Grooming Regular grooming is essential for your cat's good health. A glossy, beautiful coat is a sign of your cat's overall health and well-being. It not only helps your cat to look its best, it helps you avoid more complicated problems like parasites and skin diseases. Most cats do a credible job of keeping themselves clean, but they'll need your help when it comes to preventing matted hair and fur balls, and in detecting problems with their eyes or ears. If your cat is not used to being groomed, start with a gentle combing in areas that it seems to enjoy and gradually work up to a full grooming session.
Some cats end up swallowing a large amount of hair when they groom themselves.
This hair can wad up inside the cat, forming a large hairball. This large ball can block, or partially block, the cat's intestines, making him feel generally lousy. To minimize hairballs, brush your cat thoroughly and regularly or try a commercial hairball remedy, closely following package directions. Visit your vet for the correct recommendation and treatment. Brushing and Combing For shorthair cats, we recommend grooming once a week with a natural bristle brush and a fine-tooth comb.