5 Grooming Tips to Maintain Your Cat's Coat

As a responsible pet owner, you already know that taking care of your cat's coat is essential for their overall well-being.

While cats are pretty good at grooming themselves, a little extra attention from you can make a significant difference. In this article, we'll explore some simple and practical measures to keep your furry friend's coat healthy, glossy, and a breeze to manage

How to Maintain Your Cat's Coat With Ease 

Start With Nutrition 

The food your cat consumes plays a pivotal role not only in their mood, pain levels, and mobility, but also in the appearance of their precious coat. A diet lacking sufficient healthy fats can lead to a lackluster coat and increased shedding.

Fish oil supplements or treats rich in omega-3 fatty acids, such as our Reel Fish Crunchers, can benefit your cat’s coat health significantly. Omega fatty acids have a generally positive impact on pets - from making their skin and coat look (and feel) better to promoting good cardiac health.

Groom Your Cat Regularly 

Every cat is different in terms of grooming necessities, and that’s because not all cats have the same coat. Some breeds shed little to nothing, like the Devon Rex or the Sphinx, but the majority of the rest have double coats for better insulation.  

Brushing your cat every day even for just a few minutes can make a huge difference. It prevents tangling and matting, in the case of particularly fluffy breeds, and it also gives your cat a nice massage.

Make sure you have the right tools for grooming. From a Detangling Comb to our award-winning Self Cleaning Slicker Brush, your grooming tools can make the experience a lot easier for both your cat and yourself.

Give Them Baths Once in a While 

Cats aren’t supposed to take baths as often as dogs can (once every 3-4 weeks), but using a shampoo on your pet’s coat on occasion ensures deep cleansing of their coat.

Some shampoos have soothing ingredients, like our 2-in-1 Oatmeal & Aloe Wash. If your cat has an aversion to water, our Water Free Wash is your best bet. It's a dry shampoo that absorbs and removes dirt and natural oils and leaves your cat’s fur looking and smelling fresh.

Rid Them of External Parasites 

Not only do fleas, ticks, and lice affect your cat’s health and overall mood, but they can also affect the quality of their coat. A cat that has a severe flea infestation will feel itchy all the time, which means that they will engage in incessant scratching.  

With time, self-inflicted wounds stemming from scratching can lead to dermatitis – and unless you want to spend thousands of dollars at the vet trying to treat your cat’s dermatitis, it’s better to prevent them from having any external parasites at all.  

These days, there are multiple options when it comes to this task - you can try our treatment shampoo, Flea Flee, or you can opt for a spot-on solution. The faster you act, the better.

Make Sure Your Cat’s Environment Is Stress-Free 

Cats are notorious for becoming stressed due to multiple triggers - whether that be the addition of a new pet to a household, changing homes, trips to the vet, time spent in boarding facilities, and more.  

Ideally, your cat’s living environment should be as calm as possible. If they have a good disposition, they’re not going to want to engage in any destructive behaviours, and they’re not going to yowl in the middle of the night.  

If your cat does have a history of anxiety, you may want to try out different products, whether that be diffusers, catnip, or a mix of plants such as valerian and passiflora.  

Final Thoughts 

Consistency is key when it comes to keeping your cat’s coat health in check. If you take them to the vet twice a year and have them checked out, give them healthy treats and supplements, and brush their coat at least once every couple of days, you have nothing to worry about.  

Giving your cat a haircut in the summer is an option, but do keep in mind that some pets need to be sedated in order for the procedure to happen successfully.

Resources: 

Grooming and Coat Care for Your Cat, Ryan Llera, BSc, DVM; Tammy Hunter, DVM; Cheryl Yuill, DVM, MSc, CVH, VCA Animal Hospitals https://vcacanada.com/know-your-pet/grooming-and-coat-care-for-your-cat  

Diet and Skin Disease in Dogs and Cats, T.D. Watson, J. Nutr., 1998: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9868266/ 

Veterinary Pet Supplements and Nutraceuticals, Carrie J. Finno, DVM, PhD, Nutr. Today, 2020: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7802882/