posted by fmoore on Nov 30
Whether your cat is a short hair or long hair breed, grooming your cat on a regular basis will remove any loose fur that could end up in your cat’s digestive system, causing constipation, fur balls, and discomfort that can also result in your cat vomiting on a regular basis.As a cat grooms itself by licking its fur, quite a large amount of that fur ends up being swallowed. This combined with the food in its stomach causes fur balls to develop that need to be eliminated one way or another.
In addition to removing the loose fur, grooming eliminates any fleas that might be on your cat. If your cat is living near farmland, it may venture out into the fields and pick up ticks in vast numbers in a very short amount of time. While there are good flea and tick formulations on the market, the simple act of grooming is an inexpensive and natural way to eliminate pests without harming your cat.
The added benefit of regular grooming allows you to do a thorough check of your cat’s body for any other potential problems. This can be particularly true with tomcats, as they get into fights with other cats that can lead to sores that can become infected.
Longer haired cats tend to have a bigger problem than those with short hair. As a result, they will need our help during grooming to remove loose hair. Grooming with a good natural or organic cat comb regularly will prevent the fur from knotting.
If left unattended for too long, particularly with cats that have long hair, this knotting can get so matted that they need to have the fur cut to remove it. Knotted fur can form into hard lumps that can cause serious distress for the cat.
Regular grooming coupled with good nutrition will ensure that your cat has a nice shiny coat, reduced incidents of constipation via fur balls, and less chance of contracting common skin related problems found in cats.