Grooming Questions..and more Questions lol

Im looking for shampoo or shampoo and conditioner that wont do away with the advantage flea treatment Patches just had , whats a good product?

Patches is a long hair how often should she be brushed/combed? I dont want to over or under do it.


Nail clipping how do you know when you need to do it ? Do you know of instructions on how to do it? what clippers work the best , Im a little afraid to clip her nails.

Teeth Brushing , ok this concept in a cat is new to me how often is this done , are there better tooth brushes and pastes?

Medical Records , does anyone know of a shot booklet like kids get to keep track of what was done and when?

Thanks

Hi again Dana,

I said hello to you in new cats.

Patches is a long hair how often should she be brushed/combed?

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I would suggest that you invest in a zoom groom. It is a nifty grooming brush/massager and made of soft rubber and brings the hair out without pulling. On my long haired cats, I try and brush them just a little bit every day and when it is shedding season, I increase the time to 3 times a day until their outer coat is gone.

Nail clipping how do you know when you need to do it ? Do you know of instructions on how to do it? what clippers work the best , Im a little afraid to clip her nails.

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Honestly, if you are afraid to clip her nails, then I would just make an appointment with your vet and while you are there ask the tech or the vet to show you the best way to trim them. Basically, it is easy to do once you get the cat used to the trimmers. You want to use cat nail trimmers and not human ones if you can, and you really only want to cut off the bare tip of the claw. You don't want to cut into the quick (the pinkish part of the claw) for that is the blood supply and that causes bleeding and sometimes infection. Again, if you are hesitant ask your vet to show you how to do it.

Teeth Brushing , ok this concept in a cat is new to me how often is this done , are there better tooth brushes and pastes?

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Somewhere on the board there is a current poll about this, and it looks like only a small majority of the folks here actually brush their cats teeth, BUT to their credit they do take their cats in to have their teeth checked by the vets, and they do have the troubled teeth removed if needed.

Medical Records , does anyone know of a shot booklet like kids get to keep track of what was done and when?

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Your vet can provide you with one of these if you ask him or her about them.

I don't think you can really overdo it on the brushing, as long as you're not so rough that you damage the cat's skin. My Maine Coon is usually combed about once a week or so, when she's shedding, as often as I can, to make sure she doesn't get furballs and to minimize the hair that floats around the floors... I've tried several kinds of brushes and whatnot, but for me, a simple comb works best. It gets more of the dead hair out. But different things work for different people and cats, and it seems we in Finland don't have as much variety in cat care products as you do in the US.

Nail clipping is easy with cats, it's a whole lot more difficult with my dogs. With cats, it's easy to see where the quick starts (cats usually don't have black nails), the structure of the claw is like that. Just snip off some of the tip of the nail, a little bit at first so you get used to seeing where the quick is. I've NEVER cut even close to the quick with the cats, and I've done it several times with the dogs. Their nails just aren't as easy. I've heard of many techniques on clipping nails here, but I just hold the cat in my lap, on its back, and hold onto the paw, sort of push the nail out, and clip. After several years I've figured this to be the best position for me and my cats, but other cats would hate being on their backs, so may not work for others.

I don't brush my cats' teeth, Noelle would kill me before letting me try that, and Vinka doesn't need it. She eats raw meat and bones, so those keep her teeth clean. Others should have advice on that.

Hi Dana, Just one thing if you are going to brush your cats teeth NEVER use human toothpaste.

Originally posted by WellingtonCats
Hi Dana, Just one thing if you are going to brush your cats teeth NEVER use human toothpaste.

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yeah I didnt think that would be a good thing Im running all over the forum taking notes I didnt realize how much I didnt know

Hi Dana

You can use any "cat approved" shampoo 48 hours after you apply the advantage flea control. One of the shampoos I have found and REALLY like is purchased through vets or online. It's made by DVM and it's called Hylite. It's soap free and has essential fatty acids so it wont dry thier skin. If you like to bathe your cat often weather for allergies or just to keep them bright, it's best not to bathe them more than every 6 weeks.
You can never overdo the brushing. It helps to bring the oils out and helps the skin.
I usually know when thier nails need to be clipped when they jump on me and I scream It is very easy to do, but it's best if you have someone experienced show you how in person.
I don't brush teeth, but rather have them checked annually. If they need it, they are scheduled for a professional dental.
Usually the small vaccine records they have at the vets office. Your other option would be to just create a folder, and when you get the vet print outs, keep them all together.

I think as long as you are gentle, you can brush them as much as you want. I have a long hair and a short hair and I comb them both a little bit each day. I got them used to it from the time they were kittens and they love it! They stand and cry until I comb them after I get home from work.

I don't brush my cats' teeth. They go to the vet like they should and I have never had any issues. Obviously, if the vet said something needed to be done, I'd do it. If your cat eats mostly dry food, you'll probably be OK.