Reasons To Brush Your Cat

One of the many things that we love about our feline friends is the fact that they are so clean. Fluffy will take time away from her busy napping schedule to groom herself every day. However, that doesn’t mean she can’t still use some help with her beauty routine. In fact, brushing her regularly can be very beneficial. A Lasalle County, IL vet lists some reasons why in this article.

Tangles

This one mostly applies to longhaired cats. Fluffy can have a hard time managing all that fur by herself, and may be prone to getting tangles and mats. The areas around her ‘armpits’ and bottom are particularly susceptible. Just keep in mind that kitties have very delicate skin. Use the right type of brush, and take care not to pull too hard. Otherwise, you could hurt your kitty!

Comfy Kitty

Dead fur and dander can interfere with the insulating properties of your feline pal’s coat. Removing it will help keep her warmer in winter and cooler in summer.

Shedding

Fluffy has very pretty fur, which she is apparently determined to share with us. Brushing your cat will also help with this. You’ll also find less fur all over, well, everything, as you’ll be grabbing it with a brush before it gets stuck to your favorite shirt.

Hairballs

Kitties inevitably swallow some of their own fur when cleaning themselves. We all know what happens next. (Suffice it to say, it’s not Fluffy’s cutest trick.) Removing that dead fur is also helpful in this aspect. Less dead fur on your cat means less dead fur in your cat.

Health Checks

When you brush your furry friend, you have a great chance to discreetly and casually check her body condition. Be on the alert for warning signs, such as lumps, bumps, lesions, swelling, and sore spots, which could indicate medical issues.

Comfort

Some cats just have a hard time cleaning themselves, whether it’s due to age, obesity, or chronic pain or stiffness. Helping Fluffy out will keep her coat feeling clean and comfy.  

Purrs

Our feline overlords absolutely love being pampered, and they are very, very good at getting us to spoil them. Fluffy may actually love being brushed … once she understands that it’s a beauty treatment, not punishment.

As your Lasalle County, IL animal clinic, we are dedicated to offering top-notch care. Contact us anytime!