Every cat can benefit
from a little grooming
assistance.

A Helping Hand

To some extent, cats are able to keep themselves presentable. But just as many "self-cleaning" appliances benefit from an occasional swipe with a wet sponge, these "self-cleaning" animals need regular grooming to be at their best. And although cats and water might not be a classic combination, they can sometimes benefit from more of a bath than their own tongues provide.

Taking time to groom your cat will pay off in several ways -- some of which are essential to her health. Regular brushing or combing and visual inspection can help:

• Make your cat's coat gorgeously glossy.
• Prevent matted fur and keep hairballs from developing -- and in turn, spare your pet the discomfort of spitting them up. (Hairballs form in the cat's stomach and intestines after the cat swallows hair while licking and grooming herself.)
• Nip skin diseases and parasite problems (like fleas and ticks) in the bud.
• Catch eye and ear ailments in their earliest stages, when they can be treated most easily.

How often you need to groom your cat depends on what type of coat she has and what season it is. Longhaired cats generally need to be brushed and/or combed at least twice a week; every day if they are allowed outside. Shorthaired cats usually require coat maintenance once a week.

In the spring and fall, however, most cats go through a "shedding season," when they lose more dead hair than normal. At these times of year, you might want to groom your cat more frequently to minimize the occurrence of hairballs.

In addition to brushing or combing your cat's fur on the schedule outlined above, a thorough grooming routine includes the following:

• Gently running your hands over the cat's body to check for anything unusual, such as lumps or sensitive areas. Give your cat this once-over a couple of times a week.
• Carefully cleaning your cat's ears with a cotton ball dipped in a bit of olive oil to remove any accumulated dirt and debris. This should be necessary only every two weeks or so.
• Removing any discharge from your cat's eye area. Dampen a cotton ball with water and gently wipe away the discharge or dirt. Do this on an as-needed basis.