The condition of your cat’s skin and coat is a good indicator of their health. Health and nutrition influence the shine and texture of your cat’s coat from the inside, while regular grooming and skin care keep your cat’s coat clean and free of tangles on the outside.
What types of haircoats do cats have?
Selective breeding has led to cats with various coat characteristics and grooming needs, ranging from the hairless Sphinx cats to fluffy, long-haired breeds like the Persian breed. Some cats shed very little, such as the Sphinx and the Rex breeds, while others shed a lot, like the Maine Coon cat. Most cat breeds have a smooth outer coat of guard hairs and a fine undercoat of soft hairs that provides additional insulation. Long-haired cat breeds often have fine, silky outer coats that may tangle easily.
Some cats that live in cooler climates undergo two heavy seasonal shedding cycles per year (late spring and late fall), particularly if they frequently venture outdoors. During a shedding cycle, much of the undercoat falls out in clumps. Cats that share our homes often shed their undercoat and guard hairs at low levels all year round.
How often should I groom my cat?
All cats benefit from regular brushing to remove loose hairs and dead skin cells; keep the coat free of dirt, debris, and external parasites; and distribute natural skin oils along the hair shafts. Cats with long, silky, or curly coats require daily brushing to keep their hair from becoming tangled or matted, especially around the ears, in the armpits, and along the back of their legs. Cats with short hair coats may require less frequent brushing.
Daily brushing will reduce the amount of hair a cat swallows during self-grooming, therefore helping to reduce the number of hairballs your cat may develop. It will also dramatically reduce the amount of loose hair and cat dander floating around the home. For some people with mild cat allergies, daily brushing may reduce the number of airborne allergens enough for them to share their home with a cat.
You should inspect your cat’s coat every day to ensure there are no tangles or clumps under the armpits, in the groin, or behind the ears. If you regularly check your cat’s coat and skin, you will also have a better chance of detecting any unusual lumps, bumps, parasites such as fleas and ticks, or areas of sensitivity on your cat’s body.
What type of brush or comb should I use?
Different styles of brushes work better on certain types of hair coats:
- Stiff bristle brushes help remove loose hairs from cats with short coats or sparse undercoats.
- Long-toothed metal combs or brushes, especially those with rows of offset tines, are helpful to remove loose hair and smooth minor tangles in medium and long-haired cats.
- Some combs are designed to remove clumps of loose undercoat if your cat is undergoing a heavy seasonal shedding or for gently teasing out smaller mats behind the ears or along the back legs of long-haired cats.
Whatever brush you choose, it is important to be gentle when using it and to avoid excessive pulling on tangles. Your veterinary healthcare team can give you specific recommendations for grooming tools that will work well for your cat.
How should I remove tangles, mats, or burrs?
If a tangle is small or relatively minor, or if your cat has just picked up a burr or grass awn, you may be able to remove it by brushing or combing it out gently. If the tangle is extensive or there is a large clump of burrs or grass awns forming a mat, you may have to cut out the clump of hair. In this case, you must be extremely careful to avoid accidentally cutting your cat’s skin. Only use clippers to remove mats — never scissors.
When tangles are severe or extensive, it is strongly recommended that you seek professional care from a groomer or your veterinarian. If a mat has caused any skin irritation, take your cat to your veterinarian so the appropriate treatment can be prescribed. If you plan on bathing your cat, brush burrs and tangles from the coat before bathing, as tangles can become impossible to remove after a bath.
How often should I bathe my cat?
Most healthy adult cats are fastidious groomers and rarely require a bath. How often your cat needs to be bathed will vary with age, lifestyle, and underlying health status. For example, an arthritic or overweight cat that has difficulty grooming themselves may need the occasional bath to remove loose hair and objectionable odors. If your cat goes outdoors and has an encounter with a skunk, they may need a bath before being allowed back into the house. If your cat has allergies, your veterinarian may prescribe frequent bathing as part of the treatment regime.
"Most healthy adult cats are fastidious groomers and rarely require a bath."
If you find that your cat requires frequent bathing, discuss it with your veterinarian, who may recommend using a dry shampoo or a medicated shampoo and conditioning rinse to prevent skin problems associated with the repeated baths.
Can I use baby shampoo?
No, cats should only be bathed with shampoo formulated for use on cats — their skin has a different thickness and pH (acidity) than human skin. Human shampoo, including baby shampoo, is far too harsh for their skin. A hypoallergenic shampoo without any added perfumes is the best choice for routine bathing. Ask your veterinarian which shampoo is best for your cat.
How do I bathe my cat?
It can be challenging to bathe a cat, because few cats enjoy the experience. You can teach a young kitten to tolerate baths over time, but it can be difficult to train an adult cat to accept bathing as part of her grooming ritual. Many people choose to take their cat to a professional groomer for bathing or have their cat sedated and groomed at the veterinary clinic.
If you attempt to bathe your cat on your own, ensure the bath water is warm, partly for the cat’s comfort and partly because shampoos clean more effectively in warm water. Most people find it easiest to bathe their cat in the laundry tub, bathroom sink, or bathtub. Since few cats will sit still in a sink full of water, some groomers recommend “dipping” the cat into the water to wet it down, then applying the shampoo and lathering it up while the cat is on dry ground.
After applying the shampoo, work it through the entire coat to remove all dirt and debris. Some owners of cats with particularly thick coats find that it is best to dilute the shampoo in some water, so it is easier to apply and rinse out. For routine bathing, you can rinse the shampoo out immediately, but if you are using a medicated shampoo, it must sit on the coat for 5–10 minutes before being rinsed out. Be sure to read the instructions on your shampoo label or follow your veterinarian’s directions if you use a medicated shampoo.
"Many people choose to take their cat to a professional groomer for bathing or have their cat sedated and groomed at the veterinary clinic."
Once the shampoo has done its job, it must be thoroughly rinsed out. Ideally, you should rinse the shampoo or other products using running water, but many cats become frantic when put under a stream of water. In this case, it may be easier to dip your cat into the water or rinse with a cup until all the soap is removed. When dipping a cat into water, it is important to hold onto all four feet, so the cat cannot escape or injure you with their teeth or nails.
For best results, apply a conditioning product after shampooing to restore any lost moisture to the skin and minimize dandruff after the bath. Your cat will groom itself vigorously after the bath, so it is important to rinse out all traces of shampoo or other products. Rinsing is even more important if you are using a medicated shampoo or a flea shampoo to avoid any risk of toxicity to your cat.
Should my long-haired cat be shaved in the summer?
Most cats, even those with long hair, cope well with hot summer temperatures without needing a haircut. However, long-haired cats prone to getting large mats in their fur or cats that do not groom themselves well and object to regular brushing may benefit from having their hair shaved down periodically. A “lion-cut” may be done, which trims the hair on the body but leaves it long around the face, feet, and end of the tail.
In some cases, the cat will require sedation during this procedure, since few cats tolerate the noise of the clippers or the discomfort of extensive mat removal while awake and alert. If your cat goes outside in the summer months, it is important to leave at least 1 inch (2.5 cm) of haircoat to avoid sunburn or sun damage to the skin.
When should I talk to my vet?
Your cat’s general coat appearance may be the first indicator of health problems. A healthy animal does not shed excessively and has a shiny coat, free from dandruff or greasiness. Before reaching for the bottle of shampoo, think about whether that lackluster coat could be telling you something else. If your cat is older, she may suffer from arthritic pain that prevents her from adequately grooming herself. If your cat is overweight, she may have difficulty reaching certain areas of her body. If you have any concerns, contact your veterinarian for a consultation.
