With patience and positive reinforcement, a grooming routine can become a bonding experience that both you and your kitten both look forward to. For most cats, regular grooming won’t include frequent bathing. You will more likely be brushing or combing your cat, trimming their nails and brushing their teeth as part of a regular grooming routine. However, you might consider training your kitten to accept bathing in case this becomes necessary later in life. You can learn more about how to bathe your cat here.
Brushing
Cats benefit from brushing to remove loose hair, dead skin cells and debris. It’s also a great time for you to check for external parasites like fleas and ticks. Cats who have long or curly coats benefit from daily brushing to prevent the development of mats. Regular brushing also helps to reduce the development of hairballs by removing hair before your cat can swallow it.
The types of brushes to consider include:
- Stiff bristle brushes: These are best for short-coated cats.
- Long-toothed metal combs or brushes: Best for cats with medium or long fur.
- Combs for removing clumps of fur: You’ll want a brush for removing clumps and small mats, especially during heavy seasonal shedding.
If your kitten has large mats, we recommend speaking with your veterinarian or a groomer. Cutting away mats can result in injury to your kitten’s skin. If you wish to attempt removal on your own, we recommend using a clipper. Never use scissors to remove mats.
Tips for helping your kitten enjoy brushing include:
- Try to brush them without using restraint. If you must restrain them for brushing, use gentle restraint only. Less is more. If your kitten isn’t receptive, we recommend having a second person hold them.
- Give your kitten small treats frequently throughout the process.
- Keep your kitten occupied while you brush them by putting a smear of a lickable treat on the counter or another surface.
- Give your kitten a lot of praise and pets while you’re grooming them. Gentle brushing is generally a positive experience for many cats.
Nail Trims
Your indoor kitten should have their nails trimmed every 2 to 4 weeks to reduce damage to your home and prevent nail overgrowth. We recommend allowing kittens who go outdoors to maintain longer nails so they can protect themselves. You can use guillotine-style or scissor-style clippers.
To expose the nail, hold your kitten’s paw in your nondominant hand and press the paw pad between your thumb and forefinger. Most cats have light nails that allow you to see the quick (the pink area with blood vessels and nerves), which should be avoided. If you cannot see the quick, you’ll generally be aiming to cut up to where the nail hooks downward.
Keep in mind that even professionals sometimes hit the quick on pets. If you are making small cuts, you’ll minimize the damage to the quick if you accidentally nick it. Styptic powder can be purchased from pet stores and is good to have on hand in case you accidentally cause bleeding. In a pinch, you can use flour or cornstarch.
Tips for helping your kitten tolerate nail trims include:
- Use gentle restraint. Less is more. If your kitten isn’t receptive, we recommend having a second person hold them. If your kitten is struggling during nail trims, contact your veterinarian for tips to help make the experience safer for you and your kitten.
- Give your kitten small treats frequently throughout the trim.
- Keep your kitten occupied while you trim their nails by putting a smear of lickable treat on the counter or another surface.
- Let your kitten set the pace. If they’re struggling, give them a break. You don’t have to complete all nails in one sitting.
- If your kitten is very averse to nail trims, you’ll need to slowly work your way up to a full nail trim. First get them used to having their paws touched. Next, hold the clipper in one hand while you touch their paw with another. Once they’ve accepted this, reward them if they allow you to touch the clipper to the paw. The next step is to get them used to the sound of the clipper by closing it near their foot without actually cutting a nail. You can then progress to clipping their nails, starting with one nail per session, then several nails, then a paw at a time and then all paws.
Tooth Brushing
Veterinary dentists recommend brushing your cat’s teeth at least once daily. But if that’s not feasible, even once or twice a week is better than never. Use a pet-safe toothpaste designed for cats.
Tips for helping your cat get used to tooth brushing include:
- Use a tasty toothpaste. You can also use the toothpaste to reward positive behaviors so your kitten associates it with good things.
- Move slowly. First get your kitten used to having their lips touched. Then touch their gums with a finger (be careful not to get bitten!). Next, cover your finger with a small cloth and rub it along their gumline. You’ll then introduce the toothpaste and toothbrush.
- Reward your kitten for good behavior with special treats after having their teeth brushed.
Ear Cleaning
Your cat should not need regular ear cleaning. If you’re noticing a build-up of debris in their ear, redness or scratches around their ear, we recommend booking an appointment with your VCA care team to rule out medical causes.
With CareClub®, your pet’s exam fees are covered! Annual exams, rechecks and sick appointments1 are all included along with the vaccines and yearly preventive services2 your pet needs to support their best health.
CareClub Memberships are preventive pet health care plans and not pet insurance. CareClub Membership covers only the selected health care services and products which are specifically identified in the applicable CareClub Membership agreement.
1. Covered services vary by CareClub plan. Unlimited exams are any exams during regular business hours, excluding specialty, emergency and telemedicine exams. Urgent care exams are available through CareClub until December 31, 2024, at select VCA Animal Hospitals Urgent Care locations.
2. Vaccines may include rabies, feline distemper (Panleukopenia), feline respiratory virus (Rhino, Calici) and feline leukemia (FeLV), depending on your location. Lab work checks for issues like diabetes, liver and kidney disease, parasites and general infections.
