Healthy kittens begin to groom themselves regularly by the age of 3 or 4 months, and mutual grooming is common between cats who are close companions.
Grooming is important for both the health of your pet and the bond you share. Grooming your kitten is a nice way to spend quality time together. It will also allow you to monitor your cat's health and reduce vomiting or obstruction caused by fur balls.
Cats rarely need a bath because they groom themselves so thoroughly. If you think your kitten needs a bath, ask your veterinarian or professional groomer for advice on when a bath is needed and how to do it.
- Talk to your veterinarian or professional groomer about the pet brush or comb that works best for your kitten's coat and comfort. It might be a simple plastic comb with round teeth or a baby brush
- Establish a regular location and routine for grooming
- Brush in the direction of hair growth. Brushing against the hair pattern may be uncomfortable for your kitten
- Long-haired cats should be groomed every day to help prevent painful mats and knots
- Short-haired cats may only require grooming once a week, but keep it a routine so it remains familiar and enjoyable
- To help your kitten enjoy grooming, make grooming sessions a little bit longer every day
A cat's ears normally do not require cleaning, but check them regularly for any dirt, debris or redness, especially if you've noticed your kitten scratching or shaking her head. Contact your veterinarian if you notice these signs or anything unusual. Ear mites and ear infections require treatment by a veterinarian.
If you do wish to clean your kitten's ears, ask your veterinarian for the best method and products to do this.
Good oral health is essential to your kitten's overall health. Like you, your kitten needs regular dental care to remove plaque and tartar. Your veterinarian will examine your kitten's mouth at every physical examination and will perform a professional cleaning as needed.
To help keep your kitten's teeth and gums healthy, brush your kitten's teeth regularly. Ask your veterinarian to show you how. Never use human toothpaste on your kitten – dental kits for cats are available for daily use.
One last thing – be sure to report any broken teeth to your veterinarian immediately.
How to brush your cat's teeth
- Position yourself and your kitten so that you have easy access to her mouth
- Put some pet toothpaste on your finger and allow her to lick it off
- Replace with more pet toothpaste and start gently massaging it onto her teeth. Once she's used to this, you can start using a cat toothbrush
- Gently pull back her lips and cheeks to gain access to the premolars and molars
- Brush in a circular motion, and be sure to brush where the tooth meets the gum line, reaching to the very back teeth, where problems are most likely to develop
Although this task may seem daunting initially, it becomes easier with practice, and if your kitten gets used to it early in life, it will become a simple task for both of you.
Regular nail trims will blunt the sharp tips of your kitten's nails and minimize accidental scratches during play. Ask your veterinarian to show you how to trim your kitten's nails, as it is important to know how to avoid the nail's blood vessels and nerves in the pink base close to the toe.
When trimming your kitten's nails at home, use the following guidelines:
- Use only nail trimmers designed for cats
- Introduce nail trims gradually by first gently touching your kitten's paws as she nods off for a nap
- Get your pet used to your fingers pressing against the footpads and separating the toes
- At first, trim a few nails once a week. The more you do it, the more familiar it will become
- Cats who have extra toenails (polydactyl) need to be carefully monitored for ingrown toenails