With all that meticulous licking and face paw wiping, sometimes we forget that our beloved furry friends could benefit from extra pamper time. “Grooming activities are excellent bonding experiences for both pets and pet parents,” says Rachel Andre, director of Natusan. “Following a pandemic-led puppy and kitten boom, developing good habits with younger pets now will also lay the foundations for a healthy future.” If you are getting to grips with owning a young cat, fear not, cats are so good at self-bathing, they rarely need a good hosing down like their canine counterparts, but there are definitely other areas where they could do with a helping human hand. Dental care, brushing, nail trimming, and even sun protection, are required to keep a happy, healthy cat.
How to look after those purr-ly whites
There’s nothing like a full on fishy yawn to remind us that looking after a cat’s teeth is a vital part of disease prevention. Tackling a mouthful of mini fangs can be daunting if you have never done it before, and is a routine best started in kitten hood. However, there are steps you can take to get any older moggy into the habit. “Start by introducing the taste of toothpaste to them and working your way up to using the brush,” advises Dr Scott Miller, TV Personality and Resident Veterinarian for Natusan, “there are pet specific toothbrushes and toothpastes for this,” says Dr Scott, “as human toothpaste can be poisonous to pets.” If your feline is less than enthusiastic about this activity, dental chews or treats provide a palatable way to help remove plaque and reduce smelly breath.
Get their fur feline fine
Long-haired animals definitely need regular brushing, but short haired cats definitely appreciate it too. This can help them stay comfortable, especially when shedding occurs between seasons. Like any bellwether, “your pet’s coat is a clear indicator of the health of your animal, and looking dull, patchy or thin could suggest an underlying health issue,” explains Dr Scott. Cats can over groom areas if they are stressed, or if there is underlying pain or skin irritation, and this can even lead to bald areas which can be a hard habit to break. Regular grooming with a silicone brush will help your pet relax, whilst removing the extra fluff that can cause hair balls, and distributing the natural oils that keep the coat shiny. It’s also a good way to keep an eye out for fleas, ticks and or other skin complaints.
Clip those claws
Ever had an ingrown toenail? It can happen to cats too. To prevent a painful nail situation, it’s a good idea to regularly cut your cats claws to keep them trim, this will also help protect your sofa or armchair from becoming an expensive scratching post, and will stop them snagging threads on your clothes or blankets. However, cats are meant to have sharp claws and derive real pleasure from using them, so be careful not to trim them too short.
Keep your kitty feline fresh
Who can forget Phoebe Buffay’s ode to ‘Smelly Cat’ from Friends? While she harmonised on his questionable diet, she may have overlooked a bigger clue - the smelly litter tray. Natusan offers 100% natural, organic and sustainable cat litter which also eliminates unpleasant smells - as the ultra-absorbing litter has long lasting odour control. Keeping your cat smelling clean and feeling their best, Natusan is also soft-on-paws and vet approved.
Shield your pet from the sun
Pale coated cats and furless breeds are susceptible to sunburn on vulnerable areas with less fur coverage such as the nose, ears, stomach, back and the very tip of the tail. Specialist sun protection can be bought to protect your pet, but never be tempted to use human sunscreen as these contain toxic ingredients such as zinc.
29/09/2021 by NatuTeam