A shower isn’t just important for you, me or that smelly guy you probably ran into this week; it’s important for your little furball. You know that layer of amazing fur that makes you want to sit there cuddling it? That’s what grooming them brings.
However, these coats don’t maintain themselves, and your feline friends can’t do it all for themselves either – not to mention, a shower isn’t all that’s needed for it. They can’t do it all themselves, so you need to help.
How Do I Groom My Kitten?
This can be understood in a simple step-by-step procedure:
- Get close to your kitten and hold them on your lap or near you.
- Allow the kitten to inspect and smell the brush you want to use, since you can expect them to do so.
- Brush your kitten as if you were petting them, so they can feel good and know that this isn’t something to dislike.
- Once they are acclimated to this feeling, you can soon move on to different parts of their body (tail, stomach, ears).
Why Ys Grooming Your Kitten Necessary?
When it comes to hair follicles, kittens have follicles that are 20 times more active than a human’s. You know what that means? It means if you think you have loose hair on your body, imagine them!
Firstly, it is important you start grooming your kitten early on in their life. This will allow for them to get used to it, and as time passes on, hopefully enjoy that time with you. Since touch therapy is positive, your feline buddy will grow to enjoy spending this time with you, and a treat right after the grooming just sweetens the pot.
Let’s move back to why it is healthy though; with so much hair coming off of them, your little furball will end up having his own furballs, even at times ingesting it. Clearing the hair out will help them avoid these issues.
With a smaller coat of fur on your kitten, you will be able to see its skin better, and check for any complications or inconsistencies on their skin. This will allow you to catch any rash or similar issues, much faster.
How Often Should My Kitten Be Groomed?
The frequency with which your kitten needs grooming is dependent on whether or not they have short fur hair or long fur hair. However, once or twice a week should cover it for most kittens.
It is key to remember that this can be done multiple times a day, it is just like petting and is actually something that kittens end up enjoying.
It is advised however, that you start your kitten’s grooming when it is 4-6 months old, in order to get it acclimated to the feeling and routine.
Short vs Long Coat Kittens
Before we get into the specifics of how these different types of coats need to be groomed, what are they?
Long Coat – Basically implies that the fur on the cat is longer and thicker, sheds more often.
Short Coat – The coat of fur on the cat will be much shorter and less dense, sheds slowly.
The coat on your kitten will end up deciding on the frequency of brushing them, long coats needing more care.
For a long coat cat, when I say more, brushing should be done on a regular basis, daily if possible and with the right tools.
Short coat cats require much less effort in terms of brushing, and can be done once a week. Just a good brushing once a week will ensure they are good to go.
Health Check
Grooming can allow you to also check-up on your little feline, and make sure they are all good. How? Well, when you’re stroking them, make sure you get them comfortable enough to look at their feet; paws, claws and toes.
Also, look into their mouth and check their teeth and gums. If we eat food and still have to visit the dentist, don’t deprive them of it if they need it!
Check their eyes and nose for any issues, and also for lumps or bumps across their body. And running your hand through their fur will allow you to find any signs of fleas or skin issues.
FAQs
Q. When can you start grooming a kitten?
- It is important to have your kitten groomed after the 3rd month, and a proper groomer’s service within the first 6 months. A professional groomer will take care of all your kitten’s needs including nail clipping, nail caps, sanitary shaves, baths and brushing.
You can definitely do this on your own, but please be careful!
Q. How old are kittens when they start to groom themselves?
- Kittens begin grooming themselves around a month after they are born. At 4 weeks old, they will start cleaning themselves off, as they learn to get independent.
Q. Is it ok to cut a kitten’s hair?
- It is recommended you do not cut your kitten’s hair, especially on your own. Their hair or fur is naturally growing to what they need to survive. However, once it becomes a fully grown cat, you can definitely style them as you’ve definitely come across online. Not really necessary though, your feline friends are cute enough as they are!
The Takeaway
- Make sure to not start grooming your kitten too early
- Use your grooming time as valuable bonding time as well
- Make sure to figure out your kitten’s preferences when being groomed
- Follow through on a proper routine for grooming your kitten
