VMD 513: Pet animal Breeding, Management, Nutrition and Health Care (1+1)

GROOMING AND EXERCISE

Exercise

• Cats need sufficient exercise when they are confined in houses/they should be provided with play things like crushed paper pieces, balls etc, so that they can run after them.
• The best thing is to keep two cats together.

Grooming

• They clean the body by washing with the tongue. However grooming will save the furniture from the cat hair.
• Cats up to one year of age have coat shedding or moulting. So moulting should not be mistaken as a disease.
• For short haired type cats, grooming is not necessary.  Where as long haired type breed required grooming twice daily.
• For this purpose wide toothed metal comb or nylon brushes can be used.
• The grooming is also a way of communication of our affection.
• At the time of grooming talcum powder can be sprinkled and grooming can be done until all powder is removed.

 

Purpose of grooming

• A sleek and glossy hair coat is an indication of a cat’s general health and care.
• All cats benefit from grooming, although the long haired breeds require more attention.
• A cat’s fur usually sheds in spring and fall, although some shedding may constantly occur.
• Grooming removes old, dead hair and lessens the risk of hairballs.
• Regular grooming gives the opportunity to check for  parasites, skin disorder, and eye and ear problems.
• Long haired cats should receive daily care. If neglected, the hair will tangle and mat.
• Removal of these tangles and mats may be difficult and an unpleasant experience for the cat.

  

Equipment and its use

• Equipment for long haired cats should include a comb with two sizes of teeth, a fine-tooth or flea comb, nail clippers, a grooming brush made with natural bristles (nylon may cause excessive static), and grooming powder (baby powder, talcum powder, or cornstarch).
• Using a wide-toothed comb, comb all areas of the animal.
• One must be careful of the sensitive areas of the stomach, the insides of the legs, and under the tail.
• If the coat is free of tangles and mats, the fine-toothed part of the comb should be used.
• The skin and not just the outer fur should be combed; now, the fur should be brushed out.
• One should brush in the opposite direction to which the hair naturally lies and occasionally sprinkle grooming powder into the fur.
• If the fur has become badly tangled and matted. Scissors should be used to cut the mats out, being careful not to injure the animal. Blunt-ended scissors never sharp-pointed scissors, knives, or razor blades should be used. A sudden movement by the cat could cause serious injury.

Grooming of short haired cat

• Grooming short haired cats can usually be accomplished with a fine-toothed or flea comb. In many cases, hand grooming is sufficient to remove dead hair.
• A rubber grooming brush is also very effective, but it must be used carefully because good hair may also be removed.
• The use of a soft chamois, silk, or nylon pad causes some static in the coat and helps it cling tightly to the body.
• This is an especially effective way to complete the grooming for Siamese, Oriental Short hairs, Colour point Short hairs and Burmese.
• Other breeds enjoy a light brushing with a soft brush.
• The coat of the Cornish and the Devon Rex is delicate and easily damaged; a soft brush should be used occasionally, avoiding friction or over brushing.
• Friction and over brushing may cause the hair to break and may even cause bald spots.

Bathing of cat

• Occasionally, it may be necessary to give a cat a bath.
• In the case of show animals, more frequent bathing is necessary.
• Cats should be accustomed to bathing at about four months of age.
• Cats get nervous from the sounds of the water, and unnecessary splashing should be avoided.
• The tub should be filled with about 4 inches of warm water.
• The cat should be gently lowered into the water and wet all over, being careful not to get water in the eyes or ears.
• If the cat allows,  a piece of cotton can be placed in its ears.
• After the coat is thoroughly wet, one should apply shampoo and lather the coat followed by a thorough rinse to remove all traces of the shampoo.
• The cat should be wrapped in a towel and patted dry or blown dry using a hair dryer on the warm setting.
• Excessive rubbing should be avoided because this causes the hair to tangle.
• The cat should be dry before letting it outside, including the insides of the ears.
• Many pet shampoos are available in the market that are suitable; some of these are medicated to help control fleas and other parasites. Baby shampoo is also suitable.

   

Care during  grooming

• During regular grooming, the ears should be checked for mites, signs are a dark, crumbly residue inside the ear.
• Ear mites can be controlled with ear drops available at any pet store.
• The eyes of the cat should be bright and clear; any discharge may indicate illness or infections.
• White cats, especially Persians, may show staining around the eyes; this staining can be removed by careful bathing.
• Teeth and gums should be observed during regular grooming and should be free of any soreness.
• Occasional use of dry food helps clean the teeth. Excessive amounts of tartar may need to be removed by a veterinarian to prevent tooth decay and gum disease.
• If claws require trimming, one should be careful not to cut into the pink area of the claw because this causes pain and bleeding.
• Specially designed clippers should be used-never use scissors. Cats that are using a scratching post will probably never need their claws trimmed.