Cats are groomers. They use their tongues to clean their hair, face and paws. Yet they need our help to make life a little easier. Think hairball, mats and dirty fur! Grooming a cat early in its life eliminates stress later on. Proper grooming equals a content kitty.
Time to Brush and Comb - Brush and comb your cat regularly. Brush weekly for all cats. Some longhairs might need brushing daily. Always brush in the direction of the fur, front to back. A 4 ½-by-1 inch comb is recommended in either fine or coarse.
Time to Clean the Eyes - Look for stains and crusty buildup around the lower part of the eyes. This is from tears that dry with the air. This area needs cleaning. Run warm water on a washcloth and squeeze off excess. Gently wipe the buildup away from the eye. Try not to touch the eye itself. If the crust is hard, you might have to do this several times to loosen it up.
Pour several cups of water over your cat until the hair is completely wet. Be careful not to pour the water on your cat's head and ears. Squeeze a small amount of shampoo on your wet washcloth. Wash your cat's body with the cloth. Lightly clean around the face but not the eye or inside-ear area.
Dry with a towel. Gently blot away the water. Some cats allow a hair dryer for drying. Use the low setting, drying from front to back. Brush or comb long-haired cats after drying.