Although cats do a great job cleaning themselves, it is always a good idea to take them to be bathed and groomed by an experienced professional at least every 3-4 months to ensure their skin and coat are healthy and to reduce dander. Generally, pet parents leave their cat's grooming up to the cat because they believe that he is effectively grooming himself. However, this can lead to overlooked symptoms of possible health concerns, such as fleas, ticks and mites, or cysts and lumps. A professional groomer is trained to take a closer look to find harmful parasites and also monitor any potential health issues that may arise when your pet is on a consistent grooming schedule.

According to experts, short-haired cat breeds may require less grooming than long haired cats, but can still benefit from regular bathing. Longhaired cat breeds should be bathed at least 3-4 times each year, or more often as necessary to reduce allergens in your home. You should pick shampoos that are based on the needs of your cat, such as tearless, protein-enhanced, de-shedding, color-enhancing, flea-eliminating or kitten-friendly.

For flea and tick prevention, check out this video.

If you are new at grooming your cat and need advice, contact Avery's for a cat consultation. If the thought of cat grooming is too hair raising for you and you'd rather leave it to professionals, we are here when you need us.