Should You Groom Your Cat?

We at Dr Zoo are very much cat lovers! That’s why we want to empathize the importance of taking care of their skin and fur. Grooming is about more than just keeping your cat looking good, it’s about keeping them healthy and content. You’ve no doubt noticed your kitty washing themselves several times a day, it’s a part-time job for our feline friend. For the most part, they can take care of themselves very well, however, there are times when you may need to intervene.

Grooming will improve the health of your cat’s skin and coat and can even help to prevent feline health issues such as digestive problems caused by hairballs. Regular brushing offers benefits such as removing dead hair and dirt and preventing mats and tangles. Not all cats like to be brushed but with the correct tool (like our Bamboo Grooming Brush) and a little bit of patience, they will get used to grooming in no time. If you have a kitten, start now so they will get used to it as they grow, if you have a cat and you would like to start grooming them, here are a few tips. 

• Pick a time when the cat is calm and satisfied. Maybe after eating.
• Start with 5 min sessions and go up each session as needed.
• Make sure to have a treat for the end of the session.
• Don’t push too much, if he/she wants to go, leave it, you can try again later. 

Tip: Remember, when brushing always brush on the natural direction of the fur and be super gently with the belly and chest areas.

Don’t forget their Nose & Paws. We know how delicate Cat’s paw pads and noses are. Their paws are engineered to help them be the best predator they can be and their noses are, well first of all super cute, and second, they’re their most important sense organ. Did you know Cats have 200 million scent receptors?! So, we want to take care of their paw pads and noses as best we can. Paw pads can become dry and cracked from hot or cold concrete, or can become itchy from a variety of natural elements, even different temperatures can also have an effect on these sensitive areas. Here are a few tips for keeping their Nose & Paws in tip-top street roaming condition.

• Check your cat’s paws regularly for any cuts, sores, splinters or swellings. 
• Aside from causing pain, unhealthy substances that stick to her feet may end up on her tongue during grooming.
• In hot and cold weather, moisturise them and try to avoid letting your cat’s feet touch freezing floors, hot sidewalks or other uncomfortable surfaces.

To keep these particular areas healthy, we designed a natural balm to moisturise and protect dry, cracked noses and sore, itchy paws, called our Crusty Nose Itchy Toes Balm. Ingredients like Shea Butter and Hemp Oil will give the extra moisture their nose and paw pads need. It also contains Natural Vitamin E which will promote healthy skin. You can apply the balm directly to the nose and paws.