As a cat owner you are able to strengthen a bond with your pet cat if you involve yourself with its grooming.
While grooming your cat, it gives you an opportunity to get to know your pet’s body and recognise if there is any sign of ill health.

Daily grooming stimulates your cat’s circulation, improves muscles, smoothes his fur and stimulates his glands which are responsible for keeping his coat waterproof.

In hot weather your cat will lick his coat to spread his saliva over his fur which has a cooling effect.

A daily routine of grooming also reduces the amount of hairballs that can form in his stomach.

We at Ideas-4–Pets are able to give advice on our range of cat products including our cat grooming tools.

Short haired cats require a fine toothed metal comb or a rubber brush to remove dead hairs. Gently use a cat grooming comb or brush. Brush in the direction of your pet’s hair. Up the body towards the head and then down again.

Long haired cats require gentle cat grooming with a steel comb. Tease out any knots with your fingers and cut out any knots with blunt ended scissors.

If your pet has any knots that are too near the skin take him to a vet to avoid any cuts.

It’s always adviseable to do your homework before making the all important decision of what type of cat to purchase.  You might have some preconceived ideas of which particular breed of cat you want or that you must have a kitten instead of an adult cat, but there are many factors involved in choosing a cat and you might not have even considered some of them.

For instance, families with young children are aware of the responsibility that bringing them up takes and a new cat will be much like having a new child in the family.  This means you must be prepared for the costs of looking after a cat.
 
Small children usually love kittens, but if you bring a very young kitten into your home you may find them loving it too much by squeezing it to death -literally.  Alternately, a small kitten could inflict some very painful scratches on a curious child.  If you have small children you may be better off either getting an older cat that’s used to being around small children or maybe waiting a couple of years until the children are older and more responsible.  It’s worth knowing that most older cats tend to make the transition into a new home easier than kittens do and older cats are much more grateful!  The benefit to the older cat is that most of these cats tend not to find loving homes because most people naturally gravitate toward the kittens. 

If your furniture is important to you but you still want a cat, then make sure you have a good scratching post or your new cat will use your furniture to sharpen his nails !!  A good, clean litter box is also an essential item along with the necessary training to go with it.
Make sure your new cat has a quality soft, warm and cozy cat bed to snuggle up in and maybe a cat carrier for if you have to take her to the vet or to the cat kennels when you go on holiday.  Your cat will also need grooming, so you may need to look at a grooming table.   Cats love the outdoors but it isn’t always safe for them if you live near a busy road so look at an outdoor cat kennel with a cat run attached so that your cat can have the benefit of the outdoors sometimes but within the safety of the cat run.
  
Personality-wise, there really isn’t a lot of difference between male and female cats if they are neutered.  Whole male (unneutered) cats will usually fight for territory if they are outdoors and will liberally spray their strong scent on walls and curtains indoors to mark their territory.   Not a good choice if you value your furnishings !!  Neutering will stop this behaviour and will also prevent unwanted pregnancies in the area.

Did you know that whole (unspayed) females will also spray on occasions and will make themselves and their owners miserable each time they go into season with their loud wailing and bizarre body gyrations.  Another good reason for neutering.

After spaying, a cat’s personality will usually improve which means that both male and female cats will become loving and loyal towards their owners.

It’s always a good idea to bear in mind your own age before purchasing a cat.  If you’re 65 years old or older it’s always possible that you will not outlive your cat, so an older cat would be an excellent choice. You might even want to adopt a disabled cat, one that is blind, an amputee, or otherwise “unadoptable.”  These cats can make wonderful companions and compensate for their disabilities with a wealth of love and devotion for their human saviour.

Whichever cat or kitten you decide upon having done your homework, make sure that he is more important than your furniture and be prepared to change your lifestyle somewhat.  It would be terrible to adopt a kitten or a cat only to want to get rid of it because it is too much “trouble”.

Cats are very clean and can make very good companions for many people, but some of them will damage your furniture and your carpets with their claws and not all cats like to be stroked or handled.

However, most cats do love companionship – most of them like to be with other cats or you and your family for at least part of every day.

In return, you have a responsibility to make sure your cat is offered a balanced diet every day and a constant supply of clean, fresh water.  Your cats will also need a safe place to excercise and play every day, away from unsafe, bury roads.  A cat kennel could be the answer to this if you have a garden that is large enough to take one.  A cat kennel will allow you cat to be in the fresh air, but will also ensure that she doesn’t stray or get knocked down. Just place your cat’s favourite cat bed in the kennel area and a few cat toys and/or a tree branch in the cat run area and he will have his own den to rest and play in !!

Wherever you cat is, she will need somewhere warm and cosy to sleep in and there a lot of wonderful cat beds to choose from.  There are faux fur cat beds, cosy little teepees or maybe a fleecy donut.

Your cat’s fur will also need grooming to keep it in tip-top condition. Long-haired cats need to be brushed every day and shorter haired cats on a regular basis. This process will help you to develop a bond with you cat and also ensure that her fur is clean and tangle-free which will make her feel so much better.  

Just like humans, a cat’s teeth can build up tartar so try and help to keep your cat’s teeth clean by either brushing or rubbing her teeth with special cat toothpaste or take her to the vet for regular teeth checks.

Because cats are independent creatures, they like to come and go as they please so purchasing a cat flap is a good idea.  Your cat will also have to be trained to use a litter tray if she is going to be kept in the house for long periods of time.

A kitten or adopted cat should be microchipped in case they stray or get lost or even stolen and cat neutering should be carried out as early as possible in order to avoid unwanted litters. You should be aware that most cats are sexually mature at six months, but some cats have been known to become pregnant as early as five months !! Therefore, the ideal age to neuter your cat is between four and five months old to prevent any “accidents” 

You will be responsible for taking your cat to the vet if she becomes ill or is injured and also to ensure that she has the relevant injections to prevent her catching any serious diseases. Your cat will have to be Wormed and get used to regular flea treatments.

If you go away on holiday, your cat will have to be well cared for whilst you are away – this could be with the cat kennels or a neighbour taking her in for you. 

All cats love to play and whilst some cats go mad for catnip toys, others will love to climb and hide.  A good quality cat activity centre is a good idea but if this breaks the bank, then a cardboard box is just as good !!  Cats also love to scratch, so a scratching post in the house or the cat kennel is a good idea as this can help prevent you cat from scratching the furniture and the carpets.

It’s worth remembering that indoor cats need more entertainment than outdoor cats, so why not make dinner time more of a challenge by feeding your cat biscuits through a puzzle feeder toy.  Again, if this is too expensive, take a plastic drinks bottle and cut biscuit sized holes cut into it – Your cat will soon learn that batting the bottle around will releases the biscuits and he will love having to play and work for his food.

Although cats are very clean and they make good companions for young and old, they can sometimes damage your furniture and carpets with their claws and they can be quite pedantic and may not always want to be stroked and picked up.
 
However, cats do need companionship and they love to be with other cats or people for at least part of every day.

They need to have easy access to fresh, clean water and be given a suitable good quiality cat food to ensure they stay healthy.

Cats love the outdoors, so they need a garden or a safe place to play and exercise every day.  If you have a garden that is enclosed and away from busy roads then this is ideal, if not, have you considered purchasing an outdoor cat kennel? This will provide your cat with somewhere warm and cosy to sleep and also a safe, enclosed cat run for her to play in.  Think how wonderful it would be to go out shopping or to work knowing that you cat is outside in the fresh air, but is safe from other cats, dogs or fast cars.

Place her favourite cat bed in the sleeping area and some of her favourite toys, a cat scratching post or a natural tree branch for her to climb in the run area and she will love to have her own private territory. You can also place her cat litter tray in the cat kennel so that it will always be clean and hygienic in there.

Cats should be brushed regularly, especially when they are moulting and long-haired cats in particular should be brushed every day. As cats may suffer from parasites it is adviseable to look out for these during your grooming sessions. These will show up as breaks in your cat’s skin or discharge in her ear. The fungal disease ringworm can be passed to other cats and to people, but the characteristic breaks in the cat’s skin cannot always be seen. If you suspect that your cat has ringworm, seek the advice of your vet immediately.  Good grooming also helps to eliminate hair balls.  Cats often eat grass which makes them vomit and this is to make the hairball come up. It is nothing to worry about unless the vomiting is persistent or your cat begins to show any other symptoms.     

Their teeth need checking regularly and any changes in their behaviour should be checked out. If your cat has bad breath and difficulty eating, it could be that she needs to have her teeth scraped clean by a vet.
Always have a good vet at hand so that if any health problems do arise, they can be dealt with quickly.
 
On average cats live for about 12-14 years, but some can live for 20 years or more. This is worth knowing, because a pet needs your time and interest for the rest of its life and this is a bit commitment.

Cats like to be alone and will look for company when they feel like it.  They can somtimes be very aloof if they are not in the mood to be stroked or played with.  They spend a lot of their time resting and sleeping but also love to play and climb when the mood takes them.  Again, a cat kennel allows them to have their rest and privacy when they want it but also offers them the cat run to play and climb in.

Whatever you decide to do to make your new cat happy, remember that above all, cats need love, attention and care and if you can make this commitment to your cat she will provide you with years of fun, warmth and entertainment so it will all be worth it.
 
 

Your cat will really appreciate a good grooming session as cats are fastidious in their cleaning rituals.   I’m sure you’ve seen your cat carefully washing herself many times a day.   Although she can take care of herself very well, she will also benefit from some help from you. 

It’s important with cats and dogs (and rabbits) that grooming is an enjoyable experience for both of you, so make sure your cat is completely relaxed before starting to groom her.  A good time to groom is after she has had some exercise or after she’s eaten a meal. 

Grooming should be a positive experience, so don’t try it after a hard day at work when you might feel stressed and tired as this mood may rub off on to your cat and the whole experience could end up being a bad time for both of you !!

We advise that you keep your first grooming sessions to about 5 minutes and then gradually lengthen the time until your cat is used to the routine.  Your cat should be used to being handled before you start to groom her, so get into the habit of petting every single part of her body on a regular basis — including her ears, tail, tummy, back and also her paws.

The main rule is to be patient !!  If your cat is extremely stressed out by the grooming experience, stop it and try again later when she’s calmer.

Regular sessions with a brush or comb are a must to keep your cat’s fur in good condition.  Brushing helps to remove dirt and spreads the natural oils throughout her coat.  This helps to prevent tangles and keeps her skin clean and irritant-free.

Short haired cats need brushing once a week:  We recommend you use a strong comb to work through her fur from head to tail.  Next, use a bristle or rubber brush to remove dead and loose hair.  Always be careful near her tummy which is a delicate area and one she may not want you to linger on !!

Longer haired cats need to be brushed every day:  Start by gently combing her tummy area and her legs and make sure you gently untangle any knots.  Next, brush her fur in an upward motion with a bristle or rubber brush.  When brushing her tail, make a parting down the middle and then gently brush the fur out on either side.

If your cat’s coat becomes greasy and oily or if she’s managed to get coated in something sticky or smelly, she’ll probably benefit from a bath.

We all know that most dogs love a  bath, whether it’s in your own or whether they have a posh electric dog bath of their own.  However, most cats don’t like bathing, so you might want to involve another person to help with this process and remember to give your cat lots of cuddles, praise  and treats when the session is over.

After the brushing session, place a rubber bath mat into the sink or bath to prevent her from slipping and put about 3 or 4 inches of luke warm water into the bottom.  Gently place your cat in the water, giving her praise and strokes throughout.  Thoroughly wet your cat but take care not to get water directly into her ears, eyes or nose.  Gently massage in a mild shampoo that is suitable for cats and work it in from head to tail.  Thoroughly rinse avoiding the ears, eyes and nose and then dry your cat with a large towel.

At the end of session, provided you have handled your cat gently, carefully and with great patience, you should both feel pleased with the result.