat back to its normal, healthy state.

You may need the help of a professional to handle this problem, especially if your cat is very covered in the problem substance.

If your cat has mobility issues

Cats who have a chronic illness or congenital health problem may have limited mobility. If your act is unable to move around very well, they may not find it very easy to groom themself, and they may neglect certain parts of their body because of this. Cats with mobility issues often develop mats in the hair around their hips and bottoms because they cannot reach these areas easily.

If your cat has mobility trouble, you can help them out by giving them a gentle bath and brushing regularly at home. Just make sure you don’t put your cat into water that is very deep if they have trouble moving, as this could be a drowning hazard for your pet.

If your cat has very long hair

Cats with very long hair may be more likely to need professional or at-home grooming sessions than those with short or no hair. A longhaired cat may be more likely to develop mats in their fur, which could need to be removed by a professional. They may also be more likely to develop poor coat health due to an inability to keep up with all of their grooming needs themself.

If your cat has long hair, you can bathe and brush them at home. You will need to slowly work on introducing your cat to the idea of being bathed at home, but they should come around to the idea sooner or later.

If your cat has a bad flea infestation

Cats with severe flea infestations may need to have medicated flea baths and other types of grooming intended to remove the fleas. A medicated flea dip or flea bath can be performed at home, at a groomer, or at the veterinarian, and it is designed to get rid of as many fleas as possible.

From there, your cat will need to be brushed thoroughly with a flea comb to remove eggs, flea dirt, and live fleas as well. Although this treatment is not usually enough to completely get rid of fleas on a cat, it can make a big difference as you work to deal with the infestation. Keep up with medication to treat your cat for fleas regularly as well.

If your cat is older and doesn’t keep up with fur maintenance

Some cats, as they get older, stop becoming as interested in keeping up with the maintenance of their coats. Although this problem may sometimes fall within the category of mobility issues, at other times, it simply happens as older cats find more priorities in their lives than grooming. The older your cat gets, the less likely they will be to keep themself well-groomed.

If your cat is getting older and is no longer grooming themself the way they used to, you might need to help them out a little bit. You may choose to use grooming wipes for a waterless “bath” for your cat, or you might start introducing her to a gentle bathing and grooming routine instead. Whichever option you choose, make sure it’s safe for a cat who is advancing in age.

Although it’s not always necessary to have your cat groomed by a professional, as you can see from the list above, there are plenty of situations when this might be a useful step for you to take as a cat owner. With the help of this information, you should be better able to determine when it’s time to go to the groomer and when you can handle your cat’s grooming needs on your own at home.

If your cat only needs a flea bath, remember that most vets provide this service. If you think your cat could benefit from a flea bath, call us at (772) 337-8570.