Generally speaking, a cat hardly ever needs to be professionally
groomed. They usually take exceptional care of themselves and are
generally clean animals.
But of course there are exceptions to every rule... Here are some reasons why you might have to bring your cat in for a grooming.
The most common reason - Mats, knots, snarls...
Some cats (Persians, Himalayans - long haired breeds - and even some
shorter ones) are susceptible to matting. If not frequently and regularly
combed, they can get overwhelmed by their own fur. If this happens they will
discontinue grooming themselves successfully, and the mats become out of
control. Once the mats begin to spread, they will eventually merge
together and form hard clumps all over your cat. At this point,
de-matting is no longer an option, and you'll need to have your cat
professionally shaved down. This is never good for a cat's ego. You
should try to monitor the situation and have your cat professionally groomed
before it gets that bad.
Regular combing, of both long and short hair cats, at home will help you
maintain and control the condition of your cat's fur. If grooming at
home becomes impossible
(either the cat or the fur), that is when you should call your professional groomer.
Reason # 2 - Bathing...
Generally speaking, I suggest never bathing your cat. As I have
stated before, cats are incredibly clean animals, who dislike water, so why
torture them? But... in some cases cats need to be bathed too. And here
they are:
Kittens - If you are bringing a kitten into your home, you should
have it professionally bathed prior to allowing it in your house. Most all
kittens (in my 20 years experience) have fleas. It is inevitable!
To ensure those fleas do not get into your home, bring the kitten to a groomer
or the vet. Have it checked over thoroughly. If fleas are found,
take the precaution and have it bathed. Kittens are much easier and
nicer to bathe than cats. And if caught early, you will rid yourself of a flea
infestation.
Dirt, poop, fleas, skunk - Though I have not seen this often, there
are some extreme cases when a cat simply gets too dirty. If
your cat has a problem with any of the above, consult your groomer or vet
to determine the best solution.
Reason # 3 - Nail Clipping
This is quick and painless. If your cat has long nails and is tearing
up your house, bring it in for a nail clipping. It could save your home
and your cat. This is a walk-in service while you wait, and it is only
$8. Simply call first to ensure we are
open.
Click here to discover
how Lakeside Grooming can take care of your kitty cat.
