Most cats are very clean and will groom themselves fastidiously as part of their daily routine, often upon waking after a sleep or following a meal. The cat does this by using its tongue, which has a roughened surface due to presence of numerous minute, backward-pointing projections called papillae. The papillae collect loose hairs and particles of dust and dirt and because they point backwards, the cat invariably swallows this material rather than spitting it out of its mouth. Hairs are effectively caught up on the papillae and are not easy to dislodge except by swallowing.
Hair Balls:
If present in large quantities the hairs may combine together, to form fur/hair balls, in the stomach. These hair balls are more likely, to occur in long-haired cats.
The most important reason though for grooming your cat, is to remove dead hair and help reduce the formaton of fur balls.
Queen and her kittens:
A mother cat grooms her new offspring, but by six weeks the kittens should become quite accomplished in doing this themselves. Kittens and cats also groom each other as part of their interactions with one
another, and as a means of bonding.
Regular Grooming:
A kitten or cat should be groomed regularly by its owner from the time it arrives in its new home and both a comb and a brush are needed for this purpose. While you are grooming your cat you can check its health, for example, fleas, ticks, ringworm. It is also a perfect opportunity to check its eyes and ears.
Shorthaired types of cat need to be groomed once or twice a week, or hand groomed, and more often when they are moulting.
Longhaired varieties need more frequent attention, and grooming is essential to prevent matted lumps of fur forming.
Combs and Brushes:
Steel comb: Its teeth should be rounded to prevent scratching the cat's skin.
Brush
Its own towel
It is best to start grooming when the kitten, is still very young. It will learn to accept grooming, and some really enjoy the the attention they receive. An adult cat that has not been accustomed to grooming may resent it and fight to get away. This can present considerable problems, especially with a longhaired cat that has a tangled coat.
In these circumstances, it may be possible to gently brush the cat, while it is being stroked and petted and hopefully it will learn to accept brushing.
If this doesn't work, then you could gently but firmly grasp the cat by the scruff of its neck, and try to make sure that all its paws remain in contact with the surface on which it is placed, while grooming is carried out. Although, that is a last result!
If you find lumps of matted fur, during grooming an attempt can be made to prise them apart with your fingers, and gently comb them through. However, if this is not possible, raise them gently up with the comb and cut them off, using round ended scissors.
A cat with a severely tangled coat, may need to have the matts clipped off either at your local grooming parlour, or in more severe cases under general anasthetic at your vets surgery.
