Regular grooming is essential to your cat’s health and well-being. Regular combing and brushing will keep the coat clean and healthy, stimulate the skin, and allow the natural oils to circulate through the coat. It will also help to prevent hairballs, which are the result of loose hair being picked up by the cat’s tongue and then swallowed. These hairs sometimes accumulate in the cat’s stomach forming hairballs, which can be harmful to the cat. Grooming will also allow you to check for potentially serious problems. Check for areas of hair loss, inflammation, unusual tenderness or lumps under the skin. Constant scratching in a particular area may also be an indication of a problem. Check with your veterinarian about any unusual problems you may find.

How often your cat needs to be groomed depends upon several factors: type and length of coat, weather conditions, time of year, etc. Generally speaking, shorthaired cats should be groomed about twice a week, while longhaired cats should be groomed daily. You will soon find the grooming frequency that provides the best results for your cat. It is important to establish and adhere to a regular grooming schedule. These sessions should be scheduled at a time that is convenient for you. Be sure that you allow time to provide proper grooming, and are not likely to be interrupted.