Why groom your cat?

‘My cat takes care of himself’

I get this a lot. And to some extent, it's true. Just compare to a dog: dogs don't clean themselves and, partly for that reason, dogs regularly go to the grooming salon for a good wash so they smell nice and fresh again. A cat 'washes' himself every day, at regular intervals. This helps remove dirt and loose fur from its coat. For the average, healthy domestic cat, this is usually sufficient.

Let's first list the functions of a coat:

  • Protection against injuries and bacteria

    Regulation of body temperature

    Indicator of health

    Protection against sunlight

    Communication with their own species.

As you can see, a coat serves many functions and for that reason, the most crucial advice is:

Only intervene if your cat is unable to maintain its coat by itself !

For many (semi)long-haired cats, this is a realistic scenario: as a result of extensive breeding, some coats have become so excessive that a cat can no longer maintain its own coat. Some coats are more prone to matting than others, resulting in painful mats in areas they sometimes can't reach. This, in turn, leads to felted fur. Felted fur is extremely painful because it tugs at the thin skin. If not addressed in a timely manner, this can lead to bald spots and/or wounds.

Furthermore, I often see cats on my grooming table, including domestic shorthair cats that are unable to groom themselves:

  • due to pain or other stress (moving, new cat/baby in the house, etc.)

  • due to arthritis (usually in older cats)

  • due to other medical reasons. This includes conditions like osteoarthritis, dental problems, kidney problems, etc.

  • because they were removed from the litter too early and did not learn how to groom themselves

  • due to overweight: they are not agile enough to groom their entire body

  • due to 'stuck' fur as a result of shedding period (= ‘scaly’ coat)

  • due to their breed-specific characteristics. For example Persian cats: as a result of their short nose and neck and their dense coat, they cannot maintain their own fur. British Shorthairs who encounter problems due to their sturdy build.