Purina Cat Chow: Cat Care Center: Adult Cat Care Center

Physical. Emotional. Complete.® - That's the Purina® Cat Chow® Way of Life®

They're all grown up—it's time to start treating, and feeding, them that way. Just because they're older, however, doesn't mean they're completely self-sufficient. Adult cats have nutritional needs particular to their life stage just as kittens and senior cats do, and they need your help to meet them. The CatChow.com Adult Care Center will clue you in on what you need to know.

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Topic: Grooming

The Importance of Grooming

Caring for Your Cat’s Claws

My cat has dandruff. Is there anything I can do for her?

What is the best way to get rid of my male longhaired cat’s mats of fur?

What can I do about a cat’s dry skin?

How can I prevent my cat with medium long hair from suffering with matted hair other than brushing?

Should I shampoo my cat if she is an outside and an inside cat? If I do, which shampoo is best?

My cat really smells but when I try to put him in the sink or the tub (without water) he runs. Even when there is a drop of water in the sink or tub. He runs and hisses.

How do I keep my cat under control while giving her a bath?

My cat gets what looks like dandruff. She is a long hair and gets many knots in her hair. When I brush her and pull these knots out, in the center of these knots is the dandruff. What causes this? It's really frustrating. It doesn't bother her, but it's frustrating to me to not be able to get rid of this.

I was recently trimming my ca'ts nails (claws). I accidentally cut too close to the "quick" and it began to bleed. I quickly got a cotton ball and applied some pressure to stop the bleeding. I also dabbed it with some peroxide. What should someone do if this were to happen again? I have heard stories from cat breeders that if you cut into the "quick" the cat can bleed to death.

I'm currently treating my daughters for head lice. Do I need to be concerned that my cats might get lice too?

My cat’s whiskers were cut off by a small child playing around. Will she be damaged?

My cat is very large - 24 pounds, tall and long. I think because of his size he can not reach his back hind area to clean, thus he is becoming very matted. He will not let back there to brush him or even cut away the mats, and to take him to be professionally groomed is not an option. The last time I took him he literally freaked out...he bit the groomer and they had to sedate him and them when I picked him up he would not allow the groomer to enter the cage to retrieve him...then when I finally got him home he was stuck like glue to me the entire night. Can you PLEASE offer some suggestions to groom him and get rid of the matting which will only get worse.

Why won't our 4-year-old female cat clean her private area? It is always dirty and looks just awful.

We have a longhaired cat and a shorthaired cat, and they eat the fur the longhaired cat drops. We groom the cats and vacuum every day, the shorthaired cat will swipe at the longhair cat and then eat the fur that comes from the longhaired cat. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

My cat sheds so much hair....there's hair everywhere all the time. It seems like when I groom her it gets worse. I have given her this oil that is supposed to stop shedding but I don't know if this is that safe...can you help?

Why do cats groom themselves so much?

My longhaired cat's fur has become badly matted on his back. There are no groomers in my town who will work with cats at all and the vets have advised that they don't do this. Is there anything I can do to remove these on my own to allow his coat to grow back normally and healthy?

Two of my cats won't clean their bottoms. What should I do?

I have recently adopted a new 7-month-old kitten. He hardly ever cleans himself. His paws and face are always dirty. We already tried spraying his paws with water, but that didn't work. Is there any other way we can teach him?

How do I get my cat to tolerate grooming? I would like to try the tip about giving treats for sitting with me, but she barely sits with me to eat fine canned food. What can I offer her?

Why do cats groom themselves after they eat?

I want to know what kind/breed of kittens/cat doesn't leave a lot of its hair on my clothes?

When my kitten eats her food she makes a mess on her face no matter how much or how little I put in her bowl. What is the best way to wash her face and nose?

My oldest cat pulls hair out in clumps from my other cat. They aren't fighting; he is just making bald spots on my other cat. The other one is not too happy about it. Before we got the other cat he used to pull hair out of the middle of his own tail. Now that he has a new victim he seems to have stopped that. Shadow meows "HELP, IT HURTS!"

I can't get my 5-month-old female to sit still long enough to be properly groomed, and since she constantly grooms herself, I'm afraid she'll get a hairball very soon. I've tried to catch her when she's already relaxed - just after eating or during a nap, and I've tried keeping her busy with treats while I brush her, but nothing works. How can I solve this problem?

How can I encourage my 7 mo. old kitten to let my 6 yr. old cat groom him? The old kitty wants to be affectionate but doesn't get the chance. How long must an unwanted behavior be addressed with a kitten before you can expect a change?

Do you need to groom your kitten?

I have a very odd looking kitty. She has a big, fluffy 'ruff' of fur around her neck (like a lion's mane). This makes it nearly impossible for her to groom herself and she gets horrible mats all over her lower body. (I see her licking her stomach, and she's actually licking neck fur) She's easily spooked by shaving noises, so I'd rather not shave her entire body every few weeks, since it's too traumatic. Is it safe to shave around her neck with grooming clippers, so she can groom herself from now on? I've never taken her to a professional groomer, since there isn't one in the area. Do you have any tips on what to do/not do around the neck area?

I have a 1-year-old male cat, that doesn't clean himself. The only time he does is after he is given a bath. Just wondering if this is normal.

I need to have my Maine Coon male cat groomed again. He is two years old. The first time he was groomed he was very hard to handle. Is it harmful to the cat to be sedated? I'm getting mixed information. Can you advise me?

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You may wonder if your pet needs a vitamin supplement. Most high-quality diets today are well-balanced and contain the necessary nutrients and vitamins needed by your pet. The vitamins in your pets diet are critical to fight free radicals and support his immune system. If you are unsure about your pets diet, ask your veterinarian.

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