Although cats tend to be solitary by nature, they will form close bonds with people they know well. You may even meet a cat on the street who comes up to you with its tail held up and allows you to stroke its head as it winds around your legs. Cats differ significantly in their acceptance of this type of contact, however, depending in part on their early experience in life.
If you watch two cats that have grown up together and have a strong bond, you will see they tend to lick around the head and face—often behind the ears—when they are grooming each other. This is why cats generally like to have this part of their body stroked; it is the way in which they reinforce the bonds between each other.
Grooming in this way also has a practical significance because your cat finds it impossible to clean this part of the body by using her own tongue. Her flexible body enables her to curl around and reach other areas without difficulty, even her back and tail.
The long, fluffy fur of the Persian feels very soft to the touch. Its coat is longer than that of other breeds—individual hairs measure up to 5 in. (12.5 cm) in length.
The Benefits Of Stroking
One of the joys of sharing your life with a cat is that you can enjoy close contact with your pet by stroking her. Studies have shown that this can actually be beneficial to your own health, helping to lower your blood pressure. In fact, cat owners generally tend to be less likely to fall ill than people without pets and will visit their doctor less frequently.
The texture of cat’s fur does differ, and this may influence your choice of breed—especially if you are seeking a purebred companion. While Persians have long, luxurious coats, the fur of the sphynx is very different. However, these cats enjoy being stroked, even though they have little fur on their bodies. The rexes also tend to have unusual coat textures, while the fur of the rare American wirehaired breed resembles lamb’s wool.
The Siamese and Orientals have a particularly sleek appearance because they have very little undercoat and a glossy top coat. This is partly why they need far less grooming than breeds such as the Norwegian forest cat, whose appearance can alter quite markedly, depending on the time of year. These cats grow a thick coat during winter, which is responsible for the prominent ruff of longer fur around the neck. Then in the spring, when much of the insulating undercoat is shed and the coat becomes less profuse for the summer, they lose this ruff. This is a reflection of their origins, having evolved under natural conditions in areas where the winters are typically very cold, and the summers quite warm. Siamese—which originate from a region close to the equator—have no need for a thick winter coat.
The coat of short-haired cats, such as this blue Tonkinese, is of a consistent length throughout the year, unlike that of their long-haired relatives.
How It Feels
The texture of a cat’s fur varies significantly between breeds. This is a reflection of the proportions of different types of hair present in the coat. Here are some typical coat textures:
| Coat texture | Breed |
| Soft | Siamese (see page 117) and Orientals (see page 122) |
| Firm | British shorthair (see page 98) |
| Plush and soft | Exotic (see page 120) |
| Short and silky | Cornish rex (see page 101) and Russian (see page 128) |
| Long and silky | Birman (see page 124) and Balinese (see page 117) |
| Feels like the skin of a peach | Sphynx (see page 104) |
| Feels like lamb’s wool | American wirehair |
Cats are highly affectionate animals, and it is very easy to form a bond with your pet, particularly if you have a kitten, simply by stroking and playing within her regularly. Cats can be remarkable creatures of habit, so if you always stroke your pet when you sit down, before long she will be seeking your attention whenever you sit. This logic applies also if you adopt an older cat that has been kept as a house pet elsewhere, particularly if you use the same name she has been used to hearing.
It tends to be much more difficult to win the confidence of an older stray cat, but if she is not actually feral—born in the wild—then with a lot of patience and care it can be possible to persuade her to accept you in time.
This cat is quite used to being held regularly so she is very comfortable in her owner’s arms.
Your cat may often arch her body in this way when you run your hand down her back, or while being groomed.
How Your Cat Likes To Sit
An adult cat will probably have certain quirks as to how she will sit with you, whereas a kitten will be much more accommodating. Do not try to force an older cat to sit in a way that she finds uncomfortable, because she is unlikely to cooperate and it will simply weaken the bond between you. An older cat may, for example, be much more reluctant to roll over onto her back in your presence because this will make her feel vulnerable.
The Health Benefits Of Stroking
If you are out at work during the day, spend time with your cat when sitting down each evening. Cats can benefit significantly from being stroked and this will also allow you to examine your pet when she is relaxed. You will be able to see if her ears are dirty or if there is tear staining around her face. Run your hands gently down each side of your cat’s body and over her back to pick up on any slight swelling that may be hidden by the fur. This may be an early indicator of a health problem, such as a bite that is beginning to swell up into an abscess, or a skin tumor in an older individual. It is usually possible to distinguish between these two types of swelling: An abscess feels hot to the touch because it is the result of an infection, and it will grow rapidly in size over the course of a day or so. Tumors do not develop quickly, and they do not tend to cause a cat so much initial discomfort.
Checking For Fleas
Regularly stroking your cat can also help you detect other health problems, especially parasites that could affect you, too. Cats often suffer from fleas, especially during the summer months—although these parasites can often be a year-round problem. You are unlikely to see the fleas themselves, but you will notice the flea dirt when grooming your cat—it appears as small blackish specks in the coat.
To check that this is genuinely flea dirt and not just debris your cat has picked up, transfer some of the specks to a piece of damp facial tissue. If they dissolve and leave a reddish stain on the paper, this is a confirmation that your cat does have fleas. You may also notice that your cat is scratching herself more frequently, which can be another clue to the presence of these annoying parasites.
Cats often scratch briefly on waking, but prolonged or repeated scratching is likely to indicate the presence of fleas in the coat.
Noticing Ticks
If your cat ventures outside regularly, you may also notice ticks when you are grooming her—especially if you live in or near a very rural area. If it is possible that your cat has ticks, be extra careful when combing her coat. Although a tick may be very tiny when it anchors onto your cat, its body will quickly become engorged with blood as it feeds. If you catch the tick with the comb, you could rupture its body, which may give the impression that your cat is injured. You are also likely to leave the tick’s mouthparts embedded in your cat’s skin, and this can easily develop into a local infection. This is one reason why it is always a good idea to stroke your cat thoroughly before you start to groom her—hopefully, you will pick up on any problems of this type with your hand and be able to look more closely before using the comb. Ticks tend to be more of a problem in the summer than at other times of the year. They must be removed without delay because they can spread other diseases to your cat as they feed.
The Scratching Post Flea Collars
These used to be the preferred method for long-term flea control, but they are now less popular. They are not as effective as more recent methods and sometimes trigger skin problems themselves. Special collars impregnated with a natural remedy such as citrus oil, which does not kill fleas but deters them, are available in pet stores. However, most cats object to wearing collars of any kind, and even elastic collars can be dangerous, so it is better not to rely on them as a means of controlling fleas.
Wiping away tear staining on a Persian longhair. Cats usually accept being groomed very readily, but you may need to be patient with your pet at first.
Cats Grooming Themselves
A cat will often spend long periods grooming herself during the day—especially after eating or exercise and before settling down to sleep.
You will notice that your pet follows a very precise ritual each time, particularly when cleaning her face. In spite of having a very agile body, a cat obviously cannot lick her own face. She cleans her front legs first with her tongue before starting to wipe her paws over her face.
She will then tend to move her foot in a circular direction down over her forehead, starting just in front of one of her ears. She will keep her head tilted to one side as she grooms this area, so that ultimately she has moved around the side of her face in a circular pattern, finally reaching behind her other ear.
Your cat will repeat this sequence using her other paw on the opposite side of her head. The eyes are the last part of her body she cleans. She can clean the rest of her coat directly by using her tongue and adjusting her position as necessary to reach her back and tail.
Treating Ticks
• Special sprays can persuade a tick to loosen its grip and fall off. However, this may be upsetting to your cat, particularly if she has a number of ticks clustered on her body.
• Alcohol dabbed onto these parasites close to the skin may be enough to loosen their grip.
• Petroleum jelly wiped over the rear of the tick’s body will block its breathing apparatus and cause it to fall off.
• A number of flea treatments applied as a drop to the cat’s skin are also effective against ticks. They should be used routinely in regions where ticks can spread serious illnesses, such as Lyme disease.
Cats are fastidious about grooming themselves, using their front paws to clean their faces.
The Power Of Fur
It is not just domestic cats that are susceptible to fur balls, they afflict other members of the cat family, too. If fur balls remain in the stomach, they can become impregnated with mineral salts and transform into stones. In Africa fur balls have been found in the stomachs of lions, and traditionally these were highly prized. They were often made into amulets and were believed to give the wearer great power that matched the lion itself.
Fur Balls
A problem with grooming this way is that the rough surface of the tongue, which is caused by backward-pointing projections called papillae, will remove any loose hairs from the coat. The cat then finds it very difficult to remove these hairs from her tongue, so they are likely to be swallowed. In time they will form a solid pad in the stomach, which is known either as a fur ball or a hairball. See page 166 for more information on fur balls and how to treat this problem.
The amount of grooming that your cat will need depends on your choice of breed; long-haired cats will need more grooming than their short-coated counterparts. The cat’s age is another significant factor because young Persian kittens have much less profuse coats than adults. In spring, when they are molting, cats generally require more frequent grooming to remove their thick winter coat.
It is much easier to accustom a very young kitten to being groomed than to begin when she is an adult cat. Always be very gentle when grooming her coat.
Nervous Cats
Cats can sometimes be nervous about grooming, and an older cat that you have adopted may not be used to this treatment. As with all new experiences, it is a good idea to accustom your cat to being groomed early in life so she will come to accept it as part of a regular routine. You are also less likely to encounter mats in the coat of a young long-haired cat.
Grooming Brushes
A variety of grooming tools for cats, including different brushes and combs. The choice of equipment depends partly on the length of your cat’s coat.
When To Groom Your Cat
To groom your cat successfully, she will need to be relaxed, so start off by stroking her for a short time first. It is not a good idea to try grooming just before mealtime, because she will be hungry and much more interested in finding food.
The tools you need for grooming will differ to some extent, depending on your cat’s coat. It is also important to be sure your cat is at a convenient height so you can groom her easily. You can use a table that is protected with newspaper or a thick blanket.
Grooming Short-haired Cats
Grooming a short-haired cat is usually very straightforward. Working with the lie of the fur, start from the back of the neck and comb toward the tail, as if you were stroking her. Work around the sides of the body, and when you reach the legs, try to groom them horizontally. Remove the loose fur from the comb as it accumulates between the teeth.
Cats particularly like being groomed with a rubber brush, which also acts as a skin tonic to improve circulation. You may notice that your cat pushes back against the brush as you rub her coat. Some cats will enjoy being groomed so much that they lie down on their sides and may even roll over, which can make the process rather difficult!
A Cat’s Tale Mutual Grooming
Cats groom each other for a number of reasons: besides maintaining the coat in good condition it has a social element. Cats who know one another well groom each other to reinforce their bond. This is why your cat may lick your hand when she is stroked—although some felines do this more than others. Do not encourage your cat to pull at the threads of your sweater though; this can lead to a behavior problem called wool-sucking (see page 184).
Kittens will instinctively groom themselves using a combination of tongue, teeth, and claws depending partly on which part of the body they are working on.
Grooming Long-haired Cats
With a long-haired cat, use a comb or brush and start by grooming against the lie of the fur. This raises the hairs so you can strip out all the loose undercoat hair more effectively than by just combing it down. Finish by brushing the coat. The tail can also be groomed in this way.
If your cat has a distinctive ruff, use a small fine-toothed comb around the face and work in the direction of the fur. Take great care to avoid your cat’s eyes in case she suddenly decides to move.
How To Groom
Routine brushing can shape the coat and give it a good gloss, but it is less effective than combing for removing loose hairs.
A slicker brush, which is square with numerous small metal teeth, should be used gently to break up mats in the coat.
Take particular care when grooming your cat’s head near her eyes. A nervous feline may resent being touched here.
Mats can develop very quickly in the coats of longhairs if they are not groomed daily. Severe mats may have to be cut out, but the fur will grow back.
Dealing With Mats
By grooming your cat regularly—which should be every day with a Persian longhair—you can prevent mats from forming in the coat. These can be extremely difficult to deal with if the undercoat has become severely matted together with the topcoat. If you simply try to comb your way through the mat, it is likely to be very painful for your pet and she is likely to resent it strongly—after all, it is just like having your hair pulled! One solution is to buy a special grooming comb with revolving teeth. These do not grab the hair in the same way as a comb with fixed teeth, so they can help to break a mat down gently by teasing it apart.
Rather than making the grooming experience unpleasant for your cat, the best thing to do may be to cut out matted areas of fur. This may prevent your cat from becoming nervous about grooming in the future, which would be far worse than temporarily losing a patch of fur.
Grooming Older Cats
As cats grow older, they become less mobile and cannot groom themselves as easily. Keep a close watch, especially on long-haired pets, to be sure that their rear end is kept very clean. You may need to clean this area and cut away any soiled fur to keep your cat healthy and free from infection.
The Scratching Post Cats And Human Medication
Never be tempted to give your cat a human medication of any kind. Even basic human drugs such as aspirin and acetaminophen can have serious effects in cats because of their unusual metabolism.
Try not to allow your cat to become overweight, because this will both endanger her health and make everyday activities, such as grooming, difficult.
Helping A Cat With Arthritis
Cats can also suffer from painful arthritic joints as they become older, and this may affect the way you handle your pet. Be careful when lifting her. If you cause pain, she may attempt to scratch you. Be alert to what your cat is telling you. In the early stages she is likely to raise a front paw and perhaps hiss slightly as a sign of discomfort. The pain is likely to be most acute in her hip joints, so take extra care not to tuck her legs up tightly under her body when carrying her, thereby put pressure on her hips.
Consult your vet when you notice a problem, because there are ways to overcome joint problems, apart from painkillers. The pain of arthritis is caused by the cartilage wearing away and exposing the bone, which then grates as the joint moves. Supplements such as green mussel extract may be valuable. They act as chrondroprotectors and help to restore the cartilage.
If your cat is already used to being both touched and carried, then she is less likely to resent being bathed. There seems to be a widespread view that cats actively dislike water, but many cats find it fascinating and will play with a dripping tap for hours, pawing at the water droplets as they fall. Outdoors their dense coat protects them against rain. Some species of wild cats live near water and may swim on occasion.
It is not often necessary to bathe a cat—if she comes in with muddy fur, let the mud dry and then brush it out of the coat. Old-fashioned flea treatments meant bathing your cat with an insecticidal shampoo to kill off these parasites, but this is now a thing of the past.
However, if the coat is soiled badly, it may need washing, and there are also medical conditions that may require the coat to be washed. Elderly incontinent cats, for example, may need their fur washed—especially if they have diarrhea.
Despite popular belief, many cats find water fascinating.
Shampoo
Use a special feline shampoo to bathe your cat. If you have to remove an unusual substance—such as paint—from your cat’s coat, be sure to seek advice from your vet. Cats like to lie under cars and may easily get oil on their coats, which must be removed without delay or your cat may lick it off and swallow it.
Some owners use a hair dryer to dry the coat, but most cats are very alarmed by the loud noise and air movement and will run away—often scratching more violently than when being bathed.
Cats are always very curious as kittens, often using their paws rather like hands to touch objects gently.
When washing your cat, it will help to have someone assist you. It may be a good idea for both of you to wear gardening gloves, which will offer some protection if your cat becomes frightened and upset. Rather than trying to wash your cat outside, where she is more likely to run off and disappear, choose a room indoors with an impermeable floor, such as the kitchen or bathroom, and close the door. Prepare everything in advance and use a large bowl as a bath. Fill the base with tepid water—the idea is not to submerge your cat completely, but to use this water to create a lather with the shampoo. Try not to wet more of your pet’s fur than necessary.
Step 1 Lift your pet carefully into the bath and reassure her—talk in a gentle voice to help her to overcome her fear. Try hard not to wet your cat’s head, because this will probably cause her to struggle violently.
Step 2 Gently start to wet the area of fur that needs washing. Once the fur is wet, you can rub in a little shampoo to form the lather. It is very important to keep the shampoo out of her eyes.
Step 3 Keep a separate container of tepid water ready to rinse out the lather. Some medicated shampoos are not supposed to be rinsed out of the coat, so check the instructions carefully before you begin.
Step 4 Once you have washed and rinsed the affected area thoroughly, wrap your cat in an old towel and begin to dry her off. Do not let her go outdoors until her coat is completely dry, because she is likely to become chilled, especially if the weather is cold.
Cats keep their coats very clean. The patterning of short-haired cats stands out much more because the short, sleek coat improves the density of markings.
Bran Bath
It is not always necessary to bathe your cat with water. Breeders often prefer to give their cats a dry shampoo—or bran bath—to remove any excessive grease from the coat.
The bran is available at most pet shops or equestrian outlets because it is frequently used as a food for guinea pigs and horses. Spread it out in an even layer on a flat tray and place it in the oven on a low heat for a few minutes to warm it up, then tip it carefully into a bowl.
Applying this to your cat’s coat will be a messy process, so choose somewhere where it will be relatively easy to clean up afterward. Put down several sheets of old newspaper for your cat to stand on. Then simply rub the bran thoroughly into the coat, leave in place for a few minutes, and then give your cat a very thorough grooming to brush it out.
This can be an extremely time-consuming process, and unless it is done properly and very carefully, your cat may look as if she has developed a severe case of dandruff—particularly when pieces of bran are offset against a black coat!
A Cat’s Tale The Case Of The Van Cat
Developing in isolation can have a direct impact on a cat’s way of life, as shown by the Van cat. Its natural homeland is in a remote area of eastern Turkey, adjoining Lake Van. It has evolved a very strange behavior, unlike that of any other breed of cat, because it loves to swim! Although it may catch fish while swimming in the lake, it is more likely that the cat’s fondness for water is due to the region’s intense summer heat.
Repeated meowing or pacing back and forth while keeping low to the ground are clear signs that your cat is feeling nervous. This may be because a visitor has brought a dog or because of a significant disturbance in the cat’s normal routine, such as builders in your home. Take extra care if major work is being done, because in a desire to seek out a quiet, safe refuge, your cat may venture under raised floorboards or behind cabinets and become trapped.
Frightening Weather
Thunderstorms frequently upset cats. It tends to be the noise rather than bright flashes of lightning that is the problem. Try to watch the weather forecast and keep your pet inside if a storm is imminent. If frightened, your cat may hide in the neighborhood and not return home for a couple of days, which can be a very worrying time.
Fireworks
The same advice applies for fireworks, so when celebrations are planned, make certain your cat is indoors for the night before darkness falls, and offer her a litter box, if necessary.
Keep her in a room with the curtains drawn to mask out the bright flashes of light, and play soothing music to mask the sound of the explosions.
You can see from this cat’s body language that she is frightened. She may react aggressively if you try to pick her up.
Ten Things That Stress Your Cat
If your cat is affected by any stressors listed below, pay attention to her behavior and try to spend more time showing affection and giving reassurance.
| 1. | Thunderstorms |
| 2. | Fireworks |
| 3. | Moving to a new home |
| 4. | Visiting the vet |
| 5. | Going to a kennel |
| 6. | A new baby |
| 7. | Strangers in the home |
| 8. | A new puppy or dog |
| 9. | Renovation or building work indoors |
| 10. | Having medication |
Bach Flower Remedies
An English homeopath, Dr. Edward Bach, devised natural remedies in the 1920s and 1930s to regulate mood changes in his patients. He believed treating changes in the emotional state would prevent and overcome physical signs of illness. He formulated 38 remedies based on plants. They have become popular recently with pet owners—particularly people with cats, perhaps because cats show obvious mood changes.
A significant advantage of such remedies is that they do not cause harm and can be administered directly into your cat’s mouth, without touching the lips, or as a drop in food. One such treatment commonly used on cats is Rescue Remedy, which includes rock rose, to overcome fear and panic, and impatiens, for tension. Rescue Remedy is recommended for cats under stress, such as when a newcomer is added to the household, or after an accident or fight. It is available from specialist pharmacies.
Massage
Simply stroking your cat will help relax her muscles and improve muscle tone. You can also massage particular areas of your pet’s body—perhaps because they are showing stiffness—but check how she reacts first to avoid an aggressive response. One of the most popular forms of massage for animals is a modification of the Feldenkrais method, which is used on people. It is particularly suitable for nervous cats since the repeated circular movements have a calming effect. They can be carried out for 15 minutes or so at a time.
Other techniques used on people can also be applied to cats. With effleurage you stroke rhythmically with an open hand along the body or down the hind legs. Pétrissage is an undulating technique that involves rolling the skin between the fingers and rubbing the muscle masses below.
Essential Oils
You can use essential oils in a massage for your pet, but never apply undiluted aromatherapy oils to the cat’s skin, because they can be toxic. Dilute a drop of essential oil in about ½ tsp. (0.25 ml) of a carrier oil, such as sunflower or grapeseed, before applying. As an extra precaution, choose an area of the body that your cat finds difficult to reach with her tongue so she will not be able to lick the area easily—the back of the neck is a good location. Massage drops of the oil mixture into the skin for up to five minutes and repeat twice daily for four days. After each session wipe the oil off the skin in case your cat washes the area with her paw.
How to Stroke And Massage
Stroke the length of your cat’s spine in a long, sweeping movement from head to tail.
Massage with the pads of your fingers in little circles, moving in a clockwise direction.
Galbanum And Myrrh
One particularly good oil for cats is galbanum, which aids healing and is useful for abscesses or fight wounds. Some cats—especially Orientals—suffer from chronic respiratory infections and sinusitis and may be helped by myrrh. Always check with your vet before using remedies of this type to be sure that they are suitable for your cat’s condition.
Acupressure
This is a form of acupuncture, which relies on pressure instead of needles, but uses the body’s meridians in the same way. Twelve pairs of meridians and two single ones are recognized, but there is no direct link between the location of the meridian and its effect on the body.
Studies have shown that meridians appear to be linked with electrical energy produced in the body. When pressure is applied, it can result in the release of natural painkillers, called endorphins, that may have a more direct effect on the healing process. A number of vets regularly use acupressure on their patients. Acupuncture is rarely used, because of the length of time the needle needs to be left in place in the skin—which may be up to 20 minutes.
Take Care!
If you use essential oils on your cat, there is a risk of an adverse reaction, even if they have been diluted correctly. This is a particular danger if your cat has an underlying medical condition, such as diabetes mellitus or epilepsy. Never use oils on cats that are, or could be, pregnant. Cats, because of their unusual metabolism, should not be treated with oils derived from plants containing phenols, such as aniseed, clove, and sweet phenol. Teatree oil can sometimes result in a skin irritation, and citrus oils should be avoided if your cat is going outside, because they can be affected by sunlight. A veterinary practice that offers complementary medicine will be able to advise you in more detail about what is suitable for your cat’s condition.
Always handle your cat gently and make sure that there is no risk of dropping her.
