Our experts in online dating and creators of a popular Asian dating app found out that many of their users are real cat lovers, who sometimes question themselves what good cat grooming means. Let’s take a closer look at how cats can do it themselves when you need a specialist, and how to minimize stress for your beloved pet. 

Do Cats Groom Themselves?

Yes, they do. Well, if your cat has at least once licked you to show its love, you should know that its tongue is not smooth at all. It is rough and can easily serve as a comb for them to get rid of the dirt that they have on their coats. 

A natural drawback of this procedure is that cats swallow a lot of their hairs while grooming themselves and thus can have fur balls. You can help them to minimize this problem by using a gentle brush and cleaning fur yourself. This can be especially important for long-hair cats.

How to Groom Your Cat at Home?

Though you can go to a professional cat groomer, it is good to know the things you can do yourself at home. It will not only be helpful to your pet but also will help you to strengthen the bond between the two of you. 

• If your cat has short hair, just combing it once a week should be enough. You will avoid knots, and tangles, and remove unneeded hairs. 
• Long-haired cats will require more attention, so be ready to allocate some time to your beloved friend every day.
• While brushing your pet, use moves that are aligned in the same direction with how the hair grows. It will help you to avoid bad feelings for your pet. 
• Start from the tail, move to the head, and then go backward. 
• Use your fingers to get rid of knots and consult a vet to remove the knots that are too bad and require the use of scissors. Don’t use scissors yourself, because you can accidentally harm the pet. 
• Check the cat’s claws and teeth, and don’t forget to take breaks so as to avoid excessive stress for the pet. 

When Do You Need a Professional Cat Groomer?

For cats, grooming is quite stressful however professional the groomer is. One definite cause to consult a professional groomer is a cat with a difficult temper. You can find it hard to do grooming yourself, especially dealing with claws. So as not to stop doing it altogether, it is better to hire professionals. 

Another problem is too matted fur. If the cat has too many mats, you might want to use scissors. But this is definitely a bad idea. Instead, consult a groomer, and they can even suggest using a shaving machine instead of a brush in very complicated cases. Using scissors can become the reason for the cat trauma if the pet suddenly moves in your arms (which happens often to pets who dislike this kind of procedure). 

Many mats around the area of the pet’s backside are also a problem. Any cat will dislike your manipulations with fur there and leaving mats will only worsen the case with time. 

If your cat has fleas, it is also a sign to visit groomers. Fleas should be treated as soon as possible and the therapy often takes using special shampoos.

One more problem that a groomer can solve is trimming cat nails. Normally, cats take care of their claws themselves through physical activity and scratching. However, sometimes it appears not enough, or cats choose your furniture as a nice tool for self-help. Then professionals can take care of their claws and save both your furniture and pet. 

Is Cat Grooming Popular in Asia?

Yes, both at-home and professional cat grooming is getting more and more popular in Asia. The East Asia pet grooming products market is forecast to hold 10.8% of the total market share in 2022. 

Services are diverse and can include: 

• a safe and secure pet transport
• basic and full grooming
• shaving of paw pads, under the belly and anal fur
• deep cleaning of ears
• plucking of inner ear fur
• nail filing and clipping
• shower
• butt shave
• trimming of the paws
• comb-out and fur sanitizer

Prices are also diverse and can cost from $50 to $150.

A quite new trend is mobile pet grooming. The idea is to avoid excessive stress caused by taking your pet to the groomer. Instead, professionals come to your place and deliver absolutely individualized services for your cat.