How to start grooming your cat

Start early


mimic how a cat grooms itself, when where


cats groom when relaxed



best technique is groom stop and reward

stroke with fingers first, show the cat the tools you will use

leave tool next to the cat

then hold it, let cat investigate it in your hand

reward her investigations

some maybe wary

allow time

hold tool in hand and not touching the cat

then allow tool to touch cat

short spells, stop and reward at each break

she can predict treat/reward on way so will tolerate gooming longer

also use gentle words to reward cat

eventually reduce freq of rewards and eventually stop

treats are a distraction

Gently brush eg soft tooth brush for a kitten, feels like mothers tongue

start when cat is calm, want cat to associate it with something pleasant-food treats

adult cats not used to it



need soft tips on brush gentler

Why groom your cat?

Check for fleas/ticks
Remove dead hair esp nb for long hair cats
reduce hairballs

check for wounds
Remove loose hair

Oppertunity bor bonding

iPad games FOR your cats

Go-Cat® Cat Fishing Free on iTunes

Very simple one, clear screen with coloured fish. The more fish that your catches the more tricky it becomes. Love it!!


Rated 4.1/5 (granted this is an owner rating!)



Game for Cats Free on iTunes

Similar but this is a mouse game.  The classic.

Rated 3.2/5


Best Game for Cats Free on iTunes

I kind of see where the name comes from in that this one wins on sheer variety, there are mice, cat bells, wool balls and lasers for your cat to chase and catch.

Rated 3.4/5


Mouse for Cats Free on iTunes

Kind of self-explanatory! No ads. Cats hate ads.

Rated 4.3/5


Does your cat have a favourite?

 

Just 2 cats having a chat

Tony Buffington explains cats in less than 5 minutes

OMG is this the best toy ever?

Jekca Walking Cat - Tabby

Clearly these are heavily inspired by lego, these 3D kits are available for different animals foods and all sorts!

But lets be honest all we really want to know about is the cats am I right??

Children (over 8 apparently), adults, kidults (if that is a real word) will all love Jekca.

Once completed they should be quite sturdy, as unlike Lego Jekca can be screwed together

Each kit contains full instructions, building blocks, screws and screwdriver.

They are not cheap at approx £75 but I still think they look fab. Definatly going on my Christmas Wish List!

Do you have any experience with these? If so please let me know what you think.
More importantly what does your cat think of the new arrival??

There are many other cat designs available so you can get one closest to your own feline!


Jekca Walking Cat - Ginger 
Jekca Walking Cat - Black & White
Jekca Stretching Cat - Ginger 



All can be bought on Ebay.

Why does your cat urinate outside the litter box?

Keeping your cats teeth healthy

Why do cats have bad teeth?

Some cats have better teeth than others, genetics seems to play a role. The theory that type of diet plays a role (i.e. wet vs dry) is now quite controversial.

Some underlying diseases may predispose to bad teeth also.

**Top tip** All cats would benefit from having their teeth cleaned.

Why is it important to keep your cats clean?

Watch this VIDEO.

How can we keep our cats teeth clean?

While things like dental treats, dental diets and other supplements (eg plaque off), there really is no substitute for brushing a cats teeth.

What products do you need before starting?

Cat toothpaste

Why do I have to get a special toothpaste?

1. cats like the flavour
2. it is designed to be swallowed
3. it has special enzymes to help clean teeth

**Top tip** Never use human tooth paste, it can be harmful if swallowed.

Buy it on Amazon.

Toothbrush

Do I have to use a special cat brush? No. The most important thing is that the brush us soft and small. A large or hard brush will be difficult to use and not well tolerated and could cats damage to the cats mouth.

Suitable options
human baby tooth brush
finger brushes
cat brushes

How long does it take to brush a cats teeth?

It is unlikely you will manage 2 minutes twice a day for a cat. In fact 30 seconds is a lot for a cat, even less than this once a day helps a lot with your cats gum health.

How often should I brush my cats teeth?

Daily would be great, but less than this is still helpful. Like most things if they are part of the normal daily regime they are generally tolerated better.

**Top tip** With tooth brushing, it is best start early i.e. when you get your new kitten.

How do you start? Watch this VIDEO.

How To Brush Your Cat's Teeth

Read more about how to clean your cats teeth HERE.

Whys is it important to keep your cats teeth clean?

Read more about how to clean your cats teeth HERE.