| To give your cat regular grooming, there are a few | | | | the mat to keep from cutting your cat. Once the |
| tools and supplies you will need to keep his coat | | | | mat is cut out, then use a comb to brush the mat |
| clean and healthy. What you purchase depends on | | | | out completely. |
| your cat's coat type. Here is what you will need for | | | | -For wire-coated breeds of cats, your grooming |
| proper grooming of your cat: | | | | supplies will depend on the amount of coat your cat |
| -For short to medium-coated cats, start with a | | | | has. If your cat has a thick, wiry coat of hair, you will |
| couple of stainless steel combs. One should have | | | | groom him the same as a short or medium-coated |
| very narrowly-spaced teeth, which is called a flea | | | | cat. If his fur is very sparse, you will need the flea |
| comb. The other should be a comb that has slightly | | | | comb and a soft-bristled baby brush. |
| wider teeth (the package will call it "fine"), which | | | | Note: Some combs do not have handles, so you |
| clears out dead hair, debris, and small mats. A brush | | | | might want to buy the ones that do, as they are |
| with slender, bent wires, called a slicker brush, is good | | | | more comfortable to use. But it is a personal |
| to finish with to get a mat-free coat. | | | | preference. |
| -For cats with long-haired coats, use a pin brush (it | | | | For all cats, you will need a shampoo for bathing. For |
| looks like a pin brush) instead of a slicker brush, and | | | | long, silky coats, add a cream rinse after shampooing. |
| add a medium or course-toothed comb to your | | | | Place cotton balls in your cats ears to keep them dry |
| grooming kit. You still may want to have a | | | | during bathing. Cotton balls and swabs also help with |
| fine-toothed comb, but a flea comb might not get | | | | cleaning the inside of your cat's ears after the bath. |
| through the coat. | | | | Do not use dog shampoos that have flea-control |
| You also will need a detangling spray, which can be | | | | chemicals on your cat. They are toxic to him. There |
| found at pet stores. You may also want to try corn | | | | are cat shampoos with flea-control in them, but most |
| starch for mats. Just work it in where the mat is, | | | | fleas will wash away from a cat as you bathe him. |
| then take some scissors and cut pieces of the mat | | | | Just follow up with the flea comb to get any that |
| away. Keep your fingers between the scissors and | | | | are left. |