As our cats age, many often find that their coats begin to look a bit more disheveled, dirty, and matted. This is because it becomes tougher for a senior cat to properly groom themselves. Therefore, it’s important to know how to groom an old cat.
Grooming an older cat comes with some special considerations, so we’re going to take you through everything you need to know so that your cat can have a comfortable and healthy coat.
So, let’s take a look!
Why Has My Senior Cat Stopped Grooming?
If you’ve noticed that your older cats have stopped grooming themselves as often as they once did, leading to their coats becoming a bit of a mess, there’s likely a reason behind it.
Many of these reasons are linked with age. For example, arthritis is a major reason our cats may stop grooming in certain areas, as they are simply too painful to reach.
Another problem that may result in your cat refusing to groom is dental pain. A painful mouth with inflamed gums can easily be enough to stop your cat from grooming altogether.
Other potential reasons could be:
- Increased oil production in the skin due to aging
- Obesity
- Diabetes
It can be worth taking your older cat for a check-up if you do notice they are grooming less, to see if there is any pain or health conditions present that may be treatable.
Tips for Grooming an Old Cat
Regardless of the cause, it’s important that you help your cat take care of their coat.
Leaving it in a poor state can lead to various skin conditions and infections. If tangles and knots get tight enough, it can even prevent proper blood circulation!
Therefore, you should try to give you cat a brush once a day. Keep in mind, you should be gentle; especially if your cat has a painful condition that is preventing it from self-grooming.
You can use a brush with soft bristles for this purpose. Give your cat plenty of pets and encouragement throughout the process and generally attempt to make it an enjoyable time for the cat.
Make sure to cover each area thoroughly! If your cat isn’t a fan of grooming, you can split the daily groom into multiple smaller sessions.
What to Do When You Encounter Matting
Sadly, it is quite common to run into mats in senior cats, especially those with long and fine coats. These tangles can be a real source of discomfort for your poor kitty, so it’s advised to take care of them as soon as possible.
If the mat is small and not too tight, you can use a specialized matting brush or detangling spray to help remove it. Hold the fur close to the skin while you brush to help prevent any painful pulling.
However, if the mat is severe, we’d highly recommend you contact us and have one of our expert groomers take a look. The mat will likely need to be shaved or trimmed off.
Senior cats have incredibly thin skin that is susceptible to injury. Therefore, cutting away mats should be left to our professionals at Groomit to avoid any potential accidents!
How to Groom an Old Cat – Keeping Them Healthy and Happy!
As your cats age, it can be a good idea to pay close attention to their grooming habits. A reduction in the amount of grooming could be a sign that your cat is in pain or suffering from an undiagnosed medical condition.
Keeping an eye on their grooming behavior can ensure they get the help they need sooner rather than later, helping them continue to lead happy and fun-filled lives.
Remember, the absolute best thing you can do for your senior cats in terms of hygiene and coat health is to have them seen by our professional pet groomers!
Our expert groomers have been working with senior cats for years and can provide everything your cat will need to feel and look amazing. Make an appointment now!
We hope this article has provided some help and we wish you and your cats all the best!
