Does anyone here use gloves while grooming cats?

Hello all,

I was wondering if anyone here uses protective gloves while grooming their cats (for example, during claw clipping or brushing teeth- tasks which many cats dislike). I am curious to know, because I came across a website that sells gloves made of nitrile (the site is http://www.bitebuster.com). For those who do use them, how easy is it to groom a cat while wearing them (vs. the use of bare hands)?

I've decided to get myself a pair of puncture resistant gloves, as I would like to brush my kitty's teeth, but do not relish the thought of sticking a bare finger in her mouth. The reason for this is because she often attempts to bite human hands after rambunctious play (which she would engage in 24/7, if given the chance). I'm taking steps to discourage this practice, but I know it will take a while for kitty to fully grasp this task.

If anyone has some ideas/feedback to pass my way, then feel free to do so.

Blackberry

While the gloves may sound good, IMO they are not something I'd use. For one thing you NEED to feel the coat or foot when grooming to find if anything is in the coat or if something is on/in the foot when clipping nails. Putting on a glove doesn't give you the same "feelings".

I don't brush my cats teeth, but if the glove is rubber or something then the cat would not like that in its mouth WORSE then bare fingers.

I don't use gloves and when I brush Zoe's teeth, I don't use my fingers....I've got the real small toothbrush and put on a bit of toothpaste, then let her lick and bite the brush....getting the toothpaste on the teeth is your goal....it will do the work so you don't really have to "brush"... but she's so used to me doing all that stuff to her and doesn't try to bite during grooming, nail clipping, etc so I don't have that worry (thank goodness! )

I put my hand under my cats jaws and just scrub the teeth with a little cat tooth brush. You do not need your fingers in their mouths unless you're closely checking a back tooth or pilling the cat. And even then, unless your cat is super moody and doesn't like being touched, you should be fine.

I can't say the same for scratches... but gloves won't help you there. You'll end up with a scratch somewhere else. Just try to help reduce the damage by wearing a long sleeve shirt.

Bathing - maybe if your hands or nails could not get wet, or wet very often. But cats often wiggle and wrestle around - or at least try to hop out once, so you may end up with water in the gloves.

Brushing - would you use gloves to brush your own hair, too? If you can pet your cat, you can brush your cat.

Things I do suggest - Spend the money on good grooming supplies instead. Have an extra set of clothes or change after bathing a cat. You may need to change shirts after brushing. Trust your cat and be set on finishing the task, they can tell when you're uncomfortable and this will be when they act up or try to get away more. Work up to fully clipping all claws, brushing, and brushing teeth if the cat is older and frightened/upset. There are already many threads with great tips for this.

Another thing to consider. Your hands smell like you - and probably your cat too, this is a smell your cat should be used to and comfortable with.

Originally Posted by GoldenKitty45

While the gloves may sound good, IMO they are not something I'd use. For one thing you NEED to feel the coat or foot when grooming to find if anything is in the coat or if something is on/in the foot when clipping nails. Putting on a glove doesn't give you the same "feelings".

I don't brush my cats teeth, but if the glove is rubber or something then the cat would not like that in its mouth WORSE then bare fingers.

Click to expand...

I agree with goldenkitty about the gloves. You really need that dexterity and sense of touch to do a safe job. But if they work well for you and that's the only way you can get the job done, then i'd go ahead and cautiously try it.

I have used gloves...but not to groom my cat... I happened to have a pair of welding gloves (because I was in ceramics courses) and I did use them when first "pilling" my adult adopted cat Toby... He is VERY hard to pill...vet and I both think he was a former lab cat due to his expertise at escaping while you are trying to give meds... At any rate, he doesn't try to bite, but slings his head around, so I wanted to avoid being bitten by accident.

Although the gloves work well, if grazed by a tooth you wouldn't get cut, I'm not sure how well they'd fare against a purposeful bite.

That said, they reduce your dextarity greatly, making it hard to fine-tune your hand motions and accomplish anything that requires precise positioning.

After I had pilled my cat a few times with the gloves (getting him used to the process and that I'm not trying to hurt him), I have been doing it without the gloves and he is OK with it now.

IMO, if you are unsure how the cat will react, maybe go with a cheaper pair of suede gloves (i.e. welding gloves) that would offer some protection and use them only the first few times you are working with the cat... Once you are sure that you and the cat know what is going on and aren't in danger, then go without. I would NOT use them in the cat's mouth though (for prolonged time like brushing teeth) as most gloves are dyed and may contain harmful chemicals, if swallowed.

Art

I wouldn't bother, I think it would be a waste of money for reasons stated above. I have pilled semi-feral cats and ones who were nice otherwise butreally hated pilling and I never even thought of gloves. Ithink it might encourage them to bite because it is unnatural. Even with clipping claws, I don't think you would get the same grip and you need to be careful and be able to feel the cat while doing all of these things.

Thanks for the input, everyone. My Princess is actually quite good about having her nails trimmed, and I've been able to use bare hands for this just fine. However, getting near her mouth does offer a few challenges.

RaggieKitty: What does your cat toothbrush look like? I have been looking in pet stores for a good toothbrush for kitty, but have only been able to find the finger-brush ones (which are too big for my finger).

I got my brush at Petsmart...it was with the fingerbrush you're talking about(which got tossed out right away without even trying it...you're right, it's way too huge) and the toothpaste all together. I couldn't find it on the petsmart website, but I found one like it on amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/TopDawg-Pet-Su...5120095&sr=8-7
I like the long handle and small brush. A real small and soft child's toothbrush would probably work too....
As Zoe has gotten more used to having it in her mouth, I can hold her head a bit and brush a little more now....but at first I just let her chew on it...she likes the toothpaste. I do the hair brushing and then teeth every other day or 2....I always follow up with treats and she is VERY treat driven!

Thanks, RK

I've done a bit of research these past few days, and found the website for CET Dental products (www.cetdental.com). They seem to have many good brushes, rinses, and dental chews for cats. Plus, these products are available in at least one vet's office in my city (they're not available in pet stores- no wonder I couldn't find them).

Your method for brushing Zoe's teeth might work well for Princess. I know its often suggested to let your cat taste the toothpaste from your finger to start. Well, my partner and I tried this method, remembering that Princess *loves* to lick hands. Unfortunately, we didn't remember that sometimes she prefers to rub her face all over human hands instead. She got toothpaste on her head as a result- twice! Thank goodness it was easy to clean out (she's short-haired).