BRUSH YOUR CAT

How to Teach Your Cat to Accept Brushing

Cats love to be stroked, so it is easy to teach your cat to accept brushing. Brushing will help to remove loose hair and prevent kitty getting a fur ball stuck in his throat. 

It also helps to remove irritating prickles he may have picked up on his walks outside.


You will be able to keep tabs on his general health if you brush him regularly, too.
Choose a time when kitty is feeling a bit sleepy and wants to curl up on your warm
lap. Have the brush handy so you don’t have to disturb him to get it. If he hasn’t seen
the brush before, hold it near his face so he can sniff it all over if he wants. In this way
he will understand that it won’t hurt him and so he won’t be frightened of it.

Ooh! that's lovely

In fact, it’s a good idea to rub your own hands along the handle of the brush so he can detect

your scent on it. If he’s used to you, he will be reassured that this strange tool is to be
trusted.


Once he has inspected and accepted the brush, begin to brush your cat with slow and
gently movements. Always brush with the lay of the hair, not against it. If kitty tries to
grab the brush with his paws to play with it, put it away immediately. You don’t want
him to start playing every time he sees the brush, you want him to learn to keep still
and let you brush him.


As soon as kitty has quieted down, start to brush him again. Start at about ear level
and work backwards with a long, fluid movement. Never try to brush his face, or you
might damage his delicate eyes and whiskers. Brushing the tangles out of badly
matted hair can cause pain, so be careful to do it gently. If kitty expects pain every
time he sees the brush, he won’t be amenable to the process.

Not now

Several different brushes can be useful when grooming your pet. A large brush with
stiff bristles is good for the body, while a smaller, softer brush can be easier to manage
the belly and tail. If your cat has long tail hairs, you may need a brush with bristles
that are a little stiffer then the smaller brush has. A comb can also be a handy part of
your cat grooming toolbox.